Qilin refers to the traditional Chinese auspicious animal. 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. [1] "Book of Rites·Liyun Ninth": "Lin, phoenix, turtle, and dragon are called the four spirits." It can be seen that the status of unicorn is at least the same as that of dragon, not lower than that of dragon.
But Qilin is also the grandson of Yinglong. "Huainanzi Terrain Training": "The calf begets Yinglong, the Yinglong begets Jianma, the Jianma begets Qilin, the Qilin begets the common beast, and the hairy calf begets Yinglong. "He is born from a common beast" and is also the leader of the caterpillars among the five insects. [2]
Qilin is also said to be a beast of the middle earth. However, compared with the Huanglong, which is considered to be the main earth in many ancient books such as "Huainanzi" and "Lingxian", Qilin is only described in the book "Yimao". It is compared with the four spirits such as Qinglong. [3]
Chinese name
Qilin
Category
Benevolent beast, auspicious beast
Features
p>
Integrated dragon head, elk body, ox tail and horse hoof
Region
China
Starting time
Approx. In 481 BC
Five auspicious animals in ancient China
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Qilin
Meaning the gift of a child, To ward off evil spirits, etc.
White tiger
symbolizes auspiciousness
dragon
symbolizes auspiciousness
phoenix
Symbolizing peace in the world
A mythical beast often used to decorate utensils or buildings
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Prison Ox
Often Carved on the head of the violin
睝禦
Often carved on the sword ring, sword hilt and swallowing mouth
Chaofeng
Often used as a palace corner Decoration
Pulao
An animal button often used as a lifting beam for Hong Zhong
Quick
Navigation
Appearance and demeanor The auspicious beast means that historical records record legends and allusions, and their influence on later generations
Historical origin?
The ancients called the male Qilin and the female Qilin. "Song Book": Qilin is also a benevolent beast. The male is called Qi, and the female is called Lin. Kirin is an auspicious divine pet, which symbolizes peace and longevity. Because of its profound cultural connotation, Kirin is made into various ornaments and ornaments in traditional Chinese folk rituals for wearing and placing at home, with the purpose of praying for blessings and peace.
Qilin
Every time Qilin appears, it will be a very special period. According to records, Confucius is closely related to Qilin. According to legend, Qilin appeared before Confucius was born and before his death. It is said that before Confucius was born, a Qilin "spit out a jade book" in the yard of his house, which wrote "Son of the Water Spirit." , was the king of Su after the decline of the Zhou Dynasty." In the spring of the 14th year of Duke Ai in the Spring and Autumn Annals, Confucius mentioned "hunting to the west to obtain Lin". Confucius shed tears for this and said, "My way is poor." Confucius once wrote a song: "In the Tang Dynasty and the Yu Dynasty, Lin Feng came to visit. Now is not the right time to come here. What do you want? Lin Xi Lin Xi. My heart is worried." Confucius died soon, so it is also regarded as a symbol of Confucianism.
Qilin is essentially invisible, so what do people think about it? The ins and outs of Kirin
A warm spring and a full moon
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During the Ming Dynasty, Southeast Asian countries paid tribute to " "Qilin", what kind of animal is it?
History University Hall
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Qilin has an indissoluble bond with Confucius ? Does the auspicious beast Qilin really exist
A warm spring and a full moon
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Appearance and demeanor?
p>Judging from its external shape, it combines lion's head, antlers, tiger's eyes, elk body, dragon scales and ox tail into one; its tail is hairy like a dragon's tail, with one horn carrying meat. But it is said that Qilin's body resembles that of a musk deer, and it was regarded as a god by the ancients.
Qilin
Qilin is a god that ancient Chinese believed in. Among the many folklores in China, although there are not many stories about Qilin, its unique preciousness and supernatural power are truly reflected in people's lives.
From ancient times to the present, there are many capable people with lofty ideals who have shown the image of Kirin in various forms. Since the rise of bronze culture, bronze Kirin sculptures have become more popular. The image of Kirin is created with copper, making it tangible and touchable. In this way, the image of Kirin in people's hearts becomes clearer.
Giraffe, do you know Qilin? Have you heard of it? Do you know the "native giraffe" (Shanxi animal)?
Spring is warm and the moon is full
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What does the auspicious beast mean?
