The Asian sphere

So having thought for a while today ("Larry, Moe, when I think, nothing happens and my head hurts!") I realized that I have for along time been interested in knowing a lot more about the mythical beings in Asian culture and really had no knowledge or learning of anything except the Oriental Dragons (courtesy of Chai ranting at length of course).

So I'd like to know about the Asian myths and legends, about the nature spirits and deities of Shintoism, about the Oni Demons, about everything and anything that anyone can offer.

I could puke out boatloads of info in regards to the Asian fox people if you wish (the real ones, not the anime ones). Just tell me how short or long of a summary you want, because I tend to get REALLY detailed and excited on the topic, thanks to all the books out there now on the subject.

Sorry I don't know much details but I thought there was a japanese or chinese (or somewhere in asia.. sorry T_T don't hate me, it's been about 4 years) there is an asian version of a unicorn? I always thought they looked cooler. I thought the name was Kyrnn but I'm not sure.... I'll have to look it up now. It's like a unicorn if you added a lot of earth to it. A mix of unicorn and forest spirit I believe.. or at least thats how the picture I saw worked. As for Oni Demons, the only thing i know about them is they are in Guild Wars: Factions, Guild Wars has 3 main worlds. Factions is the equivalent to Asia. There was also a krynn... kyrnn.. I wish I knew the word correctly. Anyway there was one in there as well (But I knew of them before playing Guild Wars)

Otherwise I'm not entirely sure.

I think ki lin is the unicorn.

Motley Wrote:I think ki lin is the unicorn.

oh, maybe that was it. All I remember was a K, an i sound, and an n sound >_>;;; It's been several years and I only saw it once. I think it was a picture on deviantart.

the first few sections are quite interesting. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.east-asian-history.net/textbooks/172/ch8.htm">http://www.east-asian-history.net/textbooks/172/ch8.htm</a><!-- m -->

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/KAMI.HTM">http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/GLOSSARY/KAMI.HTM</a><!-- m -->

tons of information about shinto. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://jinja.jp/english/s-4c.html">http://jinja.jp/english/s-4c.html</a><!-- m -->

Good intro to Chinese mythology here:

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology</a><!-- m -->

I checked the info on kitsune in wikipedia (fox people) and it's accurate, according to the books. It basically regurgitated the same info from "The Fox and the Jewel". But that's just the Japanese perspective, Chinese stories were slightly different (and I only read one story from Mongolia that had a fox, and nothing from Korea yet). But in general they were trickster spirits, like the coyote. They could be heroes or villains, helpful or harmful, playful or malicious, and for many, neutral. They followed their own code, only working with human ones temporarily, and usually for some personal motive. They actually ARE foxes, vulpes vulpes, etc; the difference is that the Asians had a different world view than the Europeans. While to Europeans they are just "soulless animals" and had no more meaning than being fur pelts, the Asians placed higher intelligence and meaning to these creatures (and others), which is why their intelligence is much higher in their stories (which is why they're able to transcend the physical realm to enlightenment like a human might, because they're able to get the knowledge and ability to do so). It's basically on par with a human's general intelligence, and in some cases, higher.

And kirin (qilin, etc) aren't really unicorns in the sense that they were like the European ones. Their purposes were different, and made of very different animals (one kind looks more like a lion/ox thing than a horse!). The only thing "unicorn" about them were the single horn (antler in some pictures/stories) on their head. Otherwise they're not the same creature (though modern art on DA of course suggests otherwise).

WhiteFox Wrote:I checked the info on kitsune in wikipedia (fox people) and it's accurate, according to the books. It basically regurgitated the same info from "The Fox and the Jewel". But that's just the Japanese perspective, Chinese stories were slightly different (and I only read one story from Mongolia that had a fox, and nothing from Korea yet).

And kirin (qilin) aren't really unicorns in the sense that they were like the European ones. Their purposes were different, and made of very different animals (one kind looks more like a lion/ox thing than a horse!). The only thing "unicorn" about them were the single horn (antler in some pictures) on their head. Otherwise they're not the same creature.

I was just about to actually post that (kirin) because I remembered it.

The picture I saw it looked exactly like a really furry long haired brown unicorn... *edit* there was no story attached, that's why I thought so