| (The picture source: www.nipic.com) Chinese mythical creatures have captured the imagination of anyone who has ever seen a Chinese movie or Chinese literature. Unfortunately, most people only know about dragons. How to Write the Chinese Character: 龙 (Lóng) Dragon There are many magical creatures with supernatural powers in Chinese mythology. They can be either merciful or malignant, beautiful or repugnant, gargantuan or minuscule. The variety of these creatures are numerable and fascinating. They are all very interesting parts of Chinese culture and have amazing folklore stories to accompany each creature. Let’s look at 5 noteworthy creatures that you may have never heard of. 1. 九头鸟 (Jiǔtóuniǎo) The nine-headed bird The nine-headed bird is also called "姑获鸟 (gū huò niǎo)." The bird brings "灾难 (zāinàn) disaster," and it only comes out at night. When it puts on plumage, it becomes a bird, and when it takes it off, it becomes a beautiful woman. The nine-headed bird does not give birth to any bird of its own; it takes only the nestlings of other birds. It is said that it used to have 10 heads. But one is missing and the headless neck constantly drips blood. There are two versions of the story on how the bird lost one of its head. One version holds that it was bitten off by a fierce mythical dog, while a more widely spread version suggests the Emperor of the Zhou Dynasty (1152-1056 BC) ordered a hunter to shoot its head off. But that didn’t stop the evil bird. It sneaks into villages at night, hurting children and spreading misfortune. 2. 九尾狐 (Jiǔwěihú) The nine-tail fox According to legend, the fox's tail is used to store auras. When the fox absorbs enough auras, the tail splits into two, eventually dividing into nine tails. When a fox has nine tails, it has an immortal body and the ability to spit fire. During the Zhou dynasty, Da Ji, the incarnation of nine-tail fox, did many bad things and made the king lose his kingdom and his people’s support. The folklore of nine-tailed fox incarnates all kinds of characters, flatters, and deceives innocent people, therefore the fox gradually becomes a byword of cunning. Why Do Chinese Like the Number 9 very much? 3. 麒麟 (Qílín) Qilin; Chinese unicorn "麒麟 (Qílín) Qilin," a legendary animal in ancient China, was called a "benevolent beast" in ancient times. It was a symbol of good "运气 (yùnqi) fortune." According to Chinese folklore, once upon a time, there was a couple that had been trying to have a baby for a long time. One night, a Qilin ran to their house with his elegant demeanor, hurriedly spat a piece of silk from his mouth, with the words, "he had the character and ability of a monarch, but unfortunately, he was not born in the royal family" written upon the fabric. This message foretold the future greatness of their unborn child. The next day, when Qilin disappeared, Confucius was born. Hence, Qilin is thought to be a symbol of luck, good omens, protection, and fertility, which is why they are often used as decorations when bringing a baby to a family. 4. 尚扬 (Shàng yáng) Shang Yang It is a large, menacing bird which dances upon one leg to signify ... Read More | 