qilin
Also known as kirin, girin, ky-lin, ch'i-lin, chi-lin, Chinese unicorn, dragon-horse
The qilin ( ; ) is a legendary hooved chimerical creature that appears in Chinese mythology, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or death of a sage or illustrious ruler. Qilin are a specific type of the mythological family of one-horned beasts. The qilin also appears in the mythologies of other Chinese-influenced cultures.
Key facts
- Mythical creature.name
- Qilin
- Mythical creature.image
- Qilin-shaped incense burner 1 CAC.JPG
- Mythical creature.caption
- Qilin-shaped incense burner (Qing dynasty, )
- Mythical creature.Grouping
- Legendary creature
- Mythical creature.Sub_Grouping
- Chimera
- Mythical creature.Country
- China
- Mythical creature.First_Attested
- 5th century BCE
- Mythical creature.Similar_entities
- kirin, ,
- Chinese.title
- Qilin
- Chinese.pic
- Qilin (Chinese characters).svg
- Chinese.piccap
- "Qilin" in Chinese characters
- Chinese.picupright
- 0.5
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Origins
- Description
- Qilin as unicorns
- Other cultural representations
- Japan
- Korea
- Thailand
- Qilin Dance
- Gallery
- See also
- References
- External links
The qilin ( ; ) is a legendary hooved chimerical creature that appears in Chinese mythology, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or death of a sage or illustrious ruler. Qilin are a specific type of the mythological family of one-horned beasts. The qilin also appears in the mythologies of other Chinese-influenced cultures.
== Origins == thumb|Qilin tomb guardian, 4th century CE|leftThe earliest mention of the mythical qilin is in the poem included in the Classic of Poetry (11th – 7th c. BCE).