From: exudms@exu.ericsson.se (New Dave)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: Chinese myths
Summary: Chinese Animals
Date: 15 Oct 92 18:58:13 GMT
Reply-To: exudms@exu.ericsson.se
Organization: Ericsson Network Systems, Inc.
X-Disclaimer: This article was posted by a user at Ericsson.
              The opinions expressed are strictly those of the
              user and not necessarily those of Ericsson.

In article 16438@ultb.isc.rit.edu, cwc2328@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (C. Chou) writes:
->In article <1992Oct10.030851.12077@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>, fcrary@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Frank Crary) writes:
->>My style of bagua (Sun's) describes it's eight forms by analogy to 
->>animals. Lion, bear, monkey, etc... all make sense to me, and the
->>analogy is quite usefull. However, in three cases, the analogy isn't
->>helpfull at all: Dragon, pheonix and unicorn (which I understand doesn't
->>translate well, being very different from the western unicorn...)
->>Does anyone have any information on these mythical animals are
->>like in the Chinese tradition? 
->>
->>                                               Frank Crary
->>                                               CU Boulder
->I don't know too much, and maybe someone can add to this but here goes:
->The Chinese unicorn actually has TWO horns, and is called a chi-lin. It looks
->more like a goat crossed with a lion or something. And I believe it appeared to
->one of the Khans (can't remember Kublai or Genghis) when he was conquering his
->way to the West.
->
->The dragon is a very YANG animal, and its realm is the air. Its yin side is the
->snake. They both have very auspicious characteristics, just one is more
->internal than the other (snake is more internal).
->
->And I don't know too much about the phoenix in Chinese mythology.
->
->Hope it helps, though.....
->
->C. Chou
->Rochester, NY

I missed the original post on this thread. I believe that the subject must
have been on Ba Gua Chuen which I know nothing of. But I would like 
to add to the question about Chinese mythology and the Chi-Ling.

Early man in China, like the American Indian, believed in a god for every
natural/supernatural force or phenomena between Heaven and Earth.
Many unknown mythical animals are noticed in early tombs, but many 
have existed to today. 

The unicorn creature is know as a Chi-Ling. The Chi-Ling, like the Lion,
are direct messengers or are links from Heaven. It is said that all the 
great Sages and Emporers of China were brought to Earth to be born
by way of the Chi-Ling. Thus, the Chi-Ling only appeared on Earth when
an important person was born.

It is hard to discribe the looks of this creature, but it would resemble
the makings of a Chinese Lion, goat, and horse, being much larger
than a horse. Aso the Chinese Lion (Shih-Tzu) has a single short horn
on it's head.

Note that from the Emperor Chin (Qin)? around 220 B.C.  after the "Warring States " period, through to the Tong dynasty, Japan absorbed the early Chinese culture into their own. The "Ki-Rin" and the Chi-Ling are the
same. You can see one for yourself on a bottle of Japanese Kirin beer!

The Chi-Ling and the Lion combat evil and will turn on anyone whose
thoughts are not pure, or the dishonest and foolish. It is said that when
the Lion came to a villiage, praise him and you would not be eaten. He
will bow to the deities and behave happly to the beat of the drum. The
town will have good luck for an entire year.

The ceremonies of Lion dance and the Chi-Ling and Dragon are mostly 
performed durring the New Year. The Dragon  with long flowing and
twisting movements. The Lion with prancing, jumping, and jerking 
movement. And the Chi-Ling with the gate of a horse and mostly bucking
movement.
 
The Dragon and Pheonix combination can be associated with the
"Emperor" and "Emperoress" of China, being symbols of both the male
and female.

There are many other more common animals associated with "Long life,
and good fortune", like the turtle, snake, and mythical flying raindeer.
Plants like Lotus and fungus. Fungus like the "Chei" that only grows on
the tall mountains, very rare. 

Then of course there are the 12 animals that came out of the forest and
appeared before the first Bhudda after he became enlightened. They 
were (not in order) the rabbit, snake, rooster, dog, monkey, pig, horse,
rat, ox, sheep, tiger, and the dragon. I don't know if the Chinese dragon
is assosiated with the Shankya culture of the Bhudda's tribe or if it is
a pure Chinese mythical animal. That was supost to of taken place in
the 4th century B.C. The Chinese associate these animals with a 12 year
astrological calendar.

The Dragon is the most well known mythical animal said to of be of flying 
over the seas of China.

Just some insight on a little mythology. Hope this helps in any way.

/New Dave