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Pixiu (Chinese: 貔貅; pinyin: píxiū; Wade–Giles: pʻi 2-hsiu 1; 貔貅, OC: * bi qʰu) is a Chinese mythical hybrid creature. Pixiu are considered powerful protectors of the souls of the dead, xian, [1] and feng shui practitioners, and resemble strong, winged lions.
In Chinese, they are traditionally called simply shi (Chinese: 獅; pinyin: shī) meaning lion—the word shi itself is thought to be derived from the Persian word šer. [2] Lions were first presented to the Han court by emissaries from Central Asia and Persia , and were already popularly depicted as guardian figures by the sixth century AD. [ 3 ]
The Chinese artistic form of the "dog-lion" (kara-shishi in Japanese) was almost always used, but was generally somewhat fatter, and with a shorter torso, than in China, with a short fan-like tail and a flattened face. [59] Hokusai had a "special cult of the Chinese lion, whose "spiritual form" he drew each morning". [60]
There are also special symbols in Chinese arts, such as the qilin, and the Chinese dragon. [1] According to Chinese beliefs, being surrounding by objects which are decorated with such auspicious symbols and motifs was and continues to be believed to increase the likelihood that those wishes would be fulfilled even in present-day. [2]
The Komainu strongly resemble Chinese guardian lions and in fact originate from Tang dynasty China. [9] The Chinese guardian lions are believed to have been influenced by Asiatic lion pelts and lion depictions introduced through trade from either the Middle East or India, countries where the lion existed and was a symbol of strength. [10]
Fenghuang, Chinese phoenix; Fenghuang. Feilian, god of the wind who is a winged dragon with the head of a deer and tail of a snake. Feilong, winged legendary creature that flies among clouds. Fish in Chinese mythology; Four Perils; Four Symbols, also called Sixiang, four legendary animals that represent the points of the compass.
The Four Symbols are mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic, and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. These four creatures are also referred to by a variety of other names, including " Four Guardians ", " Four Gods ", and " Four Auspicious Beasts ".
Shisa (Japanese: シーサー, Hepburn: shīsā, Okinawan: シーサー, romanized: shiisaa) is a traditional Ryukyuan cultural artifact and decoration derived from Chinese guardian lions, often seen in similar pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog, from Okinawan mythology. Shisa are wards, believed to protect from some evils.