Auspicious Beasts


culture

        There are four auspicious beasts in China: Dragon (龙 lóng), Phoenix (凤凰 fènghuáng), Qilin (麒麟 qílín)and Tortoise (龟 guī). They are considered as the propitious omen.

culture
      Dragon is a mythical creature in China which is considered the largest divine animal. It is a combination of several animals which can swim in water, walk on land and fly in cloud. Dragon represents the symbol of power, dignity and good fortune. In ancient China, dragon was identified as the emperor of China. It is also the symbol of the Chinese nation and culture.

    Phoenix is an auspicous bird with beautiful multi-colored plumage. It has combining features of many birds and animals.  Phoenix is the king of birds. In ancient China, it was a symbol of the the Empress.
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    Qilin is another auspicious beast with combining features of several animals, such as dragon, deer, horse and ox. It has only horn on the head, so is also called Chinese unicorn. Qilin is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and wisdom. 
   
   
    Tortoise is one of the four auspicious. Since tortoise can live very long life, it is a symbol of longevity and health. Tortoise is also called 'divine tortoise' because people believe tortoise can foresee the future.  
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