The Qilin

original: "麒麟" (Qilin); a legendary auspicious hooved chimerical creature in Chinese mythology, said to appear with the arrival of a sage.

The following image depicts a woodcut illustration of a Qilin, a mythical chimerical creature in Chinese mythology, depicted with a dragon-like head, a scaled body, and hooves, shown in a dynamic leaping pose. This is a classic iconographic representation of the Qilin, likely from a Ming or Qing dynasty encyclopedia such as the Sancai Tuhui. The print demonstrates clear line work typical of traditional Chinese block printing.

Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

original: "三才圖會" (Sancai Tuhui); a massive encyclopedia compiled during the Ming Dynasty, covering "The Three Realms" of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.

Birds and Beasts, Volume Two

Page Three


Deer	Great Deer original: "麈" (zhǔ); often identified as a large deer or elk; its tail was famously used to make whisks for scholars and Daoist priests to signify refinement and authority.	Elk original: "麋" (mí); typically refers to the Elaphure or Père David's Deer, famously described as having the features of four different animals but belonging to none.
	Golden Monkey original: "狨" (róng); refers to the Golden Snub-nosed monkey, highly valued in the Ming dynasty for its fine, silky fur, often used for the robes of high-ranking officials.	Monkey
	Sable original: "貂" (diāo); valued for its luxurious fur, typically sourced from the northern frontiers of the empire.	Langur original: "猓" (guǒ); a type of long-tailed monkey found in the southern regions.
	Yellow Macaque original: "猱" (náo); a species of nimble monkey often mentioned in classical literature for its agility.	Dhole original: "豺" (chái); the Asiatic wild dog, known in folklore for its cunning and pack-hunting nature.
	Wild Dog original: "犴" (àn); refers to a species of wild canine or dhole, sometimes associated with the mythical guardian of prisons because of its fierce appearance.	Red Leopard
	Brave Beast original: "貔" (pí); often associated with the mythical "Pixiu," a protective chimerical creature that consumes gold and silver, though historically used to describe predatory felines.	Male Monkey original: "猳" (jiā); specifically a large male monkey or a boar-like primate mentioned in ancient texts as being particularly strong.