Tradition / Region: Chinese mythology
Alternate Names: Black Fish
Category: Fish
The Myth
In the ancient age of floods, Emperor Yao commanded Gun to bring the raging waters under control. For nine years Gun struggled, yet the rivers would not yield. At last, overcome by failure, he went to Yuyuan and drowned himself.
Death did not end him.
From the depths rose a vast black fish, its body dark as night. This was Xuanyu. It moved freely through river and wave, sometimes lifting its whiskers and shaking its scales so that the surface of the water rippled and stirred. When it glided across the waves, those who saw it said a river spirit had appeared.
At certain seasons, black fish and dragons were seen leaping from the water together, and people watched in fear and wonder. Some say Xuanyu later appeared where river meets sea, so immense that its presence shook the waters, causing them to surge and spray high into the air.
Thus Gun endured not as a man, but as Xuanyu—a dark spirit of the waters, carrying sorrow, power, and the memory of the floods wherever it swam.
Gallery
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 璋魚. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%84%E9%B1%BC
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
- Hermetic Deep Dive
Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive
Other
- How to Invite The Xuanyu