Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Pearl Turtle, 珠鳖鱼
Category: Turtle
The Myth
The Zhubieyu is an unusual aquatic creature found in the Li River and Yu Lake near Vine Mountain in Chinese tradition. It resembles a lung or a piece of dried meat, with four eyes and six legs. The creature contains pearls and can spit them out. Its flesh tastes both sweet and sour.
The Zhubieyu is considered a delicacy, and eating it is believed to protect against seasonal epidemics and furunculosis. The scholar Guo Pu described these creatures as “floating lungs” embodying Heaven, Earth, and humanity, remarking on the irony that their usefulness leads to their capture and consumption.
The Zhubieyu is thought to resemble a softshell turtle, sometimes described as a red or pearled softshell.
Sources
“Zhubieyu.” A Book of Creatures, July 17, 2015. https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/17/zhubieyu/