A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
Overview
Yanwei is a spirit in the Shanhaijing’s Regions Within the Seas. It has a human head and a snake body as long as a carriage shaft, with a head at either side. It wears purple clothing and a ceremonial cap. A ruler who obtains it and feeds or entertains it is said to become hegemon over the realm. The body and political association are both directly stated.
Purple clothing and a ceremonial cap make this an adorned spirit rather than an ordinary two-headed snake. The promised hegemony is attached to a ruler obtaining and feeding the being.
Origins & earliest records
China; Shanhaijing Regions Within the Seas
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, Regions Within the Seas
Named spirit passage after the Miao People
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
Regions Within the Seas. Named spirit passage after the Miao People
Named received-primary passage directly read: 延維. 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 Regions Within the Seas received primary textResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.
