How to Tell Xiezhi from Kylin

Both auspicious mythical creatures, xiezhi and kylin share many similarities including the scales on their bodies. However, as probably the most common mythical creatures you can see in the Forbidden City apart from dragons and feng birds, xiezhis and kylins are usually confused with each other. The pictures below will enable you to tell them apart easily.

Text and Translation by Madeline Photos and maps by Haolun

Name Card of Xiezhi

Symbol of justice

Purpose: detecting traitors Animal of Inspiration: Goat

獬豸名片

象征：公平正直

作用：司法獸

動物原型：羊

Tianyi Gate, the Imperial Garden御花園天一門

獨角 Unicorn

單只珊瑚狀犄角，如崢嶸的火焰，用于觸頂奸臣。

Xiezhi only has one curved horn, which is usually on fire, and was pictured to deal with traitors.

Made in Ming Dynasty朝代：明朝

如何一眼分辨與麒麟

同是仁獸，同樣身披鱗片——麒麟和獬豸作為故宮里除了龍、鳳、獅以外最常見的神獸，卻經常被混淆。實際上，有一個能讓你一秒辨認出這二者的捷徑——只需牢記：麒麟有兩只角，而獬豸是獨角獸。

Made in Qing Dynasty朝代：清朝乾隆年間