山海經

by Anonymous

"山海經" by Anonymous is a Chinese classic text compiled during the early Han dynasty, though early versions may have existed since the 4th century BCE. This mythic compilation describes over 550 mountains and 300 channels across pre-Qin China, blending fabulous geography with cultural accounts and mythology. The work catalogs medicines, animals, geological features, and short myths through detailed descriptions organized by cardinal directions—mixing mundane observations with fanciful and strange creatures in a repetitious, encyclopedic format.