Xingtian, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed形天 variant names the headless figure, breast-eyes, navel-mouth and axe/shield dance; actual picture shows transformed torso and weapons. Later character spelling is retained as an illustration variant. Smithsonian physical volume1 edition1667; anonymous illustrator, GuoPu commentator/WuZhongheng editor, not artist assertions; actual cached IIIF resource.
Overview
Xingtian challenges the emperor over divine supremacy in the Shanhaijing’s Overseas Western Regions. The emperor cuts off his head and buries it at Mount Changyang. Xingtian then makes his breasts serve as eyes and his navel as a mouth. Holding a shield and an axe, he continues to dance. The passage describes a bodily transformation after defeat rather than merely introducing an unusual-looking inhabitant.
The transformed torso remains active after the head is buried: breast-eyes and the navel-mouth replace its facial organs. Shield, axe and continued dancing give the episode its distinctive closing image.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing Overseas Western Regions
Records & interpretation
Specific named received-primary passage directly read; exact historical image status recorded separately.
Additional images
View larger Xingtian, historical illustration attributed to Jiang Yinghao
Actual image visually inspected: headless torso with breast-eyes and navel-mouth, axe and shield. Commons attributes Jiang Yinghao and dates the original to the17th century; later printed reproductions are listed in the file description. PD-Art/PD-old-100 applies to this faithful reproduction, not a modern new illustration. No more precise date asserted.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Shanhaijing, Overseas Western Regions
Mount Changyang; contest with the emperor
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
Overseas Western Regions. Mount Changyang; contest with the emperor
Named received-primary passage directly read: 刑天. 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 Overseas Western Regions received primary textResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationXingtian, anonymous1667 Shanhaijing illustration
Printed形天 variant names the headless figure, breast-eyes, navel-mouth and axe/shield dance; actual picture shows transformed torso and weapons. Later character spelling is retained as an illustration variant. Smithsonian physical volume1 edition1667; anonymous illustrator, GuoPu commentator/WuZhongheng editor, not artist assertions; actual cached IIIF resource.
Further credits appear with each additional image.
