Gui Che: The Mysterious Nine-Headed Bird That Hides by Day and Emerges by Night

Gui Che, or Ghost Cart, also known as the Nine-Headed Bird, is a legendary creature from Chinese Mythology. It was said to have originally possessed ten heads, but lost one to a dog's bite. Its presence, often signaled by its mournful cry, is believed to bring misfortune. Descriptions portray a creature with a round body, ten necks, and nine heads, with one headless. Sightings are rare, but its appearance has been linked to ominous events, such as the sudden death of a noble mistress in one account.

《Eastern Qi Wild Utterances》

The "Ghost Cart," commonly known as the Nine-Headed Bird, also called the Quyi Bird. Legend has it that this bird once had ten heads, but one was bitten off by a dog. Since then, its blood has been dripping on people's homes, bringing disaster. Therefore, those who hear about it must scold the dog and extinguish the lights to hasten its passing. Often heard on stormy nights in the marshlands. There is a poem by Liu Yi-Weng that captures its mournful cry, yet few have actually seen its form. During the Chunxi era, Mr. Li Shou, while stationed in Changsha, once recruited people to capture it. Its body is round like a winnowing basket, with ten necks encircling it. Nine of these necks have heads while one remains headless, and blood drips as the legends say. Each leg bears two wings, and when it flies, the eighteen wings flap hastily, often causing entanglements and injuries due to their lack of coordination.

During the Jingding period, when the Princess of the Zhou Han Kingdom descended and resided on the left side of the Jiahui Gate, in the Flying Tower Corridor, near the Forbidden Palace, the noble mistress fell ill. One day, in broad daylight, a nine-headed bird perched on the mistress's clothes-beating stone, resembling a wild duck and as large as a winnowing basket. It cried mournfully, seemingly undeterred, and was shot at with arrows, but missed and flew away. That evening, the mistress passed away, reinforcing the belief in its ominous nature. This account is what I personally heard from Vice Prefect Fei.

《Antique Style》 by Mei Yaochen

In ancient times, Duke Zhou resided in the Eastern Zhou, detesting the Gui Che Bird as if it were his enemy. Calling upon the Ting clan at night, he led his followers to shoot arrows, attempting to drive it out of the Nine Provinces. Three arrows missed their mark, prompting the heavens to send celestial dogs to attack from above. Since the dog bit off one of its heads, its severed neck has continued to drip clear blood. Over the millennia, it has lurked like an owl, hiding by day and appearing by night. Whenever it passes in the darkness outside, a sudden glimpse of firelight startles and brings calamity. Sometimes, its blood stains the ground, heralding destruction for every household it touches.

《The Ghost Cart》 by Ouyang Xiu

In the autumn of the sixth year of Jiayou, on the twenty-eighth day of the ninth month, The sky was gloomy with no moonlight to be seen. Floating clouds obscured the sky, and the stars disappeared, Raising one's hand to the sky was like smearing paint. The heavens and earth were dark, with a mysterious presence, Its form unseen, but its sound heard. At first, it was sorrowful and mournful, sometimes high, sometimes low, Resembling the melodious tunes of a jade flute played by a jade maiden, with various pipes out of harmony. Then it became shrill and piercing, sounding like grinding or pulling, Resembling the dull sound of a hundred Jiangzhou carts, with their wheels and axles creaking. The loom of the night wove on the Jin River, startling the geese on the reed-covered islets. I wonder, what is this sound? At first, I could not fathom its origin. The old maid extinguished the lamp and called for the children's song, saying that this strange bird had no equal. It is called the Ghost Cart, carrying ghosts to roam the skies at night. Though its sound is faint, its body is massive, with wings arranged like ten cartwheels. Every bird has one mouth, and its chirping is melodious. This bird, with its ten heads, has ten mouths, each with a tongue connected to a throat. One sound comes out of one mouth, and a thousand sounds echo in response. In ancient times, Duke Zhou resided in the Eastern Zhou, detesting this bird as if it were his enemy. Calling upon the Ting clan at night, he led his followers to shoot arrows, attempting to drive it out of the Nine Provinces. Three arrows missed their mark, prompting the heavens to send celestial dogs to attack from above. Since the dog bit off one of its heads, its severed neck has continued to drip clear blood. Over the millennia, it has lurked like an owl, hiding by day and appearing by night. Whenever it passes in the darkness outside, a sudden glimpse of firelight startles and brings calamity. Sometimes, its blood stains the ground, heralding destruction for every household it touches. I heard this tale with astonishment and doubt, praying that it flies away swiftly without bringing me harm. I ponder the vastness of heaven and earth, where the intricacies of all things remain unclear. Fortune and misfortune lie within people, not in objects, where even a two-headed snake can bring auspiciousness. Now, I call upon the old maid to light the lamp, opening the curtains and doors of the Qinghua Hall. In an instant, the clouds disperse, and the stars emerge, with the tranquil night illuminated by the radiant moonlight.