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Classic of the Southern Mountains · Guai River

Xuangui

旋龜

Aquatic hybrid
Xuangui in an original reconstruction of its ancient mountain-and-sea habitatAn original reconstruction in its Shanhai habitat
“It is shaped like a turtle with a bird's head and a viper's tail. Its name is Xuangui, and its call sounds like splitting timber. Wearing it is said to prevent deafness; the final phrase keyi wei di (可以為底) remains textually uncertain.”公版原文：其状如龟而鸟首虺尾，其名曰旋龟，其音如判木，佩之不聋，可以为底。— Shanhaijing · Classic of the Southern Mountains
HISTORICAL IMAGE EVIDENCE · 古籍圖像依據

From a Ming hybrid diagram to one coherent animalOwner-supplied historical reference and structural reconstruction

The old image already joins a bird-like head, turtle shell and rising tail. The reconstruction asks how these parts could share weight, joints, skin, and movement.

IHISTORICAL SOURCE
Historical line drawing of XuanguiOpen historical image ↗

Historical line drawing of XuanguiHu Wenhuan, Xin ke Shanhaijing tu

Work
Hu Wenhuan, Xin ke Shanhaijing tu
Edition
Wenhuatang printing, 1593 (working identification)
Catalog status
Owner-supplied reference; exact folio, repository, and digital-object link remain to be catalogued.
P/ADIGITAL RECONSTRUCTION
Original digital reconstruction of XuanguiOpen web preview ↗

Xuangui digital reconstructionShanhai Wonders™ | 山海萬象志

The reconstruction keeps features stated in the text and visible in the historical image. Material, colour, motion, habitat, and camera are original project decisions.

TEXT

Recorded in the text

Turtle-bodied, bird-headed and serpent-tailed, with a call like splitting timber; wearing it is said to prevent deafness.

IMAGE

Visible in the historical image

Bird-like heads, turtle shell and limbs, and one long upright tail in a historical pictorial schema.

INFERENCE

Modern reconstruction

Species-level anatomy, neck mobility, shell material, serpent-tail articulation, colour, and river behaviour.

Cataloguing and use boundary

Owner-supplied reference; exact folio, repository, and digital-object link remain to be catalogued.

01 / FIELD NOTE

Field note

Turtle-bodied, bird-headed and serpent-tailed, with a call like splitting timber; wearing it is said to prevent deafness.

02 / RECONSTRUCTION

Original reconstruction

An original anatomical fusion of freshwater turtle, wading-bird neck and serpent tail. The uncertain phrase keyi wei di (可以為底) is not visualised as a settled fact.

Colour, material and movement not stated in the source are evidence-led artistic reconstructions.
CLASSIC STORY · 經典故事

A Voice Like Splitting Timber

判木之聲
Source anatomy, sound and textual uncertainty

Xuangui is memorable not for an adventure plot but for its hybrid body, extraordinary voice and protective associations: bird head, turtle body, viper tail, and a call like timber splitting. The claim that wearing it prevents deafness belongs to ancient belief, while the final phrase remains textually uncertain.

Reading boundary: preventing deafness is an ancient belief, while the final phrase is textually uncertain and should not be forced into a single modern meaning.
THREE READING ANCHORS · 三個閱讀錨點

A hybrid body remembered through sound

Xuangui is clearest when anatomy, acoustic simile, and textual uncertainty are kept together.

  1. 01 · SOURCE

    Turtle body, bird head, viper tail

    The Southern Mountains places Xuangui in Guai Water and compares its voice to timber splitting.

  2. 02 · RECEPTION

    Protective belief and an unresolved phrase

    The deafness claim records ancient belief. The phrase traditionally read as keyi wei di remains uncertain and is not silently converted into a visual fact.

  3. 03 · RECONSTRUCTION

    Three anatomies must become one animal

    The project joins turtle shell and limbs, a bird-like head and neck, and one serpent tail into a load-bearing body rather than a pasted collage.

LOCATION IN THE TEXT

Guai River

怪水
W水E

This diagram expresses textual direction and relation only; it does not claim unverified modern coordinates.

APPROVED SCENES · 場景展示

One being, across different moments of the Shanhai world.

Changing weather and habitat reveal different moments of life while the source-grounded identity remains consistent.

First Light on Guai Water
First Light on Guai WaterFirst light reaches Guai Water, revealing the bird head, turtle body and viper tail in the shallows.
Confluence below Mount Xianyi
Confluence below Mount XianyiBelow Mount Xianyi, converging streams carry Xuangui between water and stone.
FREE WALLPAPERS · 免費壁紙

Bring Xuangui to every screen.

Multiple ratios use independent compositions or controlled background extension—not mechanical crops. Open any framed preview to view the full image. Free editions carry a light brand mark.

Shanhai Wonders™ | 山海萬象志Free for personal screens. No resale, redistribution, merchandise, or AI training. Collectible 4K and 8K editions are managed separately.
SOURCES, READING & METHOD · 來源、閱讀與方法

Know what comes from the source—and what is reconstructed.

TEXT

Shanhaijing · Classic of the Southern Mountains

This profile begins with the passage associated with Guai River. Ancient text and modern explanation remain visibly separate.

Open the chapter register ↗
READING

Keep the reading boundary visible

Reading boundary: preventing deafness is an ancient belief, while the final phrase is textually uncertain and should not be forced into a single modern meaning.

RECONSTRUCTION

Shanhai Wonders™ | 山海萬象志

An original anatomical fusion of freshwater turtle, wading-bird neck and serpent tail. The uncertain phrase keyi wei di (可以為底) is not visualised as a settled fact.

Read methods and rights ↗
CONTINUE READING · 繼續閱讀
Classic of the Southern MountainsChapter overview and current named records→The Shanhaijing World AtlasExplore chapters, maps, and relationships→FuzhuFirst ten · profile 8→