xiezhi
qilin
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xiezhi |
qilin |
 xiezhi |  qilin |
Ming Tombs, Beijing
To help distinguish them, here are some additional views of these two animals. Both animals have hooves, and similar faces. The xiezhi possesses a single horn1, a lion-like mane, and a smooth pelt. Mythologically, the xiezhai is said to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and thus represents justice The qilin sports two horns, a swept-back mane, and a rough, scaly skin. The qilin is an auspicious creature, a harbinger of good fortune. The odd, oval-shaped exposure on forelegs of the qilin, just above its hooves, looks at first glance like an underlayer of skin, but just may be a shin guard.
1Sometimes called a "unicorn" because of its single horn. However it has nothing to do with the Western unicorn. Similarly, the Chinese "phoenix" is not the same animal as the Western phoenix.
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