Luwu (陸吾) — Chinese Mythology Creature

陸吾Luwu

The guardian spirit of Mount Kunlun from the Shan Hai Jing: tiger-bodied with nine tails, a human face, and tiger claws, he presides over heaven's nine divisions.《山海经》记载昆仑之丘的守护神，虎身九尾，人面虎爪，司掌天之九部与帝之囿时。

Body身形

Tiger body, nine tails老虎的身子九条尾巴

虎身而九尾

Face面孔

Human face, tiger claws人的面貌老虎爪子

人面而虎爪

Home居所

Mount Kunlun住在昆仑山

曰昆侖之丘

Duty职责

Keeps heaven’s nine regions管理天上的九部

司天之九部

Original Text & Translation原文与译文

山海經·西山經 · Shan Hai Jing · Wikisource

西南四百里，曰昆侖之丘，是實惟帝之下都，神陸吾司之。其神狀虎身而九尾，人面而虎爪；是神也，司天之九部及帝之囿時。

Four hundred li to the southwest lies the hill of Mount Kunlun, which is in fact the lower capital of the supreme thearch, presided over by the spirit Luwu. The spirit's form has the body of a tiger with nine tails, a human face, and tiger claws; this spirit presides over heaven's nine divisions and the thearch's garden seasons.

Comparing the Books典籍对比

The Shan Hai Jing identifies Luwu as the guardian deity of Mount Kunlun who oversees the lower capital of the celestial thearch and the nine divisions of heaven.

The guardian spirit of Mount Kunlun in the Shan Hai Jing: he possesses a tiger's body with nine tails, a human face, and tiger claws, guarding the emperor's lower capital and heaven's nine divisions.

The Guardian of Mount Kunlun昆仑之丘：帝之下都

Mount Kunlun serves as the lower capital of the sovereign, guarded by Luwu.《西山经》记载昆仑之丘为天帝下都，由神陆吾主管镇守。

In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Mount Kunlun lies four hundred li to the southwest and serves as the lower capital of the celestial sovereign.

The spirit Luwu presides over this sacred mountain as its appointed guardian.

Hu Wenhuan, Newly Carved Classic of Mountains and Seas, 1593, juan 1, PDF page 27, inscribed 'Shen Lu'明·胡文焕《新刻山海经图》卷上（PDF第27页），万历二十一年（1593）格致丛书本，题“神陆”

Tiger Body and Heaven's Nine Divisions虎身九尾：司天九部与帝囿

Luwu has a tiger body with nine tails, a human face, and oversees heaven's nine divisions.陆吾虎身九尾、人面虎爪，司掌天之九部与帝之囿时。

The text describes Luwu as having a tiger body with nine tails, a human face, and tiger claws.

As a celestial deity, he oversees heaven's nine divisions as well as the seasons of the sovereign's park.

Classical Woodcuts and the Inscription Shen Lu古典图谱：陆吾神图与神陆

The Gujin Tushu Jicheng prints Luwu with many tails; Hu Wenhuan's print is titled Shen Lu.《古今图书集成》画陆吾神图，明代胡文焕本题作“神陆”。

The Gujin Tushu Jicheng print, titled Luwu Shen Tu, shows a human-faced, tiger-striped figure with many curving tails standing on a cliff.

Hu Wenhuan's 1593 edition shows a striped tiger with a human face ringed by small heads and a single tail, inscribed Shen Lu.

Record Card档案卡

Type	Guardian Deity (tiger-bodied guardian of Kunlun with nine tails)
Also known as	Luwu 陸吾; titled Shen Lu 神陸 on Hu Wenhuan's print
Earliest source	Shan Hai Jing 山海經 (Classic of the Mountains and Seas, c. 4th–2nd c. BCE)
Dwelling	Mount Kunlun (昆侖之丘)
Role	Presides over the Thearch's lower capital, heaven's nine divisions and the seasons of the Thearch's park
Two prints	GTJC: many tails on a cliff; Hu Wenhuan: one tail, small heads around the face
Earliest source	山海經·西山經
Source books	山海經·西山經
Image source	Chen Menglei 陳夢雷 (ed.) · Wikimedia Commons
License	Public domain

Type

Guardian Deity (tiger-bodied guardian of Kunlun with nine tails)

Also known as

Luwu 陸吾; titled Shen Lu 神陸 on Hu Wenhuan's print

Earliest source

Shan Hai Jing 山海經 (Classic of the Mountains and Seas, c. 4th–2nd c. BCE)

Dwelling

Mount Kunlun (昆侖之丘)

Role

Presides over the Thearch's lower capital, heaven's nine divisions and the seasons of the Thearch's park

Two prints

GTJC: many tails on a cliff; Hu Wenhuan: one tail, small heads around the face

Earliest source

山海經·西山經

Source books

山海經·西山經

Image source

Chen Menglei 陳夢雷 (ed.) · Wikimedia Commons

License

Public domain

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Luwu look like in the Shan Hai Jing?

The Classic of the Western Mountains records that Luwu has the body of a tiger with nine tails, a human face, and tiger claws.

Where does Luwu dwell and what are his duties?

He dwells on Mount Kunlun, the emperor's lower capital, where he oversees heaven's nine divisions and the seasons of the celestial park.

Why is he titled Shen Lu in some editions?

In Hu Wenhuan's Ming dynasty woodblock edition, the accompanying print is inscribed Shen Lu rather than Luwu.