Research on the bird image in Shanhai Jing

Abstract

The Classic of Mountains and Seas is the original work of Chinese mythology, which records rich images of gods and mythological stories. Bird is a very important mythological image among them. Through the review of the literature, it can be seen that the birds in Shanhai Jing can be divided into four categories according to their physical characteristics: normal birds, alien birds, human-bird combinations and other categories. According to their functions, they can also be divided into four categories: auspicious bird, ominous bird, medicinal bird, and defensive bird. The paper comprehensively analyzes the bird imagery in the Book of Mountains and Seas from the surface to the inside by classifying the morphological characteristics of birds, analyzing their own functions, and exploring the reasons for ancient bird worship. The bird imagery in Shanhai Jing is a product of totem worship by ancient people. The study not only deepens the understanding of the text of Shanhai Jing, but also provides a deeper exploration of ancient Chinese mythology, with certain research value.