Xingtian

The Beheaded Warrior

A defiant warrior decapitated by the Yellow Emperor who fought on using his nipples as eyes and navel as mouth.

The Shanhaijing says: "Xingtian contended with the Emperor for godhead; the Emperor cut off his head and buried it on Changyang Mountain. Xingtian then made his nipples his eyes and his navel his mouth, and brandished shield and axe to dance on." The image of the unyielding headless warrior inspired Tao Yuanming: "Xingtian dances with shield and axe; his fierce will stands forever."