Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Volume 19: People

The Feathered People

original: "羽民國" (Yǔmínguó). A mythical land frequently cited in ancient Chinese cosmographies. Its inhabitants are often associated with the concept of "xian" (immortals), who were sometimes depicted with feathers to symbolize their lightness and transcendence.

The Kingdom of the Feathered People is located amidst the cliffs and mountain crevices original: "𡽪" (huī). A rare term denoting a valley or a narrow pass between peaks. in the southeast of the sea.

The people of this land have elongated cheeks and bird-like beaks original: "鳥喙" (niǎohuì), and their eyes are red. Their heads are white, and their bodies are covered in a growth of feathers and plumage. While they possess the ability to fly, they are unable to travel great distances through the air. Although they resemble human beings in their general form, they are born from eggs original: "卵生" (luǎnshēng). In traditional Chinese classification, being "egg-born" (oviparous) as opposed to "womb-born" (viviparous) marked a fundamental biological distinction, placing these people in a category between the human and avian worlds..