Is “The image of the Queen Mother in Journey to the West and Classic of Mountains and Seas is vastly different.” true?

based on fact

The "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (Shan Hai Jing), in the chapter "Classic of the Western Mountains," records that the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) looks like a human but has a leopard's tail and tiger's teeth, and is good at howling, being half-human and half-beast. However, in "Journey to the West," Chapter 5, she is already the graceful and dignified Queen Mother of Yaochi (Jade Pool) who hosts the Peach Banquet in the heavenly court. The original text: "一朝,王母娘娘设宴,大开宝阁,瑶池中做蟠桃胜会。" ("Journey to the West," Chapter 5).

Queen Mother of the West

The image of the Queen Mother of the West differs greatly between the two books and ancient texts.

Sources cited above. Compiled with AI assistance and checked against those sources; for cultural reference.Data & method →

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