Kirin & Tengu

Kirin

Kirin or Qilin is mahluh half-dragon half-horse, was originally derived from Chinese mythology but spread throughout eastern Asia. Real animals that are considered 'close' Kirin is a giraffe, giraffe reputedly once regarded as Kirin. In Chinese mythology, Kirin is a sacred animal that has good properties, but Kirin could be wild animals and terrible as it is threatened. Kirin is said that only appears in places that dikuasain by good and wise ruler.




Tengu

In Japan, there is a legend about a mysterious alien, which is being considered as the Devil and described as having a body half bird and half human. These creatures are called by the name of Tengu. Incredibly, a tengu mummy stored neatly in Aomori Prefecture.

Tengu mythology begins around the 6th century BC in line with the arrival of Buddhism to Japan from China. Tengu is considered as a goblin who lived in the forests and mountains. They are said to have supernatural powers as may be transformed into a human or animal, can speak to humans without opening his mouth and was able to move from one place to another quickly using its wings.

Tengu word actually means "dog heaven". In Chinese mythology, this creature also has its own place under the name Tien Kou (Tiangou), which means also a dog heaven. This name actually does not fit the description of the Tengu. These creatures have no way as a dog, but more like a bird.

Book Nihon Shoki, which is considered the most ancient records first mention Tengu, written in 720 AD, mentions that in that century Japan a meteor across the sky and meteors are called by a Buddhist monk as Dog Heaven (Tengu). But how Tengu evolved from a meteor into flying creatures are not known with certainty.

In general, Tengu has two physical forms. The first is called Karasu tengu who has a head and beak like a bird. The second was a Konoha tengu who has a shape like a human but has wings and a long nose (sometimes called Yamabushi tengu)