Fei of Mount Taishan, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed蜚 caption explicitly names oxshape, whitehead, oneeye, serpentine tail, epidemic omen and Taishan; no disease guidance inferred. Physical Smithsonian edition1667; anonymous plate artist, GuoPu commentator and WuZhongheng editor. Actual resource from cached IIIF manifest.
Overview
Fei is the ox-shaped beast of Mount Taishan at the end of the fourth eastern itinerary of the Shanhaijing. It has a white head, one eye, and a snake’s tail. Its passage through water dries it up, and its passage through grass kills the vegetation. Its appearance also foretells widespread epidemic illness. Here the text gives both direct environmental effects and a separate omen.
Those actions make Fei’s entry more specific than a creature merely associated with an unfortunate event. Nevertheless, no particular river, human victim, or historical outbreak is narrated as its deed. The one eye and serpent tail distinguish it from ordinary cattle and from other white-headed monsters. Fei’s written name should also remain separate from similarly romanized flying fish or Feiyi serpents. A matching image needs the named bovine hybrid, not a generic drought or illness scene.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing Eastern Mountains
Records & interpretation
Specific named primary-text transcription directly read; historical plate not assigned yet.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing, Eastern Mountains
Fourth eastern itinerary; Mount Taishan
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
Shanhaijing
Eastern Mountains. Fourth eastern itinerary; Mount Taishan
Named received-primary passage directly read: 白首，一目而蛇尾. Historical scan not yet matched.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary text transcriptionShanhaijing Eastern Mountains received primary textResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationFei of Mount Taishan, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed蜚 caption explicitly names oxshape, whitehead, oneeye, serpentine tail, epidemic omen and Taishan; no disease guidance inferred. Physical Smithsonian edition1667; anonymous plate artist, GuoPu commentator and WuZhongheng editor. Actual resource from cached IIIF manifest.