Chinese people have a saying that Qilin sends a child to others. Another image of Qilin is a dragon head, a horse body, and dragon scales. The tail hair stretches like a dragon's tail. Its comprehensive coverage is not as extensive as that of dragon and phoenix, but its reputation is not small. [4]
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Merge album
Qilin is the most auspicious animal that Chinese people long for. Their appearance represents the development of a generation. happiness. Therefore, people hope that Kirin will always accompany them, bring them luck and light, and ward off bad luck. When this belief from ancient times was passed down, the auspicious meaning of the unicorn was also recognized by the general public and firmly existed in people's consciousness. The unicorn became a symbol of a certain idea, a certain kind of The expression of artistic conception, the display of a certain power, inspires people's imagination, guides people's spirit to conform to a certain idea, enters a specific realm, gives people hope, comfort and a certain power of pursuit, and integrates it into folk life among them, manifested in all aspects of national culture.
Historical records?
Han Xu Shen's "Shuowen Jie Zi · 10": "Qi, benevolent favor, the body of an elk and the corner of a dragon's tail; Qi (Lin), also a female Qi " Duan Yucai's note: "It looks like a bull, with a horn on it, and it is equipped with weapons and does no harm, so it is benevolent."
"Shuowen Jiezi": "The beast has the body of an ox. , one corner. Zhang Yiyun: The male is called Qilin, and the female is called Lin. Guo Pu said: Qilin is like Lin but has no horns. "[5]
He Fa's "Zhengxiang Ji": "Qilin is the male. It is called Qilin, and the female is called Lin. Xu Yunren said that it is a ram, because it does not grow insects and does not break grass. "In ancient times, Qilin or simply called Lin, it was regarded as an auspicious thing. "Book of Rites": "The unearthed utensils and carts, the pictures of horses emerging from the river, the phoenix and the unicorn, are all in the suburbs." ("Ye" is the same as "Shu", swamp), and: "The lin, phoenix, turtle, and dragon are called the four spirits. "
"Wuzazu": The nature of the dragon is the most lustful, so if it intercourse with Yang Niu, it will give birth to Lin; if it intercourse with Boar, it will give birth to Elephant; if it intercourse with horse, it will give birth to Dragon and Horse; that is, if it meets a woman, it will give birth to a dragon. , there are also those who are polluted by it. ... Wang Fu said that the secular painting of a dragon has the head of a horse and a tail of a snake. There is also a saying of three stops and nine similarities, which means that from the head to the shoulders, the shoulders to the waist, and the waist to the tail, they all stop. The nine resemblances include antlers like a deer, a head like a camel, eyes like ghosts, a neck like a snake, a belly like a mirage, scales like a fish, claws like an eagle, palms like a tiger, and ears like an ox. However, when it comes to seeing dragons, they are all surrounded by thunder, lightning, clouds, and fog, so it is rare to see their full form.
The "Ming Huidian" records that in the 24th year of Hongwu (1391), it was stipulated that the duke, marquis, prince-in-law, and uncle should use unicorn as a pattern to supplement their clothes, so they were called Yipin unicorn.
The "Manuscript of the History of the Qing Dynasty" records many incidents of cows giving birth to unicorns. The "Manuscript of Qing History" records: In the second year of Yongzheng (1724), a private cow in Pingdu Prefecture produced Lin. In the fifth year, there was a cow born in Shouzhou, and there was a fire in the house. They thought it was strange, killed it, peeled off the skin, and saw scales all over the body, and the horns on the head were still hidden. In Jingzhou, there was a cow born in Lin, and the body was covered in scales. In the first year of Jiaqing, the people's cattle were produced in Lin. In the seventh year, a cow in the Zhenhai family gave birth to a calf. It was covered in scales, green and black in color, with a beard under the chin and thin scales on the neck. In May of the 11th year of the year, a common cow in Yanting gave birth to a lin, two feet and five inches high, one horn, about an inch long, eyes like crystals, scales all over the body, and meat grains like beans from the two spines to the tail, golden color. , eight legs, cow hooves, when the wind and rain come during the birth, the courtyard is filled with golden light, and all the grass and trees are yellow. In February of the thirteenth year, a cow in Mianzhou gave birth to a calf. Its head was shaped like a dragon, its body was scaly and hairless, and it died when it fell to the ground. In the fourth year of Qianlong's reign, people in Shengjing produced oxen.
I used to think that these were groundless records, but in 2015, a Thai buffalo gave birth to a "strange beast" with a crocodile-like head and scales, which was similar to records in Qing history manuscripts.
Legendary allusions?
