Classic of Mountains and Seas

"The Classic of Mountains and Seas", "The Book of Changes" and "The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic" are also known as the "Three Wonderful Books of Ancient Times" in my country. Its content ranges from astronomy, geography, animals, plants, minerals, to ethnicity, religion, mythology, witchcraft, etc., Covering everything from the south to the sea, and it can be called the only self-contained system among ancient Chinese books. The book records in detail the geographical directions of more than 500 mountain systems, the origins and directions of more than 300 rivers, the customs of more than 40 "countries" and "ethnicities", involving more than 100 mythical characters, more than 100 medicinal animals and plants, and more than 400 kinds of miraculous monsters. It preserves a large number of ancient myths and legends. At the same time, with its rich illustrations and text and unique narrative style, it started the tradition of compiling ancient books on strange things in my country. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" has 18 existing chapters (it is said that the original book totaled 22 chapters) with about 32,000 words. It is divided into two major parts: "The Classic of Mountains" and "The Classic of Seas". It contains 5 chapters of "The Classic of Mountains", 4 chapters of "The Overseas Classic", 4 chapters of "The Classic of Seas" and 5 chapters of "The Great Wilderness Classic". "Hanshu·Yiwenzhi" contains 13 chapters, excluding "Da Huang Jing" and "Hai Nei Jing". Therefore, some people believe that these five chapters may have been added by Liu Xiang and his son during the Western Han Dynasty. The content of the "Complete Works of Classics of Mountains and Seas" compiled by an unknown person is composed of 5 chapters of "Shan Jing" and 4 chapters of "Overseas Classic"; 4 chapters of "Hai Nei Jing" are a group; and 4 chapters of "Da Huang Jing" and 1 chapter of "Hai Nei Jing" at the end of the book are another group. The organizational structure of each group has its own beginning and end, runs through the front and back, and has an order and purpose.