Chinese Lore- A Selection of Mythical Fauna (3)

Tiao Fish

Physical Description:

A fish that looks like a four-headed chicken with red feathers, six feet and three tails. Its call sounds like that of the magpie.

Special Properties:

Consuming its meat is a cure for anxiety.

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Heng Gong Fish

Physical Description:

A 1.5-1.6m long fish that looks like a carp that is red throughout.

Special Properties:

Consuming its meat is a cure for illnesses created by evil or the supernatural.

Lore:

It lives in a frozen lake by day and becomes human at night. Its flesh cannot be penetrated by conventional weaponry nor can it be killed by boiling. However, it will die instantly if you cook it in a pot with two dark plums.

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Huan

Physical Description:

A creature that looks like a wild cat except for only having one eye and three tails.

Special Properties:

Its call can beat that of one hundred other species of animals. Adopting it as a pet can protect against villainy. Consuming its meat is a cure for jaundice.

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Ru Pi

Physical Description:

A fish that looks like an upside-down pot, with a bird’s head.

Special Properties:

Its call sounds like the sound of striking rock. It can spit out gems from its mouth.