Legend has it that Qilin is the ancestral god (ancestor god) of the Ji family (Zhou Tianzi lineage). It is derived from Yinglong, the ancestral god of the Yellow Emperor, and is one of the main branches of Yinglong's bloodline. First, there is a poem that goes: "Qilin steps on auspicious clouds, and all kinds of troubles in the world are eliminated." The first is that Qilin and Qilin's descendants can cure diseases and eliminate disasters, and the second is that Qilin can walk on clouds. [6]
"Hunting to Harvest Lin in the West": It happened in Onezawa, the western border of Lu State, in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Its written history is first seen in the Spring and Autumn Annals, my country's earliest chronicle written during the Warring States Period. "Gongyang Zhuan" written by the Warring States historian Gong Yanggao and "Gu Liang Zhuan" written by Gu Liangchi also recorded this aspect.
Zuo Qiuming, a contemporary of Confucius, recorded in "Zuo Zhuan·Volume 12": In the spring of the 14th year of Duke Ai, he was hunting in the wilds in the west. The key to his uncle's car was sold to Huolin. He thought it was unlucky and gave it to the people of Yu. Zhongni looked at it and said: "Lin Ye". "Historical Records·Confucius Family" records: In the spring of the fourteenth year of Duke Ai of Lu (481 B.C.), while hunting in Daye in the west, the key to Shusun's chariot was found by merchants. He thought it was ominous. Zhongni regarded it and said: "Linye" and took it. . In his "Jijie" and "Zhengyi", he also noted: "Daye, the name of the village, was the usual place of Lu Tianpu, and it is the same place that covers today's Juye." "Yanzhou Fu Zhi·Shengli Zhi" records: "The third king of Zhou Jing In the spring of the 19th year (the 14th year of Duke Ai), I was hunting in the west. Yaoshang Huolin, a retainer of the Shusun family, broke off his left foot and carried it back. The Shusun family thought it was unlucky, so he abandoned it outside Guo and told Confucius. "What's wrong with the elk?" Confucius looked at it and said, "Why are you here?" He wiped his face with his hands and cried, and then Zi Gong asked, "Master." Why cry! Confucius said: The Qilin is the king of the Ming Dynasty. If it comes out at the wrong time, I will hurt it. "
The Qilin carved in the stone portrait of the Han Dynasty, the fourth animal on the left of the picture<. /p>
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A collection of paper-cut unicorn photos
According to research, "Hunting to the West to Get the Lin" occurred in the ninth year of King Jing of Zhou Dynasty (the fourteenth year of Duke Ai of Lu in the Spring and Autumn Period) , and Confucius's "Spring and Autumn" was also finished in this year. At this time, Confucius was 71 years old and stopped writing books. This fully proves that the story of "Confucius obtained Lin's last pen" still circulated in Juye is true. Objectively speaking, Confucius Huolin's final writings are due to his old age and lack of energy. But subjectively speaking, feeling anxious and worried is also an important reason. Legend has it that in 551 BC (the 22nd year of Lu Aixiang Gong), Confucius's mother Yan Zhengzai was pregnant. She prayed in Niqiu Mountain and met a unicorn and gave birth to Confucius. When Confucius was born, the top of his head looked a bit like Niqiu Mountain. , named Confucius Zhongni. Confucius met Lin when he was born and saw Lin die. He thought it was an ominous sign and immediately wrote an elegy for Qilin: "In the Tang Dynasty and Yu Dynasty, Lin and Feng were traveling. What are you asking for now? Lin is here, Lin is here. I am here." Worried." Because Confucius was worried about Lin, and the early death of his only beloved son Kong Li, he was extremely sad, and finally passed away in the 16th year of Lu Aigong (479 BC). After the death of Confucius, the story of Huolin's final writing became widely circulated. Li Bai, the great poet of the Tang Dynasty, has a poem in his "Ancient Poetry" that says, "If a saint is established, his last work will be in Huolin."
To commemorate "Hunting Huolin in the West", people built Qilin Terrace, also known as Huolin Terrace, where Qilin was buried. It was called Huolin Ancient Tomb in ancient times.
