Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternative names: Jiegou; Keikin (Japanese variant)
Category: Bird, Rat
The Myth
The Kekko is a legendary bird described in the ancient Chinese Classic of Mountains and Seas. It is said to dwell upon Mount Kō, where it resembles a duck but possesses the tail of a mouse and is unusually adept at climbing trees.
The bird is feared as a harbinger of disease. Whenever a Kekko appears in a region, sickness is believed to spread among the people, making its arrival a dreadful omen. Rather than attacking directly, its mere presence foretells widespread illness.
In later centuries, stories of the Kekko spread from China to Japan through encyclopedias and illustrated collections of strange creatures. During the Edo period it was occasionally depicted alongside other exotic birds and beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, preserving its reputation as one of the ominous creatures of ancient Chinese legend.
Sources
TYZ. (2020, March 15). ケッコ (Kekko). In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1077285093.html