Taowu

Etymology

The name Taowu is formed from two uncommon characters. Paul W. Kroll et al connect 檮/梼 (tao) with a block of wood or a tree stump, while 杌 (wu) typically denotes a stool. In the Records of the Grand Historian, 檮 appears as 梼, which is also the simplified form. Semantically, the term originally designated a kind of beast, but its meaning later broadened to include mythical creatures generally, a now-lost text on Chu history, and violent, obstinate individuals.

In traditional historiography

Sima Qian records Taowu as a label for a rebellious, destructive son of Zhuanxu, progenitor of the Youyu clan. This figure was stubborn, unable to learn, and impossible to appease, causing trouble through the reign of Emperor Yao until Emperor Shun banished him with the other Four Perils to the kingdom's outer reaches. Guoyu and Shuo Yuan place Taowu at Mt. Pi during the Shang dynasty. The Book of Gods and Strange Things describes Taowu as a monster with a human face, tiger's feet, a pig's mouth and teeth, and an 18-foot tail, also giving the alternate names Aohen and Nanxun.

Did You Know?

• Mencius records Taowu as a history of the State of Chu.
• The Northern Song scholar Zhang Tangying wrote a text titled Shu Taowu, a history of the Later Shu dynasty.
• A trans-Neptunian object, 471325 Taowu, and a machairodont genus, Taowu liui, are named after it.