The building is located in Dawa, seven kilometers east of Juye City - east of Chenhu Village in present-day Qilin Town and north of Houfeng Bridge. It is a key protection unit of county-level scenic spots and historic sites. This platform is where Lu Aigong "hunted for Lin in the West". It is 73 meters long from east to west, 52 meters wide from north to south, and covers an area of ??3800 square meters. There were originally several stone steles from the Tang Dynasty here, but they have been destroyed due to oblivion over the years. In the 14th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Jiuxu, the magistrate of Jining Prefecture, rebuilt a Qilin stele and erected it next to the Caoji Highway. The inscription "Mound" and the year signature engraved on the stele still exist to this day. "Xishou Huolin" is famous throughout the country. Some states, counties, townships and villages have place names such as Linzhou in the Tang Dynasty, Jiaxiang County east of Juye, Huolinbao (township) and Huolinji east of Juye City. Named after this. Qilin came into the world and no one knew about it, but he was "strangely killed". Confucius regretted it endlessly, thinking that he had not met his talents in his life, and was saddened by the scenery. He wrote an elegy for Qilin: "In the Tang Dynasty and Yu Dynasty, Lin and Feng were traveling. Now is not the right time, why did I come here? Lin Xi Lin Xi, I am worried." Since then, he has written no more books. Qilin Tomb has also become a scenic spot because of its unique cultural connotation. Literati and poets of all ages have come here to find the holy relics, sing songs, sigh with emotion, think about the ancient feelings, and chant immortal poems. Wei Biaowei, a famous scholar in the Tang Dynasty, once wrote the "Inscription on Lintai Stele": Li Bai, Xin Qiji, and famous poets such as Wang Mingdeng and Sun Yi of the Ming Dynasty all left popular poems about Kirintai. In the fourth year of Wude in the Tang Dynasty, Juye was renamed Linzhou because of the hunt for Lin in the west. In the 14th year of Jiajing's reign in the Ming Dynasty, Jinshi Zhang Jiuxu made a fighting calligraphy with the words "Qilin Tomb" and carved a stone in front of the stage. During the Tianqi period, the county magistrate Fang Shihua built a temple here, named "Ruilin Temple". Since then, the Qilintai scenic spot has become even more famous.
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Kilin
Since ancient times regarded dragons, phoenixes, turtles and lins as gods, hunting for lins in the west has become an important figure in literati's writings. content. The book "Zuo Zhuan of the Spring and Autumn Annals" written by Du Yu, the general and historian of the Jin Dynasty, said: "Lin is the favor of benevolence and the honor of the holy king." Han Yu, a great writer of the Tang Dynasty, said in "Huo Lin Jie" (annotation): "The horn of a lin can carry meat, and it can be equipped with weapons but does no harm."
"You must marsh the soil when you travel, and the place you stay behind is auspicious. Insects will grow if you don't walk on it, and grass will grow if you don't walk on it. The king will emerge. Together with the phoenix, turtle, and dragon, they are called the four spirits." Since Qilin is one of the four spirits, some historical stories such as "Kilin Sutra" and "Qilin" "Book" and "Jinbi Story", Song Chengju's "Lintai Story", Qing Li Yu's "Qilin Pavilion", etc., all use Qilin as the title or content of the book. Another example is the reign names of ancient emperors or the names of ancient buildings and places, which often use the word "lin" as an auspicious code. Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, called Weiyang Palace "Qilin Hall", and Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty must have called it "Qilin Pavilion". In the fourth year of Wude, Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty, he took Linyi from Xishou and established Linzhou in Juye. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty named the reign as Linde, and Empress Wu Zetianbi Zhongshu Province named it Lintai. In the fourth year of the Dali reign of Emperor Dezong of the Tang Dynasty, a Lintai stele was erected at Qilintai. In the seventh year of Emperor Jin's reign, Jiaxiang County was established in Shankou Town, Juye County (today's Dashantou area of ??Jiaxiang County) based on the auspicious meaning of Qilin. In the 16th year of the reign of Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty, he considered Lin as an auspicious sign and built the Linfeng Pavilion in the north of Juye County. In the second year of the reign of Emperor Wenzong of the Yuan Dynasty, Fan Xun, the administrator of Juye County, rebuilt the Linfeng Pavilion. In the Ming Dynasty, Fang Shihua, the magistrate of Juye County, built Ruilin Temple in Qilin Terrace. Ruilin Temple is a magnificent building with a spectacular scale. According to local legend, the entire temple covered an area of ??more than 100 acres at that time, with more than 100 monks and dozens of tenants. There are shops, stone mills, vegetable gardens, salt fields, car workshops, etc. near the temple. It is obviously a self-sufficient economic unit. To the south of Ruilin Temple, there is a small river called Bali River. This river flows from east to west, with rows of willows on its banks, gurgling water and numerous swimming fish. There is a ferry on the south bank of the river, which is called "Huolin Ancient Ferry" in "Juye County Chronicle". Every spring, the wind is gentle and the sun is warm, the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant. Scholars and businessmen, men, women and children come here in an endless stream for sightseeing. Unfortunately, due to the wars in the late Ming Dynasty, the entire temple was turned into a ruin. Today, all that can be seen is this earthen platform covered with wild grass.
In the 31st year of Shaoxing, Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty (the first year of Emperor Shizong of Jin Dynasty and Yong Dading Dynasty), the 21-year-old patriotic poet Xin Qiji joined the anti-Jin uprising army and traveled to Juyelintai to compose five impromptu poems. A verse poem:
End of Chunqiu pen, the name of the classic is Jilin. Lu was once built on the deserted platform, and Qin was not burned by wild grass.
