A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Jiegou is a duck-like bird at Mount Zhen in the Shanhaijing’s second eastern itinerary. Its tail resembles a mouse’s, and it is skilled at climbing trees. Its appearance forecasts epidemic illness in the state. The text’s combination of a waterbird-like body and climbing behaviour is retained instead of choosing an ordinary duck photograph as direct evidence of the creature.
The neighbouring Youyou beast has a horse body, four horns, and a different omen involving crafty visitors. Neither its horns nor its social sign belongs to Jiegou. The bird’s epidemic association does not say that it infects people by touch or carries a specified disease. No cure or ritual defence is supplied. The strongest identifying details for an image are therefore the duck comparison, mouse-like tail, and tree-climbing action or caption.
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
Second eastern itinerary; Mount Zhen
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. Second eastern itinerary; Mount Zhen
Named received-primary passage directly read: 其狀如鳧而鼠尾，善登木. 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
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
