Leishen of Thunder Marsh (雷神): anonymous historical illustration in Shan hai jing tu, 1667
Anonymous1667 illustration of Thunder Marsh Leishen: human head and dragon body. Printed 雷神 heading and 龍身人頭而鼓其腹在吳西 caption inspected. The drawing has a coiled scaled body and clawed feet; no separate drum or hammer shown. Guo Pu is commentator; Wu Zhongheng is editor; plate artist not identified. Smithsonian Libraries catalogue explicitly Public domain. Original actual IIIF manifest resource preserved.
Overview
The Shanhaijing places a thunder spirit in Thunder Marsh, west of Wu. It has a dragon body and a human head and drums upon its own belly. The complete notice is brief: it does not describe wings, a separate drum, a hammer, or a named human incarnation. Leishen here identifies this textual thunder being, without assuming that every later image or worship tradition of a thunder deity has the same anatomy.
Origins & earliest records
Chinese classical cosmography
Records & interpretation
Complete relevant primary-text passage read in the hosted Chinese transcription.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing (山海經)
海內東經; Notice beginning 雷澤中有雷神
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 (山海經), anonymous received text
海內東經. Notice beginning 雷澤中有雷神
Complete relevant Chinese paragraph read. No modern anatomy or later identification silently imported; primary-text transcription, not a visual verification of the separate 1667 illustrated edition.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary classical text transcriptionShanhaijing, 海內東經 — Notice beginning 雷澤中有雷神Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationLeishen of Thunder Marsh (雷神): anonymous historical illustration in Shan hai jing tu, 1667
Anonymous1667 illustration of Thunder Marsh Leishen: human head and dragon body. Printed 雷神 heading and 龍身人頭而鼓其腹在吳西 caption inspected. The drawing has a coiled scaled body and clawed feet; no separate drum or hammer shown. Guo Pu is commentator; Wu Zhongheng is editor; plate artist not identified. Smithsonian Libraries catalogue explicitly Public domain. Original actual IIIF manifest resource preserved.
