No. 019
Girin (qilin)
麒麟기린 (girin)
Divine beast
Draft, not yet reviewed
An auspicious imaginary animal counted with the dragon, phoenix and tortoise among the Four Spirits. A gifted child is called a girin-a, and the creature was used as an ornament on Silla roof tiles, Goryeo bronze mirrors and Joseon rank badges.
Names
- Korean
- 기린
- Hanja
- 麒麟
- Revised Romanization
- girin
- English
- Girin (qilin)
Related creatures
- Related Dragon
- Related Bonghwang (phoenix)
Attestations
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Encyclopedia of Korean Culture Encyclopedia
What it says: The girin article: its meaning as one of the Four Spirits, proverbs and expressions, and its use as a motif from Silla tiles to Joseon rank badges.
Interpretation and notes
It shares its Korean name with the giraffe but is an entirely different, imaginary creature.