The xiezhi (獬豸[a]; xièzhì) is a mythical ancient creature of Chinese origin impact to throughout East Asian legends. It resembles an ox or goat, with thick dark fur covering its body, bright eyes, and a single long horn on its forehead. It has great intellect and understands human speech. The xiezhi possesses the innate ability to distinguish right from wrong and when it finds corrupt officials, it will ram them with its horn and devour them. It is known as a symbol of justice.
According to legend, the xiezhi, was a single