Chinese Mythical Creatures

Authoritative, Dignified, Auspicious

Dragons can summon wind and rain, govern waters, and symbolize imperial power and strength. Their nine offspring differ in appearance and are widely used to decorate architecture and artifacts.

Peaceful harmony, noble auspiciousness

In Chinese mythology, the male phoenix is called Feng and the female Huang. They perch only on wutong trees and feed solely on bamboo seeds. Symbolizing an era of peace and wise rulership, they are often paired with the dragon.

Merciful, Auspicious, Bestows Children and Blessings

The qilin has the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, and a single horn covered in flesh. It is gentle in nature and never harms living creatures. Legend holds that before Confucius was born, a qilin appeared with a jade scroll, foretelling the arrival of a sage.

Attract wealth and treasure; money comes in but never goes out.

The Pixiu features a dragon's head, a horse's body, horns, and no anus. It is believed to devour all things without excretion, symbolizing the ability to absorb wealth from all directions. As a result, it is a cherished guardian deity among merchants.

Wise and learned, warding off evil

Bai Ze could speak human language and understood the appearances of all ghosts, spirits, and creatures in the world. He once told the Yellow Emperor about 11520 types of supernatural beings, symbolizing wisdom and knowledge.

Beware of greed. Majestic and mysterious.

The taotie is a mythical creature with the body of a sheep and a human face, eyes located under its arms, possessing a head but no body. It is insatiably greedy. Taotie motifs on Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze vessels served both to intimidate and to warn against excess.