View source for Pixiu

{{Short description|Chinese mythical hybrid creature}}
{{Distinguish|Bixi (mythology)|Pixiv}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Pixiu
| altname = 
| pic = Tomb Yongning of the Ts'en Dynasty.JPG
| piccap = Pixiu
| c = {{Linktext|貔貅}}
| l =
| t = 
| s = 
| p = píxiū
| w = {{tonesup|pʻi2-hsiu1}}
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|p|i|2|.|x|iu|1}}
| j = pei4-jau1
| y = pèihyāu
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|p|ei|4|.|j|au|1}}
| poj = 
| h = 
| c2 = {{Linktext|辟邪}}
| p2 = bìxié
| w2 = pi4-hsieh2
| j2 = 
| y2 = 
| poj2 = phiah-siâ, phek-siâ, phì-siâ
| h2 = 
| l2 = 
| hangul = 비휴
| hanja = 豼貅
| kanji = 貔貅
| hiragana = ひきゅう
| romaji = hikyū
| qn = 
| chuhan = 
| chunom = 
}}

The '''pixiu''' ({{IPAc-cmn|p|i|2|.|x|iu|1}}; {{lang-zh|c={{linktext|貔貅}}}}) is a [[Chinese myth]]ical [[Hybrid (mythology)|hybrid]] creature. Pixiu are considered powerful protectors of the [[Soul|souls of the dead]], ''[[Xian (Taoism)|xian]]'',<ref name=":42">{{Cite book |last=Scarpari |first=Maurizio |title=Ancient China: Chinese Civilization from the Origins to the Tang Dynasty |publisher=[[Barnes & Noble]] |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7607-8379-5 |location=New York |pages=222 |translator-last=Milan |translator-first=A.B.A.}}</ref> and [[feng shui]] practitioners, and resemble strong, winged lions. A Pixiu is an earth and sea variation{{Clarify|reason=of what?|date=March 2021}}, particularly an influential and auspicious creature for wealth, and is said to have a voracious appetite exclusively for gold, silver, and jewels. Therefore, traditionally to the Chinese, Pixiu have always been regarded as auspicious creatures that possessed mystical powers capable of drawing {{zhp|p=cai qi|c=財氣|tr=wealth}} from all directions,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.tianlu.sg/yutianlu_eng.htm | script-title=zh:天禄之家 WWW.tianlu.sg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/13Traditions2337.html |title=Pixiu - China culture |access-date=2014-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202184235/http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/13Traditions2337.html |archive-date=2014-12-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and according to the [[Chinese zodiac]], it is especially helpful for those who are going through a bad year.

There are two types of Pixiu that are categorised by their [[antler]]s. The one with two antlers is the female and is called a {{Transliteration|zh|Bìxié}}, and the one with one antler is the male and is called a ''Tiānlù''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|script-title=zh:貔貅|trans-title=Pìxiū|url=http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/hikyu-beast.html|website=onmarkproductions.com}}</ref>

*{{Transliteration|zh|Bìxié}} ({{zhi|c={{linktext|辟邪}}|p=bìxié|w=pi-hsieh}}; lit. "to ward off evil spirits"): The female of the species wards off evil. It is also believed that {{Transliteration|zh|Bìxié}} have the ability to assist anyone who is suffering from bad feng shui from having offended [[Tai Sui]] ({{lang|zh-hant|太歲}}).
*{{Transliteration|zh|Tiānlù}} ({{zhi|t=天祿|p=tiānlù|w=t'ien-lu|c=|s=}}): The male of the species is in charge of wealth. It is said to go out into the world to search for gold and other forms of wealth. When it returns to its master's house, the {{Transliteration|zh|Bìxié}} is then said to guard the riches. Displaying {{Transliteration|zh|Tiānlù}} at home or in the office is said to prevent wealth from flowing away.

