Further on Rikard Nordgren's enquiry about the = Kylin and for=20 those who are interested, here are some further extracts from my library = on the=20 details of the Kylin:

“The Ch’lin (Japanese Kirin) = whose prototype may have=20 been some rare species of quadruped now extinct, or possibly the = giraffe, is a=20 fabulous creature of good omen and the symbol of longevity, grandeur, = felicity,=20 illustrious offspring and wise administration.

It is reputed to be able to walk on water as well = as on land=20 and is said to have last appeared just before the death of Confucius. It = is=20 sometimes called the Dragon Horse and is one of the four great mythical = animals=20 of China, the others being the Dragon, Phoenix and Tortoise. It is = represented=20 by Buddhists as carrying on it back the civilising Book of Law. A Dragon = Horse=20 is recorded to have come up out of the Yellow River and appeared to Fu = His, the=20 first legendary emperor, bearing on its back a mystic map from which the = language of China is said to have been evolved.

The predominant characteristic of the Lin is = its=20 perfect goodwill, gentleness and benevolence to all living = creatures.” (From=20 Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives 1931).

“The unicorn is supposed to combine and = possess all the good=20 qualities which are to be found among hairy animals: it is invested with = a skin=20 of the gayest colours, endowed with a disposition of the kindest = feelings; and a=20 discriminating mind, that enables it to know when benevolent kings or = wise sages=20 are to appear in the world, is attributed to it. The male of called = ch’i=20 and the female lin; it resembles a large stag in its general = form;=20 but combines the body of the musk deer with the tail of an ox, the = forehead of a=20 wolf and hooves of a horse. Its skin is of five colours, red, yellow, = blue,=20 white and black; and it is yellow under the belly; it is twelve cubits = high. Its=20 voice is like the sound of bells and other musical instruments. It has a = horn=20 proceeding out of the forehead, the tip of which is fleshy, and this=20 particularly pointed it out as an animal unfit for war. The male has a = horn, but=20 the female is without this defence. It carefully avoids treading upon = any living=20 insect, or destroying the grass under its feet, and its gait is = regulated=20 according to propriety. It never eats contrary to right (meaning that it = does=20 not eat carrion or what other animal have left), nor will it drink muddy = water;=20 and so well known is its disposition that other animals are not afraid = to see=20 its footsteps. It is always seen solitary and appears to mankind only = when a=20 king of the highest benevolence sits upon the throne, or when a sage is = about to=20 be born. The unicorn envelopes itself with benevolence and crowns itself = with=20 rectitude. Chinese writers say that it appeared in the halcyon days of = the=20 Emperors Yao and Shun, and was also seen at the time when Confucius was = born;=20 but so degenerate have mankind since become, that it has never shown = itself.=20 Some of them go so far as to affirm that the mother of Confucius became = pregnant=20 of him by stepping into to footsteps of a unicorn when she went to the = hills to=20 worship. This representation of ch’i lin combines most of = the external=20 characteristics, as described by the Chinese; it is sometimes drawn = surrounded=20 with fire, and other times with clouds” (From The Chinese = Repository, Notices of=20 Natural History, Vol. VII, 1838-9, pp.212-3).

Some writers state that it has the body of a horse, = is=20 covered in scales like a fish and has two horns bent backwards. The = celebrated=20 scholar Ts’ai Yung, A.D. 133-192, asserts that it is the incarnate = essence of=20 the five elements (Water, Fire, Metal, Wood and Earth).

“It is said to attain the age of one thousand = years and to be=20 the noblest form of animal creation, the emblem of perfect good” = (From Mayer’s=20 Chinese Readers Manual, Pt 1, 389).

It is regarded as a happy portent, on its alleged = appearance,=20 of the advent of good government or the birth of virtuous rulers.

Pictures of the Goddess of Fecundity, riding on a = unicorn and=20 holding a child in her arms, may often be seen in the nuptial chamber. = The=20 unicorn was formerly embroidered on the court robes of the military = officials of=20 the first grade.

George Hodges