Suanyu, named1667 historical plate
Actual 1000-pixel page directly inspected and printed caption compared with full textual anatomy. Serpentine bird with conspicuous eyes, four wings and three legs; the printed caption explicitly lists six eyes, four wings, three feet and Mount Jing. Smithsonian catalog dates physical volume 1667 and classifies public domain. Earlier text witness preserved.
Overview
Suanyu is the bird of Mount Jing in the Shanhaijing’s third northern itinerary. Its shape resembles a snake, while it has four wings, six eyes, and three feet. It calls its own name, and its appearance brings or forecasts fear in the locality. The textual classification as a bird is preserved even though the body comparison is serpentine.
The precise limb and eye counts distinguish Suanyu from the Feiyi serpent, which has a different combination in its Taihua witness, and from other one-eyed birds. The passage does not explain whether the fear follows an attack, an omen, or another event. It supplies no named victim or transformation. A matched illustration should show the stated hybrid anatomy and printed name, while any additional posture, feather pattern, or arrangement of the six eyes remains the artist’s interpretation.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing Northern Mountains
Records & interpretation
Directly read primary text supplemented by actual labelled historical page, with artistic interpretation distinguished from base anatomy.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing, Northern Mountains
Third northern itinerary; Mount Jing
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
Shan hai jing: er shi san juan (Smithsonian digitized edition)
Physical volume 2; illustration sequence. IIIF canvas index 77 (zero based), labelled 酸與; no printed page number asserted
Actual 1000-pixel page directly inspected and printed caption compared with full textual anatomy. Serpentine bird with conspicuous eyes, four wings and three legs; the printed caption explicitly lists six eyes, four wings, three feet and Mount Jing. Smithsonian catalog dates physical volume 1667 and classifies public domain. Earlier text witness preserved.
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
- Primary illustrated bookSmithsonian digitized Shan hai jing v.2, canvas 77: 酸與Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationSuanyu, named1667 historical plate
Actual 1000-pixel page directly inspected and printed caption compared with full textual anatomy. Serpentine bird with conspicuous eyes, four wings and three legs; the printed caption explicitly lists six eyes, four wings, three feet and Mount Jing. Smithsonian catalog dates physical volume 1667 and classifies public domain. Earlier text witness preserved.