Pixiu crave the smell of gold and silver and like to bring their masters money in their mouth. Statues of this creature are often used to attract wealth in feng shui.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Bates|first=Roy|title=29 Chinese Mysteries|publisher=TuDragon Books Ltd|year=2008|location=Beijing, China|pages=49|chapter=Chapter 7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=29 Chinese Mysteries|last=Bates|first=Roy|publisher=TuDragon Books Ltd|year=2008|location=Beijing, China|pages=48, 49|chapter=Chapter 7}}</ref>

Today, Pixiu are a popular design on jade pendants.

==Etymology==
Sinologist Axel Schuessler (2007) states that in old texts {{zhp|c=貔|p=pí}} referred to large panther-like cats.<ref name = "schuessler">{{cite book|last= Schuessler|first= Axel|year= 2007|title= An Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|page= 412}}</ref> Minimally reconstructing {{lang|zh|貔}}'s [[Old Chinese]] pronunciation as *''bi'', Schuessler compares it to {{bo|t=དབྱི།|w=dbyi|lang=yes}} "[[Eurasian lynx|lynx]]" then proposes a probable [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] etymology.<ref name = "schuessler"/> Moreover, he sees possible cognacy with {{lang|bo|པི}} ({{Transliteration|bo|pi}}) and {{lang|bo|བྱི}} ({{Transliteration|bo|byi}}) in two Tibetan words for "cat", namely: {{lang|bo|པི་ཤི}} ({{Transliteration|bo|pi shi}}) and {{lang|bo|བྱི་ལ}} ({{Transliteration|bo|byi la}}) respectively.<ref name = "schuessler"/> Elements {{lang|bo|པི}} ({{Transliteration|bo|pi}}) and {{lang|bo|བྱི}} ({{Transliteration|bo|byi}}) are either of native Tibetan origin or derived from [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indic]] (cf. [[Hindi]] {{lang|hi|बिल्ला}} ({{Transliteration|hi|billā}}) ← [[Sanskrit]] {{lang|sa| बिडाल}} ({{Transliteration|sa|biḍāla}})).<ref name = "schuessler"/>

[[Xu Ke (author)|Xu Ke]] ({{zhi|c=徐珂}}) describes the {{zhi|c=貔貅|p=pixiu}} as resembling either tigers or bears and having ashen white furs, the {{zhi|c=貔|p=pi}} being male and the {{zhi|c=貅|p=xiu}} female.<ref>{{cite book|author= Xu Ke|year= 1917|title= Categorized anthology of petty matters from the Qing period |script-title=zh:清稗類鈔|chapter= [[w:zh:s:清稗類鈔/098#貔貅|Chapter 98: Animals (動物類), section "Pixiu (貔貅)]]|script-quote=zh: 貔貅。形似虎。或曰似熊。毛色灰白。遼東人謂之白羆。雄者曰貔。雌者曰貅。故古人多連舉之。}}; rough translation: "The pixiu look like tigers; some say they look like bears; their furs are coloured ashen white. People in [[Liaodong]] call them white [[brown bear]]s. The male is called pi while the female is called xiu. That was why ancient people often mentioned them together.</ref>

==Characteristics==
Pixiu are auspicious, winged animals, written about in ancient Chinese history and heralded through the millennia by fantastic stories of powerful and grandiose feats of victory in battle.<ref name=":3" /> Their legend has been passed down through 2,000 years of Chinese lore. They have the head of a Chinese dragon, the body of a lion, and historically sport on their heads either one antler (male) or two antlers (female). In modern times, this legendary creature's historical physical appearance has been somewhat lost, and is now more commonly depicted with only one antler.<ref name=":4">[[Book of Han]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2021}}

Ancient Chinese descriptions, depictions and stone carvings of Pixiu from the [[Han dynasty]] (206 BC{{snd}}220 AD) show the male with a single antler and the female with two. As with the [[Fenghuang|Chinese phoenix]], the common image today represents a single gender with one antler (male). Pixiu have protruding eyes and sharp teeth. There is one ancient stone sculpture variation found with hooves, but all Pixiu have wings. Many have a bifurcated (split) tail that hangs low and downward that covers its rear, a representative metaphor that they hold gold inside their stomachs but will not let it out.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Imperial ''Pixiu'' used during the [[Qing dynasty]] developed the physical characteristic of a fatter, more rotund body, indicating a stomach that could be loaded with unlimited amounts of gold and all forms of wealth and good fortune.

