⚠The image contains significant background noise and speckling, though the central figure and text remain legible.

The Rhinoceros

Rhinoceros original: 犀 (Xī)

In historical Chinese texts, the rhinoceros was often categorized among the "Beasts of the South." Though various species of rhinoceros once lived in China, they were driven toward extinction in the region by the time of the late dynasties, leading them to be viewed as exotic, almost legendary creatures. This specific entry likely comes from a work like the Sancai Tuhui (Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms), a famous Ming Dynasty encyclopedia.

(Here, the manuscript features a woodblock illustration of a rhinoceros in a stylized landscape. The creature is depicted with a single prominent horn and skin rendered in a pattern of scales or armor plates, reflecting the ancient Chinese belief that the animal's hide was naturally as tough as metal armor.)

The rhinoceros was highly valued for its thick hide, used to manufacture military armor, and its horn, which was prized as a material for exquisite carvings and for its supposed medicinal properties. In literature, the term "Communicating Rhinoceros" (lingxi) refers to a horn with a white stripe running through it, which was believed to grant spiritual insight or a deep emotional connection between two people.