The lush mountains and rivers are beautiful, and the green scenery is new. Will Editor Wei continue? The book ribbon has become green.
Sun Yi, a poet of the Ming Dynasty, wrote a five-character poem when he visited "Huolin Ancient Ferry". The poem said:
The cold smoke accumulated on the ancient crossing, and the bright sand shone down. Spring and Autumn are sad for the phoenix sun, and heaven and earth are weeping for the Lin years.
When Lu changed, there were obstacles, but Zhou declined and reversed. So far, they are all masterpieces. Who can tell the true meaning?
Modern writer Zhang Xiaofeng also wrote an article with the acquisition of Qi as the main event.
Influence on later generations?
Qilin culture
Qilin culture 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, a Qilin wrote a jade calligraphy at his house, which read: "The descendants of Shuijing will decline in the 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 "Shiyiji". It is known as "Qilin'er" and "Lin'er" among the people. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, people often called smart and cute boys "my family 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.
Tang Du Fu's "Song of Xu Qing's Two Sons": "Don't you see that Xu Qing's two sons are so wonderful. They are following each other in auspicious dreams. Confucius and Shi Shi gave him a hug, and they are the children of unicorns in the sky." Hu Pu'an "The World of China" "Customs Chronicle. Hunan" quoted from "Changzhi New Year Custom Poems": "It is strange for women to surround a dragon to conceive a child, and it is also strange to wish for a child. A real dragon is not as good as a paper dragon, but it can be used as a linlin to bring a child." Original note: "A woman has been pregnant for many years. For those who are barren, every time when the dragon lantern arrives at home, they will be given an additional gift, with the dragon's body surrounding the woman once, and then the dragon's body will be shortened, and a child will be mounted on it, and it will be paraded in front of the hall. This is called Linqi sending a child. Qi belongs to the dragon clan, and this is the person who uses dragon lantern to replace Qi Qi.
Customs
Qilin is mainly based on the characteristics of deer, and combines the characteristics of dragon and horse. It is not very clear who its originator is and what its origin is.
In slave society and feudal society, dragons and phoenixes were seized by the supreme ruler, so they lost their original totem comprehensive meaning and became symbols of the emperor and concubines of the supreme ruler. The good-natured Qilin was squeezed out of the folk culture in the competition for power. People expected it to bring good harvests, good fortune, longevity and happiness.
1. Kirin is a legendary mythical animal that does not exist in real life.
2. In ancient Chinese legends, the Kirin, the dragon, the phoenix, and the turtle combine to form the four spirits, and they are the king of woolly animals.
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Combined album
3. To the common people, Qilin is a magical beast that brings children. There is a folk saying that "Qilin sends his son". It is said that Confucius was sent by Qilin.
4. Qilin is formed by the scattering of the stars of the year, so it is the main auspicious animal and is one of the most famous auspicious animals. Qilin means benevolence and righteousness. In ancient Chinese culture, there are many legends about the rise and fall of emperors and Qilin.
5. Kirin, like the Phoenix, is male and female. The male is called Qilin, and the female is called Lin. It has an elk body, a dragon tail, dragon scales, and cloven feet (but there is also a saying that Kirin has five toes. In fact, it is said that Kirin has five toes. The five-toed "Suanni" was mistaken for "Qilin") There is a horn on the head with flesh at the end.
6. As a mascot, Qilin was often used in the government of various dynasties in ancient China. According to historical records, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty built the Qilin Pavilion in Weiyang Palace and painted images of heroes to reward and show his love for talents to the world. Qilin is classified into the Qilin to send children, the Qilin to bless, and the Qilin to control the house. Their names represent their meanings, and many ordinary people now have them in their homes. Kirin has been given the meaning of nobility, kindness and auspiciousness by culture, so nowadays Kirin is mostly made of high-quality materials such as jade, gold, red lacquer carving, copper, obsidian or colored glaze.
7. Kirin is also often used in official court uniforms. In the Qing Dynasty, the emblem of the first-grade official was a unicorn, which shows that its status was second only to the dragon. In the Qing Dynasty, only relatives of the emperor were qualified to wear the dragon logo. The emperors were yellow dragons, purple dragons, princes, elder brothers, Baylor, and Beizi. It is a dragon pattern.
8. The image of Qilin can still be seen. The most famous existing image of Qilin in China is the Qilin in the Imperial Tombs of the Southern Dynasties in Nanjing. There are many kinds of divine pets guarding the Imperial Tombs of the Southern Dynasties, but they all evolved from the image of Qilin.
