Gu of Mount Zhong, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed鼓 caption gives human face, dragon body and鐘山. This is Gu’s first dragon form, not the later posthumous owl-like transformation. Smithsonian physical volume1 edition1667; anonymous illustrator, GuoPu commentator/WuZhongheng editor, not artist assertions; actual cached IIIF resource.
Overview
Gu is called the child of Mount Zhong in the third western itinerary of the Shanhaijing. Its first form has a human face and a dragon’s body. Together with Qinpi, it kills Baojiang on the sunny side of Kunlun. The ruler has both offenders executed on the eastern side of Mount Zhong at Yaoya cliff. The entry thus supplies a connected act and consequence, not merely an anatomical list.
Following the execution, Gu changes into a bird compared with an owl. It has red feet, a straight beak, yellow markings, and a white head, and its voice is compared with a hu bird. Its appearance forecasts a great drought in the locality. Qinpi’s separate transformation produces a differently marked raptor and a warning of war. The two posthumous bird forms should remain distinct even when illustrations place the accomplices together.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing western mountain itineraries
Records & interpretation
Directly read named primary-text transcription; historical illustration not yet assigned.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing, Western Mountains
Third western itinerary; Mount Zhong
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
Western Mountains. Third western itinerary; Mount Zhong
Directly read primary-text transcription. Identifying passage: 其狀如人面而龍身；鼓亦化為鵕鳥. No historical scan collated for this row; attached commentary not treated as the base text.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary text transcriptionShanhaijing: Western Mountains, received text and commentaryResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationGu of Mount Zhong, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed鼓 caption gives human face, dragon body and鐘山. This is Gu’s first dragon form, not the later posthumous owl-like transformation. Smithsonian physical volume1 edition1667; anonymous illustrator, GuoPu commentator/WuZhongheng editor, not artist assertions; actual cached IIIF resource.
