Zheng

Chinese mythology has long fascinated me. I can’t explain why, but Asian mythology was more interesting than classic Greek or Roman mythology.

Which means OF COURSE I’m going to add in Chinese monsters if I get a chance!

And this one… yeah, it’s a cracker.

There’s an ancient Chinese text, 山海经 (Shan Hai Jing—apologies if I've mangled that; I copied it from a site because I can’t, in fact, read Chinese!). Translated, it’sknown in English as The Classic of Mountains and Seas.

And it’s jam-packed full of cool myths and legends, including this one: the Zheng.

According to the text, Zhang’e Mountain is home to a very strange and terrifying monster.
The mountain has no grass, no trees—just rocks and dirt, and beautiful stones and jade. Perhaps that’s why the Zheng is said to be red or crimson coloured.

Actually, while researching this beast, something kept coming up that I found interesting: the ancient Zhang’e Mountain is sometimes conflated with the modern Zhangye region. Perhaps it’s just the similarity in their names. Nothing I found suggested they have any actual geographical connection for sure.

Which is a shame, because Zhangye is home to some of the most spectacularly coloured rock formations in the world. I can’t help imagining a red Zheng prowling among them.

The text describes it as something like a leopard or panther, which doesn’t sound monstrous—until it continues with the other features this creature has.

According to the Lore, the Zheng has five tails. Yep. And a horn.

Kind of like a really scary unicorn.

Like it needed another weapon.

It already has teeth and claws!

But I think my favourite piece of lore about this incredible animal is this: apparently, the call it makes sounds like stone striking stone.

Imagine walking up that mountain. Nothing but dirt and rocks. Nothing soft. Nothing green.

And then, echoing across the emptiness - the sound of stones hitting each other.

I don’t know about you, but I’d think “avalanche!” before I’d think “magical red leopard/lion with five tails and a horn!”

But that’s just me.

I snuck a mention of one into Blood on the Ferns (skim and you’ll miss it!), but I really want to have them as a ‘feature monster’ at some point.

That’s always my problem. Too many monsters, not enough plots. Or perhaps … not enough time to write all the plots!

Ah, I’m working on it. I have quite the backlog now.

But if you’d like to see a Zheng (or any other creature) in a future book, drop me a line! I’m always open to suggestions, and I promise I’ll try my best to work it in somehow!