9. Because of its profound cultural connotation, Kirin is made into various ornaments and given to underage children to wear in traditional Chinese folk rituals. It has the intention of praying for blessings and blessings. For example, in Chapters 31 and 32 of the famous book "A Dream of Red Mansions", there is a large chapter "Because the unicorn hid the white-headed twin stars". The unicorn here is not only Shi Xiangyun's amulet, but also a token that hints at her marriage. In the Huangmei opera "The Consort", a pair of jade unicorns also represent the testimony of love. The heroine and the hero were hindered by the decision of the girl's parents. The heroine handed the hero a jade unicorn and swore that "I will not change my heart in life or death. The breeze and the bright moon will bear witness. I separated a pair of jade unicorns. This unicorn is handed over to you. This will be the end of the world." Only the unicorn remains with me, and the unicorns form pairs, and the world cannot tolerate distraction." When the two sides overcome many obstacles, the lovers finally get married. "The unicorns become a pair, and the flowers bloom red for thousands of years." On the big night, the unicorns on both sides finally became a pair.
Pursuing and raising children
The traditional Chinese fertility concept is to hope for an heir early, to have many children, to have a full family, to have many children, and to be blessed. "Weida" regards the inability to have children and carry on the family line as the greatest unfilial piety. This traditional concept is deeply rooted and affects generations of people. Whether it is a woman's pregnancy, the birth of a baby, the birth of a child, or other celebrations, it all reflects people's unremitting efforts to pray for this. Because Qilin once visited sages like Confucius, people believed that Qilin could both send children and bless them. Therefore, the folk culture phenomenon with the theme of "Qilin sending a child" is not only seen in pictures and prayers, but also in activities during the year. It has a wide range of expressions and is intended to pray for and wish for a son to be born early and a virtuous descendant.
In modern times, Changsha, Hunan Province, held dragon lantern dancing activities every new year. At that time, whenever the dragon lantern performer comes to a house with an infertile woman, the host family will give additional gifts and let the dragon dance around the infertile woman. Then the dragon's body will be shortened, and a child will ride on it, and it will circle in front of the hall. Travel for a week to show that Qilin is sending his son. In some places in Shandong, there is also a way to pray for a child, in which an infertile woman holds a paper-tied unicorn carrying a child in a circle in the courtyard or main room. Some people also tie colorful embroidery to the horns of the unicorn to pray for the unicorn to bring a child.
As far as the patterns of "Qilin Sending His Son" are concerned, there are both complex and simple ones. The traditional ones may have a boy as the center, wearing a longevity lock, holding a lotus and a sheng; or the boy may ride a unicorn with a book hanging on the corner; or there may be a lady escorting the boy behind him, with the lady holding an umbrella and a fan. The simple one shows a boy riding a unicorn and holding a lotus. In folk prints, there are often auspicious couplets such as "The Qilin in the sky, the number one scholar in the underground".
Architectural decorations
Brick and wood carving is an important way of ancient architectural decoration. It has rich themes and exquisite carvings, giving the architectural shape a vivid image. Brick carvings are mostly used for the veneer of brick structures and the outer eaves of brick walls of wooden structures. In addition to being used on the outer eaves of buildings, wood carvings are mostly used for interior eaves decoration. Tianjin brick carving is undoubtedly the leader in brick carving art. During the Qianlong and Jiaqing years of the Qing Dynasty, it was a delicate job that also included tile work. Brick carving artists were called "carving workers." During the Daoguang period, it developed into an independent industry and formed the world-famous "Tianjin Brick Carving". The wood carving craftsmanship on the hanging flower door, internal and external balconies, forehead railings, flower covers and four screens, flower panels, flower teeth and other decorations are also unparalleled.
Chinese buildings, especially residential buildings, are mostly made of brick and wood structures. Brick carvings, Wood carvings or stone carvings are used to decorate auspicious patterns with profound meanings. Kirin is one of the commonly used auspicious animals. Some decorate stone unicorns on both sides of the gate, which not only shows the nobility of the gate, but also protects the house and wards off evil spirits.
