Xiao (mythology)

In Chinese mythology, the xiao is the name of several creatures, including the xiao (Chinese: 囂; pinyin: xiāo; Wade–Giles: hsiao1) "a long-armed ape" or "a four-winged bird" and shanxiao (Chinese: 山魈; pinyin: shānxiāo) "mischievous, one-legged mountain spirit". Furthermore, some western sources misspell and misconstrue the older romanisation hsiao as "hsigo" [sic] "a flying monkey".

Chinese Xiao

Xiao or Hsiao (simplified Chinese: 嚣; traditional Chinese: 囂; pinyin: xiāo; Wade–Giles: hsiao; literally: "clamor"), alternately pronounced Ao (pinyin: aó; Wade–Giles: ao), is a mythological creature described as resembling either an ape or a bird.

The Chinese word xiao (囂) means "noise; clamor; hubbub; haughty; proud; arrogant". During the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE), Xiao was both the name of a historical capital (near modern Zhengzhou in Henan province) during the era of King Zhong Ding (r. c. 1421-1396 BCE), and the given name of King Geng Ding (r. c. 1170-1147 BCE).

The Chinese character (囂) for xiao ideographically combines the radicals kou (口 "mouth", quadrupled as 㗊) and ye (頁) "head", thus signifying "many voices". The first Chinese character dictionary, the (121 CE) Shuowen Jiezi defines xiao (囂) as sheng (聲) "sound; noise", and cryptically says (气出頭上) "qi is emitted on top of the head", which Duan Yucai's commentary explains as (聲出而气隨之) "noise is emitted and qi follows it".

Shan

Shan may refer to:

People

Places

Shaan Shahid

Armaghan Shahid (born 27 April 1971), popularly known as Shaan, or Shaan Shahid) is a Pakistani actor, writer, model, and film director. With two decades in Pakistani cinema and around 500 films to his credit – many of them commercially successful. He is one of the most popular face of Lollywood (a name given to Pakistan's Film Industry). – Shaan has established himself as the leading actor of Pakistan. Shaan started his acting career in 1990 by making debut in Javed Fazli's film Bulandi opposite to Reema Khan. He has won many awards in Pakistan including one Pride of Performance, four National Film Awards, fifteen Nigar Awards, five Lux Style Awards, one Pakistan Media Award, ARY Film Award.

Early life and family

Armaghan Shahid better known today as Shaan Shahid was born in Lahore to director Riaz Shahid and television, theatre and film actress Neelo. His father was a Punjabi Muslim whereas his mother was Punjabi Christian who embraced Islam. His paternal uncle Fiaz Shahid was a cameraman and producer for PTV in Islamabad.

Insect from Shaggai

An Insect from Shaggai is a member of a fictional alien race (also known as the Shan) in the Cthulhu Mythos. The being was created by British author Ramsey Campbell, who was inspired by a similar creature in H. P. Lovecraft's commonplace book. The Shan first appeared in Campbell's short story "The Insects From Shaggai" (1964).

Summary

At last a shape appeared, flapping above the ground on leathery wings. The thing which flew whirring toward me was followed by a train of others, wings slapping the air at incredible speed... I could ... make out many more details... Those huge lidless eyes which stared in hate at me, the jointed tendrils which seemed to twist from the head in cosmic rhythms, the ten legs, covered with black shining tentacles and folded into the pallid underbody, and the semi-circular ridged wings covered with triangular scales... I saw the three mouths of the thing move moistly, and then it was upon me.
—Ramsey Campbell, "The Insects from Shaggai"

The Insects from Shaggai, or Shan, are a race of pigeon-sized interstellar refugees who arrived on Earth centuries ago. The Shan hail from the planet Shaggai, a world that orbits twin emerald suns. In its heyday, the technologically advanced Shan lived in globular dwellings within huge cities. As devout worshippers of the Outer God Azathoth, they erected pyramidal temples containing "multidimensional gates" whereby "that from Outside" (an aspect of Azathoth called Xada-Hgla) could enter.

Pao

Pao or PAO may refer to:

Fiction

People

Places

Organizations

Baozi

A baozi (Chinese:  包子) or simply known as bao, bau, humbow, nunu, bakpao (Hokkien), bausak, pow, pau or pao (Hakka) is a type of steamed, filled, bun or bread-like (i.e. made with yeast) item in various Chinese cuisines, as there is much variation as to the fillings and the preparations. In its bun-like aspect it is very similar to the traditional Chinese mantou. It can be filled with meat and/or vegetarian fillings. In Japanese, the dish is known as "paozu".

Two types are found in most parts of China and Indonesia: Dabao ("big bun"), measuring about 10 cm across, served individually, and usually purchased for take-away. The other type, xiaobao ("small bun"), measure approximately 5 cm wide, and are most commonly eaten in restaurants, but may also be purchased for take-away. Each order consists of a steamer containing between three and ten pieces. A small ceramic dish is provided for vinegar or soy sauce, both of which are available in bottles at the table, along with chili paste and garlic paste.

Pao (fish)

Pao (synonym Monotrete) is a genus of mostly freshwater pufferfish with one species (M. leiurus) also occurring in brackish water. They are found in Southeast Asia.

Species

There are currently 13 recognized species in this genus:

References