Editing Chinese culture (section)

== Mythological beings ==

=== Loong ===
{{Main|Loong}}
[[File:伏羲庙之龙.jpg|thumb|Relief of a [[Chinese dragon|dragon]] in Fuxi Temple (Tianshui).]]
Loongs, also known as Chinese Dragon, are [[legendary creature]]s in [[Chinese mythology]], [[Chinese folklore]], and East Asian culture. Chinese dragons have many [[Outline of life forms|animal-like forms]] such as [[Bixi (mythology)|turtles]] and [[Chiwen|fish]], but are most commonly depicted as [[snake]]-like with four legs. They traditionally symbolize potent and [[wikt:auspicious|auspicious]] powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it. During the days of Imperial China, the [[Emperor of China]] usually used the dragon as a symbol of his imperial power and strength.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ingersoll |first=Ernest |year=2013 |title=The Illustrated Book of Dragons and Dragon Lore |location=Chiang Mai |publisher=Cognoscenti Books |display-authors=etal}}<!-- that's an illustrated ebook for kids; doesn't even have an ISBN; credible source? --></ref>{{unreliable source?|date=July 2014}} They are also the symbol and representative for the [[Son of Heaven]], the [[Mandate of Heaven]], the [[Celestial Empire]] and the [[Chinese Tributary System]] during the [[history of China]].

=== Fenghuang ===
{{Main|Fenghuang}}
[[File:伏羲庙之凤.jpg|thumb|Relief of a [[fenghuang]] in Fuxi Temple (Tianshui). They are mythological birds of East Asia that reign over all other birds.]]
Fenghuang (鳳凰) are [[Chinese mythology|mythological]] birds found in Chinese and East Asian mythology that reign over all other birds. The [[male]]s were originally called '''''feng''''' and the [[female]]s '''''huang''''' but such a distinction of gender is often no longer made and they are blurred into a single feminine entity so that the bird can be paired with the [[Chinese dragon]], which is traditionally deemed male. The fenghuang is also called the "August Rooster" ({{zh|t=鶤雞 or 鵾雞|s=鹍鸡|w=yün<sup>4</sup>-chi<sup>1</sup> or k'un<sup>1</sup>-chi<sup>1</sup>|p=yùnjī or kūnjī}}) since it sometimes takes the place of the [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] in the [[Chinese zodiac]].{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} In the Western world, it is commonly called the Chinese phoenix or simply Phoenix, although mythological similarities with the Western [[Phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]] are superficial.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

=== Qilin ===
{{Main|Qilin}}
[[File:Ming Tomb Entrance detail1.jpg|thumb|Gilin with the head and scaly body of a dragon, tail of a lion and cloven hoofs like a deer. Its body enveloped in sacred flames. Detail from Entrance of General Zu Dashou Tomb (Ming Tomb).]]
The Qilin ({{IPAc-cmn|q|i|2|.|l|in|2}}; {{zh|c=麒麟}}), or Kirin in Japanese, is a [[mythical]] hooved [[Chimera (mythology)|chimerical]] creature in Chinese culture, said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a [[xian (Taoism)|sage]] or illustrious ruler.<ref name=britannica1>{{cite encyclopedia|title=qilin (Chinese mythology)|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/110049/qilin|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=24 July 2011|archive-date=19 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019041800/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/110049/qilin|url-status=live}}</ref> Qilin is a specific type of the ''lin'' mythological family of one-horned beasts. The earliest references to the ''qilin'' are in the 5th century BC ''[[Zuo Zhuan]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Classics/chunqiuzuozhuan.html |title=Chinese Literature – Chunqiu-Zuozhuan 春秋左傳, Gongyangzhuan 公羊傳, Guliangzhuan 穀梁傳 (www.chinaknowledge.de)<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=8 January 2019 |archive-date=6 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206152519/http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Classics/chunqiuzuozhuan.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://engine.cqvip.com/content/tu/98575x/2001/000/002/gc13_tu1_5337044.pdf 古建上的主要装饰纹样——麒麟 古建园林技术－作者:徐华铛<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201732/http://engine.cqvip.com/content/tu/98575x/2001/000/002/gc13_tu1_5337044.pdf |date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> The ''qilin'' made appearances in a variety of subsequent Chinese works of history and fiction, such as [[Fengshen Yanyi|Feng Shen Bang]]. [[Emperor Wu of Han]] apparently captured a live ''qilin'' in 122 BC, although [[Sima Qian]] was skeptical of this.<ref>[[:zh:s:史記/卷028]]</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2018|reason=[[WP:CIRCULAR]]}}

=== Xuanwu ===
{{Main|Black Tortoise{{!}}Xuanwu}}
Xuanwu ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]:玄武) is one of the [[Four Symbols (China)|Four Symbols]] of the [[Chinese constellations]]. Despite its English name, it is usually depicted as a [[turtle]] entwined together with a [[snake in Chinese mythology|snake]]. It is known as Genbu in [[Japanese language|Japanese]] and Hyeonmu in [[Korean language|Korean]]. It represents the [[north]] and the [[winter]] season. In Japan, it is one of the four guardian spirits that protect Kyoto and it is said that it protects the city on the north. Represented by the [[Kenkun Shrine]], which is located on top of Mt Funaoka in Kyoto. The creature's name is identical to that of the important [[Taoist]] [[Chinese mythology|god]] [[Xuanwu (god)|Xuanwu]], who is sometimes (as in ''[[Journey to the West]]'') portrayed in the company of a turtle and snake.