Paoxiao, human-faced sheep-like beast with an eye beneath its arm, Qing Shanhaijing painted manuscript
The caption names Paoxiao and places it on Mount Gouwu. The human face, clawed limbs and eye below the arm belong to this Qing representation of the sheep-bodied human eater. The library’s source mark remains visible.
Overview
Paoxiao inhabits Mount Gouwu in the Shanhaijing’s second northern itinerary. Its body is sheep-like and its face human, but its eyes are under its arms. It has tiger teeth and human claws. Its voice resembles an infant, and it eats people. The entry places the creature on a mountain with abundant jade above and copper below, before the itinerary turns farther north.
Its infantlike voice accompanies a body built from several different animals and a human face. The displaced eyes beneath the arms are especially distinctive. The passage names狍鴞 directly; its interpretation in relation to Taotie remains separate from that primary naming.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing Northern Mountains
Records & interpretation
Specific named received-primary passage directly read; exact historical image status recorded separately.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing, Northern Mountains
Second northern itinerary; Mount Gouwu
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. Second northern itinerary; Mount Gouwu
Named received-primary passage directly read: 狍鴞. Direct text verification; historical image not assigned unless an explicit image URL is present.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary text transcriptionShanhaijing Northern Mountains received primary textResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical manuscript illustrationPaoxiao, human-faced sheep-like beast with an eye beneath its arm, Qing Shanhaijing painted manuscript
The caption names Paoxiao and places it on Mount Gouwu. The human face, clawed limbs and eye below the arm belong to this Qing representation of the sheep-bodied human eater. The library’s source mark remains visible.
