Myth ColoringCreature notes · 猼訑 · bó yí
Bo Yi Coloring Page
Bo Yi is a sheep-like creature from the Shan Hai Jing, described with nine tails, four ears, and eyes on its back; wearing its hide was said to banish fear.
About Bo Yi
Origin
Bo Yi is recorded in the Southern Mountains section of the Shan Hai Jing. The text places it on Mount Ji, whose sunny slopes were rich in jade and whose shaded side was filled with strange trees. Within that uncanny landscape lived a creature associated with protection from fear.
Appearance
The ancient description gives Bo Yi the body of a sheep, nine tails, four ears, and a pair of eyes set upon its back. This artwork offers a modern interpretation through a tall horned mountain beast, a heavy layered mane, eye-like rings across its shoulders and back, and long patterned fur beneath a crescent moon. The visible design simplifies and stylizes the source rather than reconstructing every feature literally.
Legend
On Mount Ji, travelers were said to encounter Bo Yi among jade-bearing slopes and strange trees. Its many ears and backward-facing eyes made it seem alert in every direction, while its nine tails gave it a form unlike any ordinary flock animal. The Shan Hai Jing adds a brief piece of protective magic: wearing or carrying its hide would make a person unafraid. This is an ancient mythic claim, not a description of a real animal or a modern practice.
Symbolism
Bo Yi represents courage, vigilance, and the wish to master fear. Eyes on the back suggest awareness of dangers that cannot be seen directly, while the many ears and tails amplify the creature's supernatural presence. As a coloring page, its horns, layered coat, circular markings, moon, bare tree, clouds, and mountains invite earthy browns and golds or a more mysterious nocturnal palette.
Finished Artwork
Printable Coloring Page
Print the clean black-and-white line art, or download the A4-friendly PDF for your coloring table.
Coloring Ideas
The color reference is only a starting point. Try a palette that feels right to you: soft pencils for a quiet, storybook look, bold markers for stronger contrast, or colors inspired by a favorite landscape. You do not need to match the finished artwork exactly—this Bo Yi coloring page is yours to explore.
Color Preview
Printing Tips
- Print the black-and-white PDF at A4 size or choose “Fit to page.”
- Use crayons, colored pencils, or markers on a paper weight that suits your tools.
- Keep the color guide on screen or beside you for inspiration while coloring.