Huanshu of Mount Dai, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed historical name graph, MountDai and horse shape with one horn match current profile; fire-prevention claim belongs to source, not guidance. Pencilled Unicorn is later annotation, not printed title. Physical Smithsonian edition1667; ancient text composition is earlier. Anonymous illustrator; GuoPu commentator and WuZhongheng editor, neither asserted as artist.
Overview
Huanshu appears on Mount Dai in the first northern sequence of the Shanhaijing. It resembles a horse and has one horn, described with the phrase you cuo, whose precise physical interpretation should not be overstated from this transcription. The account attributes the ability to ward off fire to the creature. It does not give the animal a white coat or a human voice.
The surrounding entry introduces a multicoloured bird and an extraordinary fish from the mountain’s river. Huanshu remains a distinct land beast in that inventory. Its single horn does not make it interchangeable with a European unicorn or with the Chinese judicial beast Xiezhi. No test of innocence, poisonous water, or maiden-taming episode belongs to this passage. The supported identity is horse-shaped, single-horned, and protective against fire within the source’s own assertions.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing, Northern Mountains
Records & interpretation
Directly read Chinese primary-text transcription, with exact named geographical locator; no historical scan claimed.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing: Northern Mountains
First northern sequence; Mount Dai 帶山
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, Northern Mountains
北山經. First northern sequence; Mount Dai 帶山
Directly read transcription, not a collated historical scan. Identifying passage: 其狀如馬，一角有錯，其名曰䑏疏，可以辟火。 No exact illustrated plate verified.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary-text transcriptionShanhaijing, Northern Mountains: First northern sequence; Mount Dai 帶山Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationHuanshu of Mount Dai, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed historical name graph, MountDai and horse shape with one horn match current profile; fire-prevention claim belongs to source, not guidance. Pencilled Unicorn is later annotation, not printed title. Physical Smithsonian edition1667; ancient text composition is earlier. Anonymous illustrator; GuoPu commentator and WuZhongheng editor, neither asserted as artist.
