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qilin
The qilin () is a mythical hooved chimerical creature known in Chinese and other East Asian cultures, said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a sage or illustrious ruler.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/110049/qilin )〕 It is a good omen thought to occasion prosperity or serenity. It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over its body.
==Origins==
The earliest references to the qilin are in the 5th century BC ''Zuo Zhuan''.〔(Chinese Literature - Chunqiu-Zuozhuan 春秋左傳, Gongyangzhuan 公羊傳, Guliangzhuan 穀梁傳 (www.chinaknowledge.de) )〕〔(古建上的主要装饰纹样――麒麟 古建园林技术－作者:徐华铛 )〕 The qilin made appearances in a variety of subsequent Chinese works of history and fiction, such as Feng Shen Bang. Emperor Wu of Han apparently captured a live qilin in 122 BC, although Sima Qian was skeptical of this.〔:zh:s:史記/卷028〕
In legend, the qilin became tiger-like after their disappearance in real life and become a stylized representation of the giraffe in the Ming Dynasty.〔(此“麟”非彼“麟”专家称萨摩麟并非传说中麒麟 )〕〔(傳說中的聖獸－－麒麟 )〕 The identification of the qilin with giraffes began after Zheng He's voyage to East Africa (landing, among other places, in modern-day Somalia). The Ming Dynasty bought giraffes from the Somali merchants along with zebras, incense, and various other exotic animals.〔Wilson, Samuel M. "The Emperor's Giraffe", ''Natural History'' Vol. 101, No. 12, December 1992 ()〕 Zheng He's fleet brought back two giraffes to Nanjing, and they were referred to as "qilins".〔(傳世麒麟圖考察初稿 張之傑 )〕 The Emperor proclaimed the giraffes magical creatures, whose capture signaled the greatness of his power.
The identification between the qilin and the giraffe is supported by some attributes of the qilin, including its vegetarianism and quiet nature. Its reputed ability to "walk on grass without disturbing it" may be related to the giraffe's long, thin legs. Also the qilin is described as having antlers like a deer and scales like a dragon or fish; since the giraffe has horn-like "ossicones" on its head and a tessellated coat pattern that looks like scales it is easy to draw an analogy between the two creatures. The identification of qilin with giraffes has had lasting influence: even today, the same word is used for the mythical animal and the giraffe in both Korean and Japanese.〔Parker, J. T.:" The Mythic Chinese Unicorn"〕
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』
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