The Shangyang (), (or shang yang) in
Chinese mythology was a rainbird (i.e. it could predict rain). It was one of several important mythical birds in this tradition. The Shangyang was particularly associated with the Lord of Rain,
Yu Shi. Once the Shangyang was supposed to have visited the royal court at
Qi, where it performed a dance upon its one leg, whereupon an embassy was sent inquire of the meaning of this event to Confucius in the neighboring state of
Lu: the Shangyang was known to
Confucius, who predicted imminent heavy rain and advised the digging of drainage and the raising of dikes. As a result of following the sage's advise, Qi was spared calamity due to the ensuing inundation, whereas the other states who did not heed the advice were heavily damaged. This legendary incident has been often used to illustrate the folly of those who refuse to heed the words of the wise. Mythographer Lihui Yang associates Yu Shi with the
Bi Fang bird, instead.
[Yang, 243]
See also
*
Chinese mythology
*
Qingniao
The Qingniao () were blue or green birds which appear in Chinese mythology, popular stories, poetry, and religion (the Chinese are somewhat ambiguous in regard to English color vocabulary, and the word ''qing'' may and has been translated as Blue†...
*
Three-legged crow
Notes
References
*Christie, Anthony (1968). ''Chinese Mythology''. Feltham: Hamlyn Publishing. .
*Yang, Lihui, ''et al.'' (2005). ''Handbook of Chinese Mythology''. New York: Oxford University Press.
{{China-myth-stub
Mythological and legendary Chinese birds
Legendary creatures with absent body parts