The mythological creature: KIRIN

When reading Japanese manga or watching anime, it is not uncommon come across the word 'Kirin' or 'Qilin'. The Kirin is a mythological creature with affiliations to divinity. This idea of the creature originates from China and is present in various cultures. According to Wikipedia, it a mythical, hooved creature that is said to appear with the emergence and passing of a powerful and wise persona. In Chinese cultures, it is depicted with flames all over its body and is sometimes confused with dragons and unicorns, probably because it is a peaceful and pure creature, imbued with elegance.

Accounts of the desription of a Kirin keeps changing - some suggests that it has a long and elegant neck like a giraffe, others suggest that it has a horn like a unicorn. Some descriptions liken it to a tiger with scales. In either case, the nobility of the Kirin as the purest of creatures is not diminished. It is a powerful creature, almost godlike.

In certain manga, such as 'Love Monster', the Kirin is a divine animal, and is likened to a God.

In the anime 'Twelve Kingdoms', the Kirin serves as messengers of God who appoint and serves the ruler of the land.

In Naruto, it is the name of a jutsu that uses lightning.

The Kirin is associated with three other animals, the dragon, the pheonix and the turtle. In ancient Chinese constellations, there are four 'houses': the Azure Dragon of the East for Spring (Seiryuu), the Black Tortoise of the North for Winter (Genbu), The White Tiger from the West for Autumn (Byakko) , and lastly, the vermillion Bird of the South for Summer (Suzaku). The Kirin is probably the 'White Tiger from the West' in this quadrant.

We see these names in many references - Fushigi Yuugi, Basara, and few others.

These four also emerge in the Vietnamese 'Saintly Beasts'. However, here, the Kirin is not portrayed as a tiger. Its body resembles a dragon but it has a horn between its eyes.

I look forward to learning more about the Kirin and maybe find some clue to understand it better.