Chinese Fish Mythology Archives

The Myth

The Dan fish is a legendary fish surrounded by a red, glowing aura. When it appears, its body shines as if lit by fire, and the light rises above the water. It is said to live in deep pools and only comes close to the surface at certain times.

According to belief, if a person cuts the Dan fish and smears its blood on their feet, they gain the power to walk across the surface of water. Because of this ability, the fish is regarded as extraordinary and dangerous to approach.

In some stories, people who see the glowing fish are filled with awe and fear. They believe it is not an ordinary creature, and many refuse to touch or eat it, considering it a sacred or divine being.

Tradition / Region: Chinese mythology
Category: Fish, Carp

The Myth

The Red Carp is a strange and unusual fish described in Chinese legend. It has the body of a fish but the face of a human, making it both familiar and unsettling in appearance. The creature is said to live in the Winged Marsh, a remote and mysterious wetland.

When the Red Carp cries out, its voice is said to resemble the call of a mandarin duck. Despite its uncanny form, the fish is associated with healing rather than danger. According to tradition, eating the Red Carp can cure scabies.

The Red Carp is recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, specifically in the Southern Mountains Classic, where it appears as one of the many strange beings inhabiting distant and mythical landscapes.

Gallery

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 赤鱬. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%B5%A4%E9%B1%AC

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 Red Carp