Lin is a traditional mythical beast in ancient Chinese myths and legends. It has a gentle temperament and is said to live for two thousand years. The ancients believed that wherever the unicorn appears, there must be auspiciousness. Sometimes used to describe people with outstanding talents and both political integrity and talent.
The ancients called the male Qi and the female Lin. The difference between Qilin and Pixiu: Qilin is an auspicious pet of the god, and it represents peace and longevity. Pixiu is a ferocious auspicious pet, and has a particularly strong desire to protect its owner. It has the function of attracting wealth and blessings, and protecting the house from evil spirits. It feeds on wealth and can eat wealth from all directions. The Han folk generally use Qilin to bring peace and longevity, and Pixiu to attract wealth, control the house, and ward off evil spirits. Due to their profound cultural connotations, Kirin and Pixiu are made into various ornaments and ornaments in the traditional Chinese folk rituals for wearing and placing at home, with the purpose of praying for blessings and peace.
At the same time, the ancients believed that the dragon represented gods, heaven, emperors, peace, etc., so the dragon was gradually monopolized by the royal family. The phoenix also means wisdom, temperament (the qualities a woman should have), and ambition. Therefore, the people widely use Qilin and Xuanwu (tortoise) as their mascots.
Kilin culture
Kilin culture is the traditional folk culture of the Han nationality. For example, the Kirin giving birth to a child is an old Chinese fertility folk custom. Legend has it that the Kirin is a benevolent pet, a symbol of good luck, and can bring children to people. On the eve of Confucius's death, Qilin wrote a jade calligraphy at his house, which read: "The descendants of Shuijing will decline in Zhou Dynasty and become kings." This means that he has the virtues of an emperor but has not occupied his position. Although this is apocryphal, it is actually the origin of "Qilin sends his son", which is recorded in Wang Chong's "Lunheng·Dingxian" and Jin Wangjia's "Supplementary Notes". Among the people, it is known as "Qilin'er" and "Lin'er". During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, people often called smart and cute boys "my family's Qilin". This was followed by the "Qilin Sending His Son Picture". As a wooden painting, the couplet "Qilin'er in the sky, number one scholar on the earth" is engraved on it, which is a good omen. Folks generally believe that worshiping Qilin can lead to fertility and children. "Song of Xu Qing's Two Sons" by Du Fu of the Tang Dynasty: "Don't you see that Xu Qing's two sons are so wonderful. They follow each other in auspicious dreams. Confucius and the Shi family hugged him personally, and they were unicorns in the sky." Hu Pu'an's "China Customs Chronicles. Hunan" quoted " "Changzhi New Year Custom Poems": "It is strange that women can conceive by surrounding a dragon. It is also strange that they want to have a child. A real dragon is not as good as a paper dragon. It can be used as a linlin to bring a child." Original note: "A woman who has been barren for many years will often wear a dragon lantern." When they get home, they give a gift of honor, surround the woman once with the dragon's body, shorten the dragon's body, ride a child on it, and walk around in front of the hall, which is called Linqi sending off the child. The dragon lantern replaces the unicorn.