| I've always been very curious about Chinese mythology and their gods or magical beasts. But, I'm typically on the search for any new spin on it, or anything new to uncover which I hadn't before...
Every once in a while, someone will publish something online that brings more information, or more variations of the topic.
It's pretty much a given that everyone likes Chinese dragons. (me too)
But, my personal favorite is still the Qilin.
I'm glad I'm finding more bits and peices about them.
It's really fascinating to find more information on the topic. last year Wiki didn't have any info on them, and now they have much...
I was also fascinated to learn about Admiral Zheng He whom navigated much of the Asian Ocean and brought the Chinese culture of the Ming Dynasty to many Asian nations which still use the Chinese calenders and ideas today. While on his mission he went all the way to Affrica to get some Giraffes.
The reason he went to pick up 2 Giraffes was because he believed they were Qilin.
It was a very smart move on his part because a Qilin would symbolize that his emperor was of greatness during his reign. This was especially important because the budget amount spent on his expeditions was huge and many Eunuchs like himself (Zheng he) had begun to be resented because of their status and level in the society as very wealthy. So, had he not brought them back, he most likely wouldn't have kept his job. Job status was everything then.
So, During the Ming Dynasty the Qilin is often depicted as a Giraffe. I'm told that because of this, the Japanese still call Giraffes as êi—Ù, even tho' in China they no longer use this word for a Giraffe.
Another interesting bit of information is that the art during the time of the Ming Dynasty doesn't always depict Giraffes as Qilin but instead their statues of them as more Oxen-like or thick and bulky, or even horse like without cloven deer hooves but with horse hooves...
Another question I'd been asking for years, but never got much information about is the flames on the bodies.
Truly, it does depend upon the artist... but, in some art depicting Qilin, they have parts of their bodies on fire. Yet, in other versions of art it's just tufts of hair or feathers, or even finds like fish.
So, it's totally up to your interpretation. Tho' I've been told their are Fire Qilin also. Strangely tho' Qilin are never ill tempered. Even tho' they are often shown roaring and fierce they are quite peacful. |
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