The circa 4th or 3rd century BCE Erya lexicon section shòu (獸; "beasts") defines mo (貘; "giant panda") as a baibao (白豹; "white leopard"). The c. 3rd or 2nd century BCE Shanhai Jing (Classic of Mountai

Xianyang City Bureau... @Xianyan... Jul 30, 2021
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Random question: are pandas mentioned in the classics at all? What are
pandas even called in classical Chinese?
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Xianyang City Bureaucrat @XianyangCB Jul 30, 2021
Extinct and totally made up animals are covered in huge detail, but can't
think of a single panda mention. Are pandas an Did the government
just start dying polar bears in the 50$ to give as diplomatic presents? We
must know.
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Xianyang City Bureaucrat
@XianyangCB
Check out Wikipedia tying to persuade that a bunch of clearly
mythical leopards and unicorns are actually panda references. call
If these things existed back then they'd have been making viagra out of
their spleens.
Early references
Main (Chinese zoology)
In the past, pandas were thought to be rare and noble creatures the Empress Dowager was buried with a panda
skull in her vault. The grandson of Emperor Taizong of Tang is said to have given Japan two pandas and a sheet of
panda skin as a sign of goodwill. Unlike many other in Ancient China, pandas were rarely thought to have
medical uses. The few known uses include the Sichuan tribal peoples’ use of panda urine to melt accidentally swallowed
needies, and the use of panda to contro! menstruation as described in the Qin dynasty encyclopedia
The creature named mentioned in some ancient books has been interpreted as giant The dictionary
Shuowen Jiezi (Eastern Han Dynasty) says that the from Shu (Sichuan), is bear-like, but
although the older Erya describes simply as a "White leopard” The interpretation of the legendary fierce creature
pixiu (8) as referring to the giant panda Is also