Editing Chinese mythology (section)

===Mythological mammalians===
{{Further|Dog in Chinese mythology|Bovidae in Chinese mythology|Horse in Chinese mythology|List of Chinese terrestrial ungulates}}
Various mythological mammals exist in Chinese mythology. Some of these form the totem animals of the [[Chinese zodiac]]. The Chinese language of mythology tends not to mark words for gender or number, so English language translations can be problematic. Also, species or even genera are not always distinguished, with the named animal often being seen as the local version of that type, such is as the case with sheep and goats, or the versatile term sometimes translated as ''ox''.

====Fox spirits====
{{Main|Huli jing}}
[[Fox spirit]]s feature prominently in mythology throughout the mythology of East Asia. In China, these are generally known as [[Huli jing]]. There are various types, such as the nine-tailed fox.

====Dogs====
{{Main|Dog in Chinese mythology}}
Various dogs appear in the mythology of China, featuring more prominently in some ethnic cultures more than others. The [[Dog (zodiac)|zodiacal dog]] is featured in the Chinese zodiac.

====Bovidae====
{{Main|Bovidae in Chinese mythology}}
The Bovidae appearing in the mythologies of China include oxen (including the common cow, [[Bubalus|buffalo]], and the yak), sheep and goats, and perhaps antelopes (some times "unicorns" are thought to be types of antelopes).

=====Ox=====
{{Main|Ox in Chinese mythology}}
References to oxen may include those to the common cow, the [[Bubalus|buffalo]], and the yak. The [[Ox (zodiac)|zodiacal ox]] is one of the twelve zodiacal signs in the twelve-year calendar cycle. Yak tails are mentioned as magical whisks used by Daoist sorcerers. The ox appears in various [[Agriculture (Chinese mythology)|agricultural myths]].

=====Sheep and goats=====
{{Further|Caprinae}}
Sheep (and/or goats) appear in various myths and stories. The [[Sheep (zodiac)|zodiacal sheep]] is one of the twelve zodiacal signs in the twelve-year calendar cycle. A semi-mythical, semi-historical story involves the adventures of the Han diplomat [[Su Wu]] held captive among the [[Xiongnu]] for nineteen years and forced to herd sheep and/or goats.

====Horses====
{{Main|Horse in Chinese mythology}}
Horses frequently gallop through Chinese mythology. Sometimes the poets say that they are related to dragons. The [[Horse (zodiac)|zodiacal horse]] is one of the twelve zodiacal signs in the twelve-year calendar cycle.

====Unicorns====
Various types of "unicorns" can be found in the myths, designated by the term ''lin'', which is often translated as "unicorn". They possess many similarities to the European unicorn, although not necessarily having only one horn. There are six types of ''lin''.{{sfn|Sheppard|1930|p=97}} One type of ''lin'' is the [[Qilin]], a chimeric or composite animal with several variations. [[Xu Shen]] in his early 2nd century CE) dictionary ''[[Shuowen Jiezi]]'' defines what is represented by this particular ''lin''{{sfn|Wu|1982}} as "an animal of benevolence, having the body of an antelope, the tail of an ox, and a single horn." Also, according to the ''[[Shuowen Jiezi]]'', the horn was sometimes said to have been frightening in appearance to scare off would be attackers, but really flesh-tipped so as to cause no harm. ''Lin'', or unicorns appear only during the reign of benevolent rulers. In 451 BCE, [[Confucius]] recorded that a unicorn had appeared, but was slain in a ducal hunt. Confucius was so upset upon reporting this that he set aside his brush and wrote no more.{{sfn|Wu|1982|pp=6, 45 note 13}} The giraffe was not well known in China and poorly described: about 1200 CE the ''lin'' and the giraffe began to trade characteristics in their mythological conceptions.{{sfn|Sheppard|1930|p=286 note 36}} It is possible that the unicorns resulted from different descriptions of animals which later became extinct, or they no longer ranged in the area of China.

====Cats====
Various cats appear in Chinese mythology, many of them large. Examples are [[Pixiu]], resembled a winged lion, and [[Rui Shi]] ({{lang|zh|瑞獅}}, ''Ruì Shī''), guardian lions. Sometimes they are found pulling the chariot of Xiwangmu. The cat is one of the twelve annual zodiacal animals in Vietnamese and related cultural calendars, having the place of the rabbit found in the Chinese system.

====Non-bovid ungulates====
Various non-bovid ungulates are encountered. Xīniú: a [[Rhinoceroses in ancient China|rhinoceros]], became mythologized when rhinoceroses became extinct in China. Depictions later changed to a more [[bovine]] appearance, with a short, curved horn on its head used to communicate with the sky.

====Simian====
{{Further|Simians (Chinese poetry)|Monkeys in Chinese culture}}
Various beings with simian characteristics appear in Chinese mythology and religion. The Monkey King was a warder of evil spirits, respected and loved, an ancient deity at least influenced by the Hindu deity [[Hanuman]]. The Monkey god is still worshiped by some people in modern China. Some of the mythology associated with the Monkey King influenced the novel ''[[Journey to the West]]''. The [[Xiao (mythology)|xiao]] of mythology appears as a long-armed ape or a four-winged bird, making it hard to categorize exactly; but this is true of various composite beings of mythology.

====Draconid mammalian====
The [[Longma]] is a composite beast, like a winged horse similar to the Qilin, with scales of a dragon.