라텐예거
32) China - 3. Guicha
Literally translated as 'ghost cart,' it is a nine-headed monstrous bird, also called 'Guichazhu' or 'Jiuduzhu.' Its described appearance varies: a nine-headed bird resembling a red duck, a bird similar to an owl that is active at night and blind during the day, or a bird with a round body, multiple necks, and 18 wings. It is said to appear on dark or cloudy nights, emitting a bizarre cry like a running cart, and is believed to devour human souls. Originally, it had ten heads, but one was bitten off by a dog, leaving nine. Because of this, Guicha fears dogs. Therefore, when Guicha appeared, people would knock on doors or twist a dog's ear to make it bark. According to some legends, blood continuously flows from its severed necks, and misfortune befalls any house where the blood drips. In the poem 'Guicha' by the Song Dynasty scholar Ouyang Xiu, it is recounted that Duke Dan of Zhou, younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, attempted to drive away Guicha but failed. Heaven then sent a celestial dog (Tianquan) to bite off one of its heads.
2026.09.11 PM 7:43 (Modified) · View Count 33
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Lv.78
라텐예거
AuthorUnfinished stories. A 2010 article in the Journal of the Chinese Society for the History of Science and Technology suggests that the legend of the 'Guicha' (귀차) expanded because people rarely saw the creature in its true form due to its nocturnal habits and bizarre cries, leading to speculation that it might actually be an owl or a barn owl. There are also records of people predicting the weather based on the sounds the Guicha made at night. It was said that a sound flying from north to south indicated it was leaving its nest, signaling rain, while a sound flying from south to north meant it was returning to its nest, signaling clear skies. Some people also mistakenly refer to the 'Gohokjo' (고획조) as the Guicha. However, the 'Zheng Lei Ben Cao' (증류본초) clearly distinguishes between them, stating, "The Guicha and the Gohokjo are similar, so they are sometimes called by the same name, but they are different birds."
Lv.1
몬몬
Your insight in ecologically interpreting the background of the legend is truly outstanding. You've meticulously distinguished it from the 'Gohwekjo,' and I've learned a great deal about the 'Gwicha' from you.
Lv.59
고양이왕국의왕
New chapter of Cerberus....