Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: White Ape, White Gibbon, Bai Yuan, 白猿, 白猨, 白蝯
Category: Monkey
The Myth
The Baiyuan is a supernatural white ape covered entirely in white fur. In Chinese mythology, apes and monkeys are often treated as similar creatures, and the Baiyuan is portrayed as an intelligent, magical beast capable of cultivating spiritual powers and transforming into other forms. It is associated with extraordinary climbing abilities, a fondness for brewing and drinking alcohol, and an uncontrolled desire for women. Its white hair also symbolizes longevity, and some traditions describe ancient apes transforming into white-haired old men.
According to traditional accounts, apes can undergo extraordinary transformations as they age. The Baopuzi states that a monkey becomes an ape after eight hundred years, an ape becomes a jue after five hundred years, and a jue can live for a thousand years. Another account describes apes transforming into jue after five hundred years and jue becoming old men after a thousand. The Classic of Mountains and Seas also mentions white apes inhabiting Tangting Mountain, alongside unusual trees, precious stones, and gold. In another tale, recorded in the History of the Xia and Shang, Yu the Great and his companions hear mournful cries coming from a forest while working to control the floods; the sound is identified as the call of a white ape.
The Baiyuan is also associated with legendary masters of swordsmanship and magical teachings. In the Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue, a remarkable swordswoman encounters Yuan Gong, an old ape-like being who challenges her to a duel. Using a bamboo branch as a sword, he exchanges three moves with her before leaping into a tree and transforming into a white ape, thereby acknowledging her skill. In other traditions, a white ape becomes the disciple of the goddess Jiutian Xuannü, learning swordsmanship and supernatural arts. In the Ming-dynasty novel San Sui Ping Yao Zhuan, the Tongbi White Ape cultivates the Dao, receives the name Yuan Gong, and becomes Baiyun Dongjun, the Lord of White Cloud Cave, where he is appointed guardian of a celestial book.
Sources
“Bái yuán” (白猿). Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BD%E7%8C%BF