Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures
In 2009, Baidu Baike hosted a playful hoax known as the Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures (or Ten Baidu Deities). A set of fake articles described imaginary animals with names that sound like Chinese profanities when spoken aloud. The joke was a light-hearted critique of government keyword filters and censorship, and it spread quickly across Chinese forums, portals, and chat groups. The meme also included fake videos, songs, and faux documentaries, with the Grass Mud Horse becoming the best-known symbol of resistance to online censorship (often contrasted with the “river crab,” a humorous stand-in for censorship).
The original hoax started with four creatures and later grew to ten. Here are the ten, in short, easy-to-understand terms:
- Grass Mud Horse (Cǎo Ní Mǎ): A pretend alpaca-like creature whose name sounds like a profanity; it’s framed as a defender against censorship, often depicted fighting river crabs who symbolize censorship.
- French-Croatian Squid (Fa Kè Yóu): A fictional squid named to resemble a crude English phrase; described as a European squid with exaggerated, silly traits.
- Small Elegant Butterfly (Ya Mie Die): A butterfly said to change color and glow, tied to playful myths about its magical nature.
- Chrysanthemum Silkworms (Ju Hua Cán): Silkworms said to feed on chrysanthemums; the name plays on slang about the chrysanthemum and the buttocks, used to lampoon old Silk Road-era myths and ancient science.
- Quail-Pigeon (Chún Gē): A bird whose name is a homophone for a famous pop star’s nickname; linked to playful cultural references about youth and fame.
- Lucky Journey Cat (Ji Bā Māo): A cat with a pun-filled name, linked to jokes about bodies and humor; said to live in dark, damp places and compete with a “White Tiger.”
- Stretch-Tailed Whale (Wèi Shēn Jīng): A whale whose name sounds like a common item in everyday life; used in jokes about everyday objects in new contexts.
- Singing Rice Goose (Yín Dào Yàn): A goose tied to a pun with a medical term; featured in stories about fields, geese, and odd illnesses.
- Intelligent Fragrant Chicken (Dá Fēi Jī): A chicken that “performs” during mating season; the name plays on slang and double meanings.
- Hidden Fiery Crab (Qián Liè Xiè): A crab linked to a pun with a male anatomy term; part of tales about ancient waterways and legends.
These creatures were mainly a humorous protest against overly strict online filters and censorship. The meme sparked countless parodies and references across Chinese websites, and it became a notable example of people using humor and wordplay to comment on censorship online.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:44 (CET).