What kind of book is "The Classic of Mountains and Seas"?

"The Classic of Mountains and Seas" has always been considered a strange book in ancient China. The whole book is divided into two parts: "Shan Jing" and "Sea Jing": the former has five chapters of "Wuzang Mountain Sutra"; the latter has four chapters of "Overseas Sutra", five chapters of "Hai Nei Jing", and four chapters of "Great Wilderness Sutra",* ** 13 articles. Such a large-scale and rich-content book, why was it written, what is its nature, and what category should it be classified into?

In "Hanshu·Yiwenzhi", Ban Gu placed "Shan Hai Jing" in the "formalist" group of "Shu Shu Lue" according to the classification of Liu Xin's "Seven Strategies". They believe that this book is about "massaging the power of Kyushu" and seeking its "good or bad luck", which is similar to the superstitious book of later generations that pays attention to "Feng Shui". This classification is not accurate enough, so future generations will not use it.

There is a popular view that it is dedicated to recording weird mythological stories. Sima Qian said in "Historical Records: Biography of Dawan". "Of all the monsters in "The Classic of Mountains and Seas", I dare not speak of them." First of all, he points out the strange nature of his books. In the Ming Dynasty, Hu Yinglin further discussed in "Four Parts of Corruption": "The Classic of Mountains and Seas is the ancestor of ancient and modern language weirdness". Some modern scholars also advocate that it records myths and legends. For example, the female pot in "The Great Wilderness Western Classic", the Kuafu recovery in the "Great Wilderness Northern Classic", the Jingwei reclamation in the "Northern Mountain Classic", in addition to many mountain gods, sea gods, river gods, water gods, fire gods, etc. Gods of wind, rain, drought, sun and moon, etc.

Another more influential view is that it is a book of witchcraft, a book of rituals and a book of rituals and earth. Lu Xun said in "A Brief History of Chinese Novels": "The Classic of Mountains and Seas... is also an ancient witchcraft book". In ancient times, witches were religious leaders who communicated between people and gods. All activities of praying to ghosts and gods were managed by him. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" records directions, mountains, rivers, and roads because of the need to offer sacrifices to gods. Among them, "Overseas Western Classics" also records: "When climbing Mount Bao, the shamans follow from above and below." "The Western Classic of the Great Wilderness" also records: "Lingshan... Ten witches ascended and descended from then on." As for the strange places overseas, the residences of gods and men, and the places of monsters recorded in the "Hai Jing", they are the strange stories of Fang Tu who advocated the magic of gods and immortals during the Qin and Han Dynasties.