Thread by @of_mythology

THE STORY OF THE QILIN; THE CHINESE UNICORN
East Asian Mythology

The Qilin is a mythical creature that appears in Chinese, Japanese and even Korean mythology. It is said to have the body of a deer/horse, but its body is covered in fish scales, and sometimes engulfed in fire

Over time, the depictions of the Qilin have changed, most times being said to have a singular horn. Sometimes it is compared to the structure of a unicorn, and most times it is referred to as the Chinese unicorn. In Japan it is called the Kirin and in Vietnamese it is the Ky Lan

The Qilin's origins are rooted in Chinese mythology, even though it makes appearances in other regions of Asia.
They were regarded as one of the rarest and most powerful creatures and due to that, their sightings were rare. They only appeared during the reign of a good and....

just ruler, or before the death and birth of a Sage. The creature is most times shown as calm and benevolent. It was even said to walk on small clouds so as to not damage a blade of grass or cause harm to other creatures.

The earliest references to the Qilin are dated back to the 5th century BC. Apparently, Emperor Wu of Han captured a live Qilin in 122 BC.
It is said that the female is called the "lin" while the male is called the "qi", and therefore Qilin is a name for the entire species

The Qilin was a revered creature that was only seen in the wild during peace and harmony. Many believed its presence meant the start of a golden age.

The image of the Qilin once became associated with the image of the giraffe in the Ming Dynasty. This was when Zheng He(image below) came back from his voyage to East Africa(more specifically modern day Somalia). The Ming Dynasty bought giraffes from the Somalia merchants, among

other exotic animals. Zheng He's fleet however brought back two giraffes to Nanjing, and he referred to them as the Qilin. The Emperor proclaimed them to be magical creatures and their capture signaled the greatness of his power/reign.

The Qilin can never harm any soul which it considers to be good and pure. When threatened, the Qilin can burn down anything/anyone with its breath of holy fire.
Mostly, the Qilin hides its supernatural powers until it feels the need to defend itself or other people from the...

actions of the evil doers.
The Qilin is so pure that many consider them as a symbol of justice and wisdom. Some also see them as omens of good fortune.

End of thread.
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