Mythical Creatures Guide from Book 'Classic of Mountains and Seas'

The characters in this drama are based on a Chinese classic book called 山海经 (Classic of Mountains and Seas), written from the Warring States Period (476 BCE - 221 BCE) to the early Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 220). It’s one of the Three Mysterious Books in ancient China. 

It is a comprehensive work from ancient China that covers a wide range of topics, including geography, history, mythology, astronomy, botany, medicine, religion, and other subjects. It serves as a record of various aspects of ancient social life.

Character 1: Zhu Yan 朱厌

Zhu Yan 朱厌 - recorded in the book as ‘It appears like an ape, with a white head and red feet. According to legend, whenever this creature appears, it is an omen that great chaos will befall the world.’

Zhu Yan is one of the 12 Mythical Creatures in China. Some of the rest 11 often appear in Xianxia dramas: 

-Phoenix (the most popular bird in many Xianxia dramas)

-Qiong Qi (the green monster in the drama ‘Ashes of Love’), 

-Bi Fang (the bird in the drama ‘Eternal Love’),

-Kun Peng (the big fish can transform into a big bird, in the drama ‘Sword and Fairy’)

-Bai Ze (the FL in this drama, an auspicious white tiger/dragon)

This mythical creature typically symbolizes omens or warnings about significant disruptions or disturbances in society. The creature's unusual features (white head, red feet) serve to emphasize its supernatural nature and the seriousness of the impending events it heralds.

Character 2: Bai Ze 白泽

Bai Ze 白泽 - a divine creature, knows all matters concerning ghosts and gods in the world. Entrusted by the Yellow Emperor, Bai Ze drew all the ghosts and spirits he knew into pictures and added annotations, which is the origin of the ‘Bai Ze Map’.

It is a mythical creature that embodies wisdom and knowledge, often depicted with a mix of features from other animals, symbolizing its supernatural origins and power. Its unique appearance with a tiger’s head, red hair, dragon’s body, and horns highlights its mystical nature and role as a guardian against chaos and misfortune.

According to legend, the Bai Ze can predict disasters, warning people and protecting them from evil forces. It is regarded as a guardian deity, symbolizing the power of protection and safeguarding, ensuring people's peace and happiness.

Character 3: E Shou 讹兽

E Shou 讹兽 is a mythical creature, known for its human-like face, rabbit-like body, and elegant demeanor. It possesses a magical aura, exuding an air of charm and mystery with every movement, and is even said to be able to speak human language.

According to legend, E Shou has a talent for conversation, attracting both humans and animals who love to gather around it. However, while it speaks, its words are rarely truthful, as it enjoys deceiving others. Despite its deceptive nature, the E Beast is considered a good-natured spirit.

Interestingly, its meat is said to be delicious, but anyone who eats it supposedly loses the ability to speak the truth as well.

Character 4: Cheng Huang 乘黄

Cheng Huang 乘黄, also known as Fei Huang, is a mythical divine horse in ancient legends. It is said that on the ancient land, there was a creature called Chenghuang, which resembles a fox, has a horn on its back, and has yellow fur. Those who ride it gain an extended lifespan of 2,000 years. The Yellow Emperor once rode it. 

There is a Chinese idiom originates from it, called ‘飞黄腾达’ (Fei Huang Teng Da). It’s used to describe someone who swiftly rises to prominence, enjoys good fortune in their career, or experiences rapid success in their endeavors. It’s also a common wish in Chinese blessing culture.

Character 5: Qing Geng 青耕

Qing Geng is a mythical bird, living on Jinli Mountain and resembles a magpie, with a blue body, white beak, white eyes, and a white tail. It’s said to have the ability to ward off plagues.

Legend has it that when Qing Geng appears, no plague exists in the world. Although Qing Geng's appearance is quite ordinary among birds, its extraordinary power lies in its ability to ward off epidemics—an ability considered miraculous in ancient times when medical and health conditions were lacking.

Over time, the myth of the Qing Geng bird warding off plagues evolved into the belief and myth of the "Auspicious Magpie Bringing Good News." This transformation occurred partly because Qinggeng’s physical form resembled that of a magpie, and partly due to the auspicious symbolism conveyed by the myth of the bird successfully warding off epidemics and restoring peace to the human world.

Character 6: Fei 蜚

According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Fei resides in Tai Shan, located in the eastern part of the Central Plains. It has the appearance of an ox with a white head but possesses a snake's tail and only one eye. 

When Fei enters water, the water source immediately dries up; when it moves into the grass, the grass withers instantly. Whenever Fei passes by, the once beautiful land is transformed into a living hell filled with plague and death, making this creature greatly feared by people.

A Chinese idiom 流言蜚语 is originated from it. It now refers to slanderous or malicious gossip spread behind someone's back.

To be continued...