(Qilin) Chilin

The Qilin is an ancient auspicious mythical creature. It is gentle and benevolent and will not step on any living thing, not even on growing grass.  It's appearance is an auspicious sign of the reign of good ruler or when a saint is present.  Hence, according to legends, the Qilin was seen during the peaceful time of saintly mythical emperor Yao and Shun.  It was also said that when the mother of Confucius was pregnant, the qilin brought her a piece of jade on which the destiny of the great sage was set out.

A favourite Qing motif shows an infant riding a Qilin.   This motif is probably derived from an ancient belief.  According to one of the Nan Songs in  the celebrated ancient classics Shi-jing (Ê«¾­), the qilin brings noble kindred.  Hence, the motif of an infant on a qilin is  commonly used to convey the wish of someone getting a  noble son.¡¡¡¡The motif is termed qilin song zi (÷è÷ëËÍ×Ó£©£¬ie, qilin delivers a son.

A popular motif on Jin Dynasty Yaozhou and Ding wares was that showing  a buffalo gazing at the moon.  The motif is termed 'wu niu chuan yu' (ÎâÅ£´­ÔÂ) ie Wu buffalo gasping at the moon.  The water buffaloes in the Yangtze and Huai  river basin are referred to as wu buffalo as that area was formerly the territory of Wu Kingdom.  According to a local story, during summer time, the buffaloes suffered severe heat and often seen gasping for air.  Even at night, they would mistake the moon for the sun and continue to gasp for air.  Some surmised that the motif is alluding to the suffering of the former Northern Song chinese who were then ruled by the Jin Dynasty.

However, similar motif found in Ming blue and white has the buffalo depicted more like a Qilin.  It may be over time the meaning was lost on the Ming potters.

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