The mythical kirin is an oxen-hooved animal with a dragon-like head surmounted by a pair of deer's antlers and flame-like head ornaments. It has the scales of a snake and a hairy tail.
This celestial beast could live for 2,000 years. Its mouth can spit fire and roar like thunder. 'Ki' is the male and 'rin' the female. The female 'rin' does not have horns.
The depiction of this auspicious animal may vary, due to the cultural differences between Chinese dynasties and regions.
Kirin originally occupied the top position among the four divine creatures. However, the dragon later was favoured by the Chinese emperors and became a symbol of royalty. Kirin, as a result, became more closely associated with the common folks, who regarded the auspicious animal as the protector of their homes.
YOU ARE READING
Mythical Creatures
FantasyThis is the book of all of mythical creatures. Hope this useful for writing your fantasy story.
