Pixiu (Pinyin: pí xiū), also known as "to ward off evil spirits and Tianlu", is a ferocious and auspicious beast recorded in ancient Chinese books and Han folk myths and legends. Pixiu has a mouth but no anus. It can swallow everything without releasing it. It can only go in but not out. It has special magical powers. Therefore, it has the meaning of attracting wealth and absorbing wealth from all directions. It also has the function of driving away evil spirits and bringing good luck. It is a symbol of ancient times. One of the five auspicious beasts (in addition to the dragon, phoenix, turtle, and unicorn), it is called the beast that attracts wealth.

Appearance:

Pixiu's body is like a tiger and leopard, its head and tail are like a dragon, its color is both gold and jade, its shoulders have a pair of wings that cannot be spread, and its head is born. corner and lean back. (The body color of Pi Xiu is based on the type of gold and silver jewelry it swallows. If the ratio of gold is mostly gold, the body will be golden, if the ratio of jade is mostly jade, the body will be jade).

Many people think that Pixiu is the current panda (giant panda), but judging from ancient pre-Qin texts, this statement is questionable.

There is also a theory that there were two types of Pixiu in ancient times, namely single-horned Pixiu and double-horned Pixiu. Some people say that single-horned and double-horned Pixiu differentiate between male (called Pixiu) and female (called Pixiu). It is said that there is a distinction between good and evil. In short, there is a single-horned Pixiu. Nowadays, most of them are single-horned Pixiu, and it is difficult to see a double-horned Pixiu.

Male and female:

According to legend, Pixiu is a ferocious and auspicious beast, but this beast is divided into male and female. The male is called "Pixiu" and the female is called "Pixiu". In ancient times, this auspicious beast had one or two horns. One horn was called "Tianlu" and the other two horns were called "warping evil spirits". The shape of Pixiu is mainly composed of two corners. In ancient times, "Pixiu" was also used to refer to brave warriors. In the Peking Opera "Lost Street Pavilion, Empty City Strategy, and Killing Ma Su", Zhuge Liang once had a line in the libretto, "Each one is his master, and he is the leader of Pixiu." "Pixiu" means a powerful army.

In the south, some people call it a "monster" or "four different images". Chinese tradition has the custom of decorating "Pixiu". Pixiu, like dragon, phoenix and unicorn, is a fictitious animal. People believe that it can bring joy and good luck.

Shape:

Because monsters are mythical animals, they have no real image to base on. They can only rely on the imagination of painters and artists. Therefore, the images of monsters vary. Thousands of strange things. After the change of dynasties, the shape of Pixiu is relatively unified, such as short wings, double horns, curly tail, mane and whiskers often connected to the chest or back, protruding eyes, and long fangs.

The more popular shape is one or two horns on the head, long curly manes all over the body, some have wings, and curly tail hairs. Jade carvings of Pi Xiu usually take a lying position, some holding jade coins in their mouths, and some lying on jade coins. People like to tie the jade coins in Pixiu's mouth with red threads, or tie the rope to the tail of Pixiu for wearing and playing with.