Chinese oikotype of the “wild man”

The article analyzes the image of the “wild man” in the historical and folkloric context of Chinese cultural tradition based on a collection of texts from various sources. It presents key characterizations of the figure, possible typologies, and features of its description. Three types of “wild men” can be distinguished: “human-like animal,” “feral human,” and “The Hairy Maiden.” The dominant outward characteristics of the Chinese “wild man” are hairiness (symbolizing the boundary between human and animal, culture and nature), nakedness, and “size switching.” The “wild man” is usually alienated from society, lives in the mountains and forests, and sometimes interacts with people – this can take the form of attacks (both by the “wild man” and by people), hunting (of the “wild man”), kidnapping (of people), or chance encounters. In a number of stories, “wild men” are attributed with various superpowers: superhuman strength and speed, the ability to fly, longevity, etc., which can bring them closer to otherworldly beings or even Taoist saints. In Chinese tradition, wildness is understood as a form of otherness, combining natural, otherworldly, and even sacred elements, and the image of the “wild man” serves as the boundary between the human and non-human worlds, between civilization and nature.

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