Myth ColoringCreature notes · 丹鱼 · dān yú
Dan Yu Coloring Page
Dan Yu is a radiant divine fish from Chinese legend, said to shine like fire at night and to grant the power to walk across water when its blood was applied to the feet.
About Dan Yu
Origin
The earliest surviving account of the Dan Yu is associated with the Northern Wei scholar Li Daoyuan's Commentary on the Water Classic (Shui Jing Zhu), in the section on the Dan River. The text says that Dan Yu emerge from the river shortly before the summer solstice, making the creature a rare auspicious sign connected with a particular waterway and season.
Appearance
The source describes the Dan Yu through light rather than anatomy: when the fish floated beside the water at night, a red radiance shone upward like fire. This artwork interprets that dazzling presence as a red-and-gold celestial fish with sweeping fins, luminous scales, and flashes of turquoise moving through clouds, moonlit water, and ancient towers.
Legend
Li Daoyuan records that people watched for Dan Yu at night during the ten days before the summer solstice. When the fish rose near the surface, its crimson glow lit the water like flame. According to the legend, a captured fish's blood could be spread on a person's feet, allowing that person to walk on the surface of the water and remain in deep pools for a long time. Because sightings were extraordinarily rare, meeting a Dan Yu came to be regarded as a promise of good fortune.
Symbolism
Dan Yu represents radiance, rarity, and auspicious change. Its fire-like light transforms dark water into a place of wonder, while the water-walking legend joins two realms that normally remain separate. As a coloring page, its paired fish, flowing fins, clouds, stars, and circles invite a vivid red, gold, and turquoise palette—or an entirely new vision of this elusive omen.
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 Dan Yu 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.