Tradition: Chinese mythology
Alternative names: Liu (鯥)
Category: Cow, Fish
The Myth
Three hundred li east of the previous region lies Root Mountain, a strange place filled with rivers but lacking plants and trees.
A peculiar creature lives there called the Liu. Although it is a fish, its body resembles an ox. It lives among the hills and possesses a snake’s tail, while wings and feathers grow along its ribs.
The Liu makes a sound resembling that of the Lingering-Ox and has a remarkable seasonal existence. It appears during summer and dies during winter, leading the ancient commentator Guo Pu to suggest that this description might refer to a form of hibernation.
The Liu also possesses medicinal properties. Eating it is said to prevent swellings.
Sources
Strassberg, Richard E., ed. and trans. A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002.