A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Lihu is a waterbird of the Sha River, which rises from Mount Luqi and flows south into the Cen River in the Shanhaijing. Its body resembles a mandarin duck, but its feet are human. Its cry repeats the creature’s name. When it appears, the country is said to undertake much earthwork or construction. The account therefore links an anatomical hybrid with a specifically public activity.
Its human feet combine a recognizable waterbird shape with a human bodily feature. The portent concerns extensive earthworks in the country where it appears, making its attributed effect different from the floods and droughts attached to other eastern birds.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing Eastern Mountains
Records & interpretation
Specific named received-primary passage directly read; scan status recorded separately.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing, Eastern Mountains
Second eastern itinerary; Mount Luqi
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 Luqi
Specific named primary transcription directly read: 鵹鶘. No historical scan assigned unless the evidence row explicitly supplies one.
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.
