Variations: Raucous-Bird
The Xiao or Raucous-Bird dwells on China’s Bridge-Channel Mountain. It is a bird with four wings, one eye, and a dog’s tail. It makes sounds like a magpie. Eating it cures abdominal pain and diarrhea. The Shan Hai Jing assures us that it resembles Kuafu the Boaster, which it does not.
It shares its name with an unrelated simian creature that resembles a Yu-Ape with longer arms.
References
Strassberg, R. E. (2002) A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. University of California Press.
Maybe Kuafu is just ugly
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Yes, I too have a beak, one eye, four wings and a dog’s tail. Is it not visible?
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Last time I heard of a Xiao, it was an musical instrument. Is it possible that it could’ve been named off of this?
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No idea. There’s a complicated linguistic background to the word according to Wikipedia, but I’m not qualified to comment on that.
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Who’s idea was it to eat this creature in the first place???
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The only classification scheme that matters: a) edible b) not edible
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Does anyone know where I can read more about this creature?
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The Shan Hai Jing! I recommend the translation I used as a reference!
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