[One Thousand Characters a Day] Mysterious Animal Dictionary Hidden in Cultural Heritage <3>

Editor's NoteAmong terrestrial mammals, the giraffe (giraffe), boasting the tallest height, is very popular in zoos. Its slender body and long neck stimulate people's curiosity with its exotic appearance. However, the giraffe described here has nothing to do with the actual animal living in zoos or Africa. It is the auspicious mythical creature "Girin (麒麟)" that appears in imagination. In the early 2010s, there was a major debate in academia regarding this Girin. It was argued that the animal motif excavated from the famous Cheonmachong (Heavenly Horse Tomb) might be a Girin rather than a horse. Shortly after, the claim was made that the motif was part of a horse saddle decoration and its appearance was closer to that of a horse, thus the issue was settled as a horse. Nevertheless, this shows how much the Girin stimulates our imagination. Word count: 1054 characters.

The Girin appears from the Warring States period (戰國時代) of China. The Confucian classic Book of Rites (禮記), which summarizes Confucius's teachings, mentions dragons, phoenixes, Girin, and turtles, collectively called the "Four Sacred Creatures (四靈)" meaning sacred animals. The Four Sacred Creatures?dragon, phoenix, Girin, and turtle?represent all animals in the world and symbolize the Confucian essence of a utopian era of peace and prosperity. In Mencius (孟子), Records of the Grand Historian (史記), and Annals of L? Buwei (呂氏春秋), it is recorded that "the Girin is the leader of all 360 species of furred animals." In Guangya (廣雅) and Book of Songs (詩經), it is said, "All creatures with feet tread and trample, but uniquely, the Girin does not. The Girin embodies benevolence (仁), so it does not step on mountain insects nor break sprouting grass. When the ruler behaves according to proper conduct, the Girin appears," thus regarding the Girin as a spiritual creature that appears when a virtuous emperor governs and as a symbol of benevolence.

In this way, in the East, sages and virtuous gentlemen were always compared to the Girin. Intelligent children or young people were often called "Girin-a (麒麟兒)." This corresponds to the Korean proverb "A tree destined to grow tall is different from its first leaves," metaphorically expressing promising sprouts as Girin, indicating potential for the future.

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The basic appearance of the Girin, said to emit a radiant multicolored glow, resembles common herbivores such as deer, horses, or cattle, but its distinctive feature is a large single horn on its forehead. Because of this horn, the Girin is also called "Ilgaksu (One-Horned Beast)" or the "Eastern Unicorn." The horn has become the symbol representing the Girin.

The Girin in our culture also has a horn. However, the rest of its appearance varies depending on the era and culture. Besides resembling deer, horses, and cattle, the Girin takes on various forms. This is because the Girin is an imaginary creature that does not exist in reality, reflecting the imagination of people at the time.

From the Three Kingdoms period to Unified Silla, the Girin is depicted with wings. Here, wings, along with horns and fiery manes, are the most representative symbols granting sacredness. Ancient people longed for the sky, and thus expressed winged animals on tombs and various artifacts.

－Kim Yongdeok, The Mysterious Animals Hidden in Cultural Heritage Dictionary, Dam & Books, 16,800 KRW