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Goumang (勾芒)

Goumang (勾芒) in the east has a bird’s body and a human face. He rides on two dragons. Guo P'u (郭璞) noted that he has a square head, and wears white. He was one of the messengers of the Supreme God Di bestowing punishments or rewards. The following anecdote recorded in the book Mo Tzu (墨子):

Once, Duke Mu of Qin was carrying out a sacrifice in his ancestral temple at dawn when a god entered the gate and stood to the left. He had a bird’s body, wore white silk with trimmings, and had a dignified, squareshaped face. When Duke Mu saw him, he was fearful and tried to flee. The god said, “Have no fear! The Supreme God Di is pleased with your luminous virtue and has sent me to bestow upon you nineteen more years of life that
you may bring prosperity to your state and family, that your descendants may multiply, and that you may maintain the state of Qin.” Duke Mu bowed twice to the ground in submission and said, “May I dare to ask your name, Divine One?” “I am Goumang,” he replied.

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