Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: 蜮, Duǎnhú (短狐)
Category: Turtle

---

The Myth

The Yù is a dangerous supernatural creature from Chinese mythology, also known as the Duǎnhú, or Short Fox. It resembles a turtle or soft-shelled turtle, with a strange and threatening nature that makes it feared by those who encounter it. Despite its turtle-like appearance, the Yù possesses a deadly supernatural ability that allows it to attack people from a distance.

The Yù attacks by taking sand into its mouth and shooting it at its victims. Anyone struck by this supernatural sand may suffer violent muscle spasms, severe headaches, and fever. The creature’s attack can cause increasingly serious illness, and those afflicted may die if the effects are severe enough. The Yù is therefore feared as a hidden menace capable of inflicting deadly harm without directly biting or clawing its prey.

---

Sources

“蜮 (Yù).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%9C%AE

---