Songsi, human-faced pheasant-like bird, Qing Shanhaijing painted manuscript
The caption names Songsi and describes a female-pheasant-like body with a human face, jumping when it sees people, at Mount Guanti. Its bright plumage and facial expression belong to this Qing representation.
Overview
Songsi is a bird at Mount Guanti in the Shanhaijing’s first northern itinerary. Its body resembles a female pheasant, but its face is human. When it sees a person it jumps, and its call is said to sound its own name. The hybrid face and explicit response distinguish it from an ordinary pheasant listed among mountain animals.
The adjacent Nafu beast has an ox-like body and white tail; those features cannot be transferred to Songsi. The bird’s jump does not establish flightlessness, an attack, or a ritual dance. Likewise, a human face does not by itself prove articulate speech. The passage contains no named person meeting the bird and no explanation of its origin. The profile consequently preserves the short behavioural observation and anatomical combination without adding a fabricated narrative.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing Northern Mountains
Records & interpretation
Named primary-text transcription directly read; exact historical illustration pending.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing, Northern Mountains
First northern itinerary; Mount Guanti
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. First northern itinerary; Mount Guanti
Directly read primary-text transcription. Identifying passage: 其狀如雌雉而人面，見人則躍. Historical plate not yet matched.
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 illustrationSongsi, human-faced pheasant-like bird, Qing Shanhaijing painted manuscript
The caption names Songsi and describes a female-pheasant-like body with a human face, jumping when it sees people, at Mount Guanti. Its bright plumage and facial expression belong to this Qing representation.
