Bifang(毕方)

The Bifang (traditional Chinese: 畢方; simplified Chinese: 毕方; pinyin: Bì Fāng) is a mythological bird found in early Chinese lore. It is most famously known for having only one leg, though ancient sources offer slightly differing accounts of its appearance and symbolic meaning.

One of the earliest known references to the Bifang comes from the Hanfeizi, a work attributed to Han Fei in the third century BCE. In this text, the Bifang is described as an auspicious creature and is said to have served as a companion to the legendary Yellow Emperor, Huangdi.

The Shanhaijing, or Classic of Mountains and Seas, a text of uncertain origin but longstanding popularity, also includes the Bifang. Listed as entry sixty-nine, the bird is described as crane-like in shape, with red markings on a green body, a white beak, and only one leg. Its name is said to mimic the sound it makes, and it is regarded as an omen of fire. According to the Shanhaijing and later commentaries by scholars like Guo Pu, the Bifang was believed to live on Mount Zhang'e or in the region east of the Feathered People (Youmin) and west of the Blue River, placing it in a mythic wilderness far from the familiar world.

Another description appears in the Huainanzi, a philosophical and cosmological text developed by scholars around Liu An, ruler of Huainan, during the second century BCE. This text links the Bifang to the element of Wood in the system of Wu Xing (the Five Phases), highlighting the bird's symbolic role within early Chinese thought, where creatures were often connected to elemental forces and cosmic patterns.

Together, these accounts paint the Bifang as a rare and supernatural creature, interpreted as both a celestial omen and a reflection of deeper philosophical systems.