Wusun beast

Overview

The Wusun beast appears in the Southern Wilderness section of the Shenyi jing. It resembles a deer, but has a pig’s head and teeth. It approaches people seeking grain. When people cut away its flesh, the creature is not harmed and the flesh restores itself. The narrative makes renewal, rather than predation, the central extraordinary property of its body.

The account continues with a description of preparing its meat as a preserved dish that can be replenished. Some words in that preparation are damaged or differently read in the hosted text and notes, so they are not reconstructed into a modern recipe. The supported profile records the hybrid appearance, dependence on grain, and repeated bodily restoration. It does not infer immortality in every circumstance or prescribe cutting living animals based on a literary marvel.

Origins & earliest records

China; Shenyi jing received text

Records & interpretation

Directly read named primary-text passage. Hosted introductory discussion disputes attribution to Dongfang Shuo; no secure Han composition date asserted.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Shenyi jing

   Traditionally attributed to Dongfang Shuo; attribution disputed

   Southern Wilderness; self-restoring meat account; received text and displayed notes distinguished.

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

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Primary-text transcriptionShenyi jing: Southern Wilderness; self-restoring meat accountResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.