Accessories and Patterns
From ancient times to the present, people like to wear Kirin craftsmanship statues as amulets on their bodies. Their textures include gold, silver, copper, jade, etc., which are particularly exquisite. Infants and young children are given "Qilin Locks" to pray for a long life. In addition, traditional patterns based on the artistic shape of Kirin are also widely used. In the Book of Songs, King Wen of Zhou and his family were praised as "Lin's Toe". Later, all people used "Lin's toe" to describe their descendants' talents and virtues. As a mascot, Qilin is often used in government affairs. During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he built a Qilin Pavilion in Weiyang Palace and hung portraits of heroes in the pavilion to express the highest honor. This is obviously comparing Qilin to talented people. During the reign of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, unicorns were used as decorations and embroidered on robes, which were called "Qilin robes" and were specially awarded to military officers of third rank or above. In the Qing Dynasty, unicorns were embroidered on the "buzi" of first-rank military officers, which became a symbol of the hierarchy. This shows that Qilin has a very high status, second only to dragon. On the skirts of some noble ladies, auspicious patterns of animals worshiping the unicorn are often embroidered to express good wishes. Kirin's vivid shadow has been left in folk paper-cutting, New Year pictures, embroidery, batik and other arts and crafts.
Hometown of Qilin Culture
People in Juye have a special liking for Qilin. In Juye, there are many folklore relics about Qilin. There are countless poems and songs describing Qilin, calligraphy and paintings depicting Qilin, and sculptures and inscriptions commemorating Qilin among the people of Juye. There are countless people and things named Lin in Juye throughout the ages. In 2007, Juye was named the Hometown of Kirin Culture in China, which ushered in an opportunity for Juye to develop Kirin Culture.
Place names
Qilin Street, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu
Qilin Town, Haimen City, Nantong, Jiangsu
Qilin Town, Songyang County, Anqing City, Anhui< /p>
Huolin Street, Jiaxiang, Jining, Shandong
Qilin District, Qujing, Yunnan
Cultural Origin
Jimei Thought
1. The creation of Qilin and the Chinese people's "Jimei" thought
Qilin is an animal that is produced and created based on the Chinese people's way of thinking. Judging from its external shape, it has an elk body, a dragon tail, a horse's hooves (said to be "deer hooves" in historical records), dragon scale skin, one horn, and yellow meat at the end of the horn. This shape is a new combination of many real animals. It concentrates all the advantages of those cherished animals on the construction of Qilin, a mythical beast in fantasy, which fully embodies the Chinese people's "Jimei" "Thought.
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Kirin
The so-called "Jimei", in layman's terms, is a manifestation of concentrating all the beautiful things into one thing . This concept has been the goal and desire that Chinese people have pursued in both the spiritual and material worlds for thousands of years. Therefore, it makes sense for Qilin to combine the auspicious animals such as deer body, dragon head and tail, cow and horse hooves, and dragon scales like fish scales.
Deer worship is a primitive animal worship in China and was a symbol of emperors in ancient times. At the same time, it was also included in the theological and political categories. "Book of the Song Dynasty·Fu Ruizhi" says: "White Deer, the King's Ming Benefit comes to those below." "Rui Ying Tu" also says: "The King inherits the sage's teachings and loses nothing, then the White Deer comes." Later, when people worship When the gods were immortals, the white deer was regarded as the sacred animal of the immortal family. In addition, deer also sounds homophonic to "Lu", symbolizing blessing and wealth.
Cows have been on the altar since ancient times and have become an indispensable sacred object in sacrificial activities. According to folklore, the cow is a god in the sky who comes to the world to help mankind. It works silently in the fields and brings material wealth to mankind, and the dedication embodied in it also brings spiritual wealth to mankind. Cow worship is common among Chinese people. Historical records record that the Qin State during the Warring States Period had a Nute Temple dedicated to worshiping sacred cows. This was the earliest recorded example of cattle worship in ancient times.
Horses are considered to be intelligent, loyal, brave and hardworking animals with a noble, elegant and elegant temperament. In the "Book of Changes", the horse symbolizes heaven, that is, "the stem is the sky". There are many records of the rituals of worshiping the horse god and the construction of the Ma Chong temple in the documents of the Qing Dynasty. In addition, in ancient times, white horses were often used as sacrificial horses when offering sacrifices to the heaven and earth and making oaths. It was believed that the white horse belongs to Yang and is driven by the gods. The green cow belongs to Yin and is enjoyed by the earth god.
Fish, as a general term for a class of aquatic animals, has scales on its body that are cherished as auspicious and beautiful decorations. "Fish scale brocade" is a traditional auspicious pattern. Fish worship has been widely spread in China, and many myths have stories about the earth being carried on the backs of huge fishes. The world image on the Han tomb silk paintings unearthed in Mawangdui, Hunan, also places the earth on top of two huge fish. Fish is a homophonic word for "surplus" and has become a symbol of abundance and happiness in life.