Due to their similar appearances, Pixiu are often confused with [[Imperial guardian lions|stone lion]]s and [[qilin]], but they can easily be distinguished from those two animals by its pair of feathered wings with which it can fly between Heaven and Earth.<ref name=":1" />

In the [[Eastern Han dynasty]], pixiu were thought to be able to fly into the realm of immortals or ''xian''<ref name=":42" /> by Daoists and a minority of Confucianists.

==Mythology==
One story of the '''''Pixiu''''' tells that it violated a law of [[Heaven]] by defecating on the floor of Heaven. When it was found out, it was punished by a spanking executed by the [[Jade Emperor]]. The spanking was hard enough to cause its rectum to be permanently sealed. This is why '''''Pixiu''''' can eat [[gold]], silver and jewels but cannot expel it.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lim |first=SK |title=Origins of Chinese Auspicious Symbols |publisher=Asiapac Books |year=2010 |isbn=9812299807|location=Singapore |pages=23-24 |language=English}}</ref> This is one of the origins of the status of '''''Pixiu''''' statues as a symbol of the acquisition and preservation of wealth.

Another story describes the Pixiu as the well-behaved, youngest son of the Dragon King and was spoiled by its parents. One day, Pixiu played on the Dragon King's desk and accidentally broke a seal that represented the power of the Dragon King. The Dragon King became very angry and used magic to turn Pixiu into an animal. He then sealed his rectum and declared that from then on, Pixiu could only eat things representing wealth.<ref>{{Cite book|title=29 Chinese Mysteries|last=Bates|first=Roy|publisher=TuDragon Books Ltd|year=2008|location=Beijing, China|pages=51|chapter=Chapter 7}}</ref>

Pixiu have a reputation of being fierce creatures. The large fangs visible in their mouths are used to attack demons and evil spirits, draining their essence and converting it to wealth. Pixiu also guard against disease caused by these evil spirits. It is written that Pixiu patrol the Heavens to keep demons at bay and to protect their owners from all harm.<ref name="Bates 2008 49">{{Cite book|last=Bates|first=Roy|title=29 Chinese Mysteries|publisher=TuDragon Books, Ltd|year=2008|location=Beijing, China|page=49|chapter=Chapter 7}}</ref>

It was believed that the ferociously devoted Pixiu would always and constantly guard its master, even after he passed from this life onto the next world. It was also believed that Pixiu would help their masters ascend to heaven by flying them up to Heaven on their backs.<ref name=":3" />

==History==
[[File:Ming Dynasty wood carving books in Tian Yi Chamber colllection.JPG|thumb|Book of Han, Tian Yi Chamber Library Collection]]

Pixiu appear to have their origin in the [[Han dynasty]] (206 BC–220 AD) where they are found mentioned and were originally called {{Transliteration|zh|Táo bá}} in chapter 96 of the [[Book of Han]].

An annotation describes the female and male {{Transliteration|zh|Táo bá}} to have antlers like a deer, where the male ({{Transliteration|zh|Tiānlù}}) has one antler, and the female ({{Transliteration|zh|Bìxié}}) two. In tribute to the legend of the ferocity and prowess of the Pixiu in battle, it became synonymous with the army in ancient [[China]]. The word {{Transliteration|zh|Pixiu}}, interpreted as meaning "fierce beast" and also "brave warrior", was used as a symbol on battle flags and banners.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/13Traditions1548.html|title=Tianlu and Bixie|website=cultural-china.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412192128/http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/13Traditions1548.html|archive-date=2017-04-12|url-status=dead|access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref>

[[Emperor Wu of Han|Emperor Wu]] of the Han dynasty declared that the Pixiu, who obtained and guarded the Master's gold, would be forever known as the "Treasure of the Emperor".<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Pi Xiu Celestial Coming with Fortune|last=Li|first=Jinn|publisher=Estalontech (PublishDrive)|year=2015|isbn=9789634280958}}</ref> It is said the Emperor declared that only royal personage could possess a Pixiu and it was strictly forbidden for all others to own one, including officials.<ref name=":2" /> This law was kept through to the end of the [[Qing dynasty]].<ref name=":2" />

==Architecture==
During China's history, Pixiu were commonly displayed in ancient architecture to ward off {{zhp|p=yin qi|c=陰氣}} and to harness auspicious ''[[qi]]''.

Statues of Pixiu are commonly found on the four corners of the roofs of houses, palaces and halls of the most important people such as the [[Emperor of China|Chinese Emperor]]. The Pixiu sits behind the dragon, the phoenix, the winged horse, the seahorse, and other, similar creatures.

In ancient China, stone statues of Pixiu were also used as tomb guardians of Han dynasty emperors and other royal persons.

==Feng shui==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2021}}
In [[feng shui]], Pixiu ({{Abbr|aka|also known as}} ''Piyao'' in some modern cultural translations) is the heavenly variation of a creature of good fortune. They are said to have the power to assist anyone suffering from bad feng shui due to having offended [[Tai Sui]].

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths="180" heights="180" mode="packed">
pixiu_qianlong.jpg
Segalen-25-Qi-Wudi-Chimera-left.jpg|A Chinese Pixiu, ({{lang-zh|c={{linktext|貔貅}}|p=píxiū|w=P'i-hsiu}}) head of a [[Chinese dragon]], body of a [[lion]] and with a pair of feathered [[wing]]s, at the tomb of [[Emperor Wu of Southern Qi]] ([[Emperor Wu of Southern Qi|Xiao Ze]]) in Danyang (near Nanjing, China).
Funerary Sculpture of a Chimera (Bixie) LACMA AC1997.1.1.jpg|A sculpture of a Chinese Pixiu "Bìxié" − a female pixiu with two antlers. [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]] (LACMA)
Nanjing - Chaotian Palace - Bixie.jpg|A Chinese pixiu, part [[Chinese dragon]], part [[lion]] and with feathered [[wing]]s, in [[Chaotian Palace]], [[Nanjing]]
Tomb of Xiao Rong - P1200114.JPG|A very large pair of winged, stone pixiu guarding a tomb in China
HighStatusRoofDeco.jpg|Ceramic figures decorating the Hall of Supreme Harmony at the Imperial Palace Museum. The 9 mystical beasts indicate the highest status in the empire for this building. Picture taken late September 2002 by Leonard G
</gallery>

==In popular culture==
In ''[[Mulan (1998 film)|Mulan]]''. Pixiu is featured as a design on the sword of Fa Mulan's.

In ''[[DuckTales (2017 TV series)|DuckTales]]'' of 2017, Pixiu serves as a minor antagonist.

In ''[[American Born Chinese (TV series)|American Born Chinese]]'', [[Shiji Niangniang]] has a pet Pixiu that was turned into a dog, along with having his anus sealed, after he pooped in the [[Jade Emperor]]'s pond.
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In [[Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon]], Pixiu as Hikyumaru serves as the next main antagonist with titled of ''Dark Destructive God'' after Kirinmaru.
-->

In ''Fabulous Beasts'' ([[:zh:有兽焉]] or You Shou Yan), one of the main characters in the show is a Pixiu by the name of Tianlu who has a twin brother named Bixie.

In the video game [[Overwatch]], a Pixiu costume is available for the character Zenyatta.

==See also==
* [[Chinese culture]] 
* [[Chinese spiritual world concepts]]
* [[Feng shui]]
* [[Fenghuang]]
* [[Four Symbols|Four symbols]]
* [[Imperial guardian lion]]
* [[Legendary creature]]
* [[Qilin]]
* [[Simurgh]]
* [[Xiezhi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Pixiu}}

{{Chinese mythology}}

[[Category:Chinese legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Geomancy]]
[[Category:Mythological hybrids]]
[[Category:Mythological lions]]