Qilin

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈtʃiːlɪn/

Definitions

  1. A legendary hooved creature from Chinese mythology with scales, antlers, and a tail, believed to bring good fortune and justice
  2. An auspicious beast in East Asian traditions depicted as having a dragon-like head, ox tail, and leonine body that symbolizes virtue and benevolence
  3. A mythical four-legged animal from Chinese folklore characterized by its chimeric form combining features of multiple creatures and associated with prosperity and righteous rule

Etymology: The word "qilin" refers to a legendary hooved chimerical creature from Chinese mythology, typically depicted with the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, the hooves of a horse, and a single horn. The term entered English in the 19th century as Western scholars and traders began systematic documentation of Chinese culture and art. "Qilin" is a direct transliteration from Mandarin Chinese "麒麟" (qílín). The two characters that compose the word have ancient roots in Chinese itself. The first character "麒" (qí) originally denoted the male of the species, while "麟" (lín) denoted the female, though in modern usage the combined term refers to the creature regardless of sex. These characters appear in Chinese texts dating back to classical antiquity, including references in the "I Ching" (Book of Changes) and other foundational texts, suggesting the qilin held symbolic importance in Chinese cosmology for millennia before the word was adopted into English. The creature's significance in Chinese culture made it a natural subject for English-language accounts of Chinese mythology and art during the 19th-century period of increased contact between Britain and China. Early English texts rendered the name in various ways reflecting different romanization systems and regional pronunciations—"kilin," "ki-lin," and "chi-lin" all appear in historical sources—before the now-standard Pinyin romanization "qilin" became predominant in the late 20th century. The creature itself is often compared by English speakers to the unicorn of Western tradition, though the qilin's actual form and symbolic associations differ significantly.

Synonyms: Chinese unicorn