Flying fish of Mount Gui

Overview

The Zhenghui River rises at Mount Gui and flows north into the Yellow River. The Shanhaijing’s Central Mountains places flying fish in this water, comparing their shape with pigs and giving them red markings. It attributes freedom from fear of thunder and protection against weapons to their use. These are properties within the text, rather than practical medical claims.

The 1667 illustration caption names the fish 飛魚 and repeats its piglike shape, markings and protective associations. The artist gives the animal a piglike head, a fish body and large lateral wings. Those wings belong to the inspected representation; the short base notice itself does not describe their number or construction.

Origins & earliest records

China; named geography within the cited primary text

Records & interpretation

Direct primary transcription; illustrated edition checked where explicitly identified.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Shanhaijing

   Anonymous layered compilation

   Central Mountains third sequence, Mount Gui

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

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Primary text transcriptionShanhaijing — Central Mountains third sequence, Mount GuiResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

Flying fish of Mount Gui, named1667 historical plate

Actual 1667 plate inspected: printed flying-fish name, piglike head and lateral wings, Mount Gui Central Mountains witness. Distinct from Eastern Hua fish and other same-name flying fish.