The ancient Chinese creatively combined the above auspicious animals to construct the image of Qilin, the divine pet, which is in line with the psychological acceptance and artistic appreciation cultivated and cultivated over a long period of time, and reproduces the long-standing tradition The foundation truly embodies the Chinese people’s idea of ??“Jimei”.
Confucianism
2. The inheritance of Kirin and Confucianism
Qilin is endowed with very excellent qualities in legends, for example, it is said to be warm in nature. A good person is not covered with insects or covered with grass, has horns on his head, and has meat on his horns. He is equipped with weapons but does not use them, so he is called a "benevolent favor". King Wuzhao of Xiliang said in "Ode to Qilin": "With a round hoof, he walks in a proper manner. When he travels, he must choose the right place. He will soar and stay behind. He will not fall into traps or fall into traps." "Song Book·Fu Ruizhi" says: "With benevolence, "Dai Yi, don't drink from the pool, don't go into the trap, don't go into the trap." "Shuo Yuan" also has "Benevolent and righteous, the sound is in the rhythm, the steps are in the right way, the twists and turns are in the right direction, the soil is picked and then trampled, the position is flat." In the back, he did not live in groups or travel, and his writings were scattered, and he asked questions and followed them." It embodies the humble demeanor of Qilin's benevolent gentleman. The reason why Qilin worship has been accepted by the general public and the ruling class during its development and inheritance is precisely because the qualities of this "benevolent favor" are in line with China's ethics and Confucian style for thousands of years.
Confucianism was founded by Confucius, a great thinker and educator in the late Spring and Autumn Period of China. In terms of its purpose, function, purpose and structure, it can be said that it is a school with the core of educating ethics and morality. The development of Chinese culture and world culture has played a greater positive role. The core of Confucianism is "Benevolence". "Benevolence" can be said to be the foundation and highest moral principle of Confucian ethics. Its main purpose is "loving others", that is, "If you want to establish yourself, you should establish others; if you want to achieve yourself, you can achieve others." "Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you." Confucianism believes that people are human beings because they have a "heart of love" and use the moral standard of "loving others" to determine whether people should be respected and valued. .
Confucianism is the dominant ideology of Chinese traditional culture. During the Warring States Period, Confucianism and Mohism were both called "Xian Xue". Qin Shihuang used Legalist doctrine to unify the world, burned books and harassed Confucianism, which dealt a serious blow to Confucianism, but the Qin Dynasty "died after the second generation". In the early Han Dynasty, Huang Lao's teachings were respected. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty followed Dong Zhongshu's suggestion, dismissed hundreds of schools of thought, and only respected Confucianism. As a result, Confucianism officially took over the dominant position. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, metaphysics was popular. Although Ji Kang publicly advocated that "it is not Tang Wu but Zhou rites", metaphysics still respected Confucius as the highest saint. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Buddhism flourished, and Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism were respected equally, but political law was still Confucianism. The rise of agent learning in the Song Dynasty restored the authoritative status of Confucianism. Throughout the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, Confucianism was respected by the rulers. Until the May 4th Movement, Confucianism was severely criticized. The era of Confucianism's ideological dominance came to an end, and the dominance of Confucianism was gone forever. However, the dominant position and far-reaching influence of Confucianism in traditional culture are unparalleled.
In folklore, Qilin also has a close relationship with Confucius, the founder of Confucianism. It is said that on the night when Confucius was born, a unicorn came to the house in the palace of Confucius and spit out a jade book with the words "The descendants of Shuijing, who declined in the Zhou Dynasty and became kings, conquered the wise".
Now that everyone is told that Confucius is an extraordinary man, he is the descendant of nature. Although he does not occupy the position of an emperor, he has the virtues of an emperor and can be called a "prime king". Confucius's family tied a colorful embroidery on the corners of their posts to express their gratitude. In the last years of King Jing of Zhou Dynasty, when someone was digging soil and plowing the fields in Qufu, they actually dug out the colorful embroidery that was originally tied to the linjiao. Later, people derived three volumes of the Jade Book, and Confucius became a saint after reading it intensively. To this day, "Lin Tu Yu Shu" is still used as decoration in the Confucian temples and academic palaces to indicate the arrival of auspiciousness and the birth of sages.
In the era when Confucius lived, "rituals and music conquered from the princes", rituals collapsed and music collapsed, and society was in turmoil. Legend has it that the unicorn appeared in the countryside and was despised by people. Confucius lamented that the unicorn "appeared at the wrong time", marking the end of the world and the poverty of philosophers. This is the final chapter of "Spring and Autumn" written by Confucius, so "Spring and Autumn" is also called "History of Lin" and "History of Lin". Lin Jing.