志怪 · A Bestiary of Chinese Mythology

Strange Creatures of China

Monsters, gods and spirits — in the words of the classics.

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Sun Wukong, woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Sun Wukong · Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, c. 1885–90 · Public domain

Featured

Editor’s picks

Nine-Tailed Fox

Plate I

Fox Spirits

Nine-Tailed Fox

Jiǔwěi Hú

A fox of Green Hill with nine tails and an infant's cry.

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Kui, the One-Legged Thunder Beast

Plate II

Fierce Beasts

Kui, the One-Legged Thunder Beast

Kuí

A one-legged ox of the sea whose hide became the Yellow Emperor's war drum.

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Dijiang, the Faceless God

Plate III

Deities & Immortals

Dijiang, the Faceless God

Dì Jiāng

A sack-shaped, faceless god who understands song and dance.

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Most searched

The famous two

Jiangshi

Undead & Ghosts

Jiangshi

The Chinese “hopping vampire”: meaning, Qing ghost stories, talismans and Mr. Vampire.

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Sun Wukong

Deities & Immortals

Sun Wukong

The Monkey King: powers, staff, headband, Journey to the West and Black Myth.

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By type

Dragons & Serpents4Fox Spirits1Fierce Beasts10Divine Birds6Undead & Ghosts1Deities & Immortals13

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From the classics

常銜西山之木石，以堙于東海。

She forever carries wood and stones from the Western Mountains in her beak to fill up the Eastern Sea.

— 山海經·北山經 · on the Jingwei bird · Read the entry →

Index

All creatures

Jiangshi

Undead & Ghosts

Jiangshi
Undead & GhostsMalevolent
Sun Wukong

Deities & Immortals

Sun Wukong
Deities & ImmortalsGuardian
Nine-Tailed Fox

Fox Spirits

Nine-Tailed Fox
Fox SpiritsAuspiciousMalevolent
Dijiang, the Faceless God

Deities & Immortals

Dijiang, the Faceless God
Deities & Immortals
Bifang, the Fire Crane

Divine Birds

Bifang, the Fire Crane
Divine BirdsCalamity
Jingwei, the Sea-Filling Bird

Divine Birds

Jingwei, the Sea-Filling Bird
Divine Birds
Kui, the One-Legged Thunder Beast

Fierce Beasts

Kui, the One-Legged Thunder Beast
Fierce BeastsCalamity
Taotie

Fierce Beasts

Taotie
Fierce BeastsMalevolentCalamity
Qilin

Fierce Beasts

Qilin
Fierce BeastsAuspiciousGuardian
Baize

Fierce Beasts

Baize
Fierce BeastsAuspiciousGuardian
Xingtian

Deities & Immortals

Xingtian
Deities & Immortals
Zhulong

Dragons & Serpents

Zhulong
Dragons & SerpentsDeities & Immortals
Fenghuang

Divine Birds

Fenghuang
Divine BirdsAuspicious
Nüwa

Deities & Immortals

Nüwa
Deities & ImmortalsAuspiciousGuardian
Peng

Divine Birds

Peng
Divine BirdsAuspicious
Xiezhi

Fierce Beasts

Xiezhi
Fierce BeastsAuspiciousGuardian
Yinglong

Dragons & Serpents

Yinglong
Dragons & SerpentsAuspiciousGuardian
Xiangliu

Dragons & Serpents

Xiangliu
Dragons & SerpentsMalevolentCalamity
Qiongqi

Fierce Beasts

Qiongqi
Fierce BeastsMalevolent
Tiangou

Fierce Beasts

Tiangou
Fierce BeastsGuardian
Zhurong

Deities & Immortals

Zhurong
Deities & ImmortalsAuspicious
Jiufeng

Deities & Immortals

Jiufeng
Deities & ImmortalsDivine BirdsAuspicious
Xiwangmu

Deities & Immortals

Xiwangmu
Deities & Immortals
Pangu

Deities & Immortals

Pangu
Deities & Immortals
Dangkang

Auspicious

Dangkang
AuspiciousFierce Beasts
Gudiao

Fierce Beasts

Gudiao
Fierce BeastsMalevolent
Tianwu

Deities & Immortals

Tianwu
Deities & Immortals
Bashe

Dragons & Serpents

Bashe
Dragons & SerpentsFierce Beasts
Luan

Auspicious

Luan
AuspiciousDivine Birds
Yingzhao

Deities & Immortals

Yingzhao
Deities & Immortals
Luwu

Deities & Immortals

Luwu
Deities & ImmortalsGuardian
Kuafu

Deities & Immortals

Kuafu
Deities & Immortals