Gu Diao | The Classic of Mountains and Seas

23rd illustration of 山海经 (The Classic of Mountains and Seas) - 蛊雕 (Gǔ Diāo)
According to The Classic of Southern Mountains: Five hundred miles further east is 鹿吴山 (Lùwú Mountain), which is bare of vegetation but rich in metal minerals and jade. 泽更水 (Zégèng River) originates from this mountain and flows southward into 滂水 (Pāng River). In the waters dwells a beast called Gu Diao. It resembles an ordinary eagle but has horns on its head and sound like child crying. It prefers to live in alkaline water and shaded rivers, deliberately avoids direct sunlight. This beast is greedy, bloodthirsty, and good at flying, so its appearance will definitely bring disaster to the world. Its eat people when hungry and has a mouth so large it can swallow a person at a time. Gu Diao hides during the day and comes out at night. When the winter comes, they store food in caves and hibernate wrapped in aquatic plants.
《骈雅》(The Pián yǎ) records: "Gu Diao looks like an eagle but has horns."
《事物绀珠》(Shìwù gàn zhū) records: "Gu Diao looks like a leopard, has a horn in its beak, and sounds like a baby."
#山海经 #TheClassicOfMountainsAndSeas #ChineseMythology #Mythology #蛊雕 #Beasts
Speed Painting:
https://youtube.com/shorts/SjAnPRjWdy0