The Qilin/Kirin - The Chinese Unicorn - (Japanese/Chinese Mythology Explained)

When searching mythology for rare and unique supernatural creatures, they can be found across all regions and today we'll be taking a look at some eastern asian mythology with the Qilin or the Kirin as it's referred to in Japan. The Qilin is composed of several different animals much like the chimera of greek mythology and it appears in Chinese, Japanese and Korean mythology. It is often depicted as having the body of a horse or a deer but its body is covered in fish scales and sometimes engulfed in fire not too dissimilar to that of the Chinese dragon. Over time its depictions have slowly changed with some having a singular horn leading to the Qilin being compared to the unicorn and sometimes even being referred to as the Chinese unicorn. The Qilin's origins are rooted in Chinese mythology but it does appear in other regions of Asia going by the name of the Kirin in Japan and the Girin in Korea. Sightings of the Qilin were often few and far as they were widely regarded as one of the rarest and most powerful creatures. They would only appear during the reign of a good and just ruler or before the death and birth of a sage. The Qilin was a regal and revered creature that was only seen in the wild during times of peace and harmony. Many believe that its presence would The creature is normally shown as calm and benevolent, refusing to harm other creatures and even walking on small clouds as to not damage a blade of grass. The Qilin would never do harm to any soul that it considers to be good and pure but when threatened the Qilin can incinerate anything with its breath of holy fire. The Qilin for the most part keeps its supernatural powers hidden until it feels the need to defend itself or other people from the actions of evildoers. The purity of the Qilin has led to the animal being seen as a symbol of justice and wisdom with many considering them to be omens of good fortune. Because of the Qilin's association with greatness it was quite common for Chinese emperors to desire the appearance of one as this would help legitimize their reign and enhance their reputation amongst their people. There is a tale of a Ming emperor in the 15th century who returned to China after a voyage from East Africa with his fleet. With him he bought a pair of giraffes. These giraffes were acquired from merchants when his fleet landed in modern day Somalia. The emperor claimed that these animals were magical and he used them as a way to legitimize his greatness. This led to many of the Chinese people associating and comparing the giraffe and the Qilin. This could also be seen in other cultures as the Japanese word for giraffe is very similar to that of Qilin. The Qilin is a truly fascinating creature not only because its appearance is unique and majestic but because it shows us that looks can be deceiving. It may appear as a fierce and dangerous creature that you would never wish to come across but that is the exact opposite of what the Qilin truly is. I hope you guys enjoyed today's video, if you did then let me know what you guys thought in comments below. But as always, I've been your host, Mythology and Fiction Explained.