麒 |
PINYIN | ||||
qí |
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Main meanings: ①Chinese unicorn: qilin. |
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Etymology:
Elements ---- Basket 其 + deer 鹿. Phonetic series鹿.
An auspicious (其 instead of 祺) deer 鹿 (with a skin as fish scales 麟.) It was said that the qilin (Chinese unicorn) only was seen in times where justice prevailed, and that it can distinguish truth from lies.Main Words:
麒麟 qílín Chinese unicorn.
Discussion and sources
Though most of the scholars think that 其 has only a phonetic value, it is clear that it relates here to the auspicious ceremony in which offerings were presented in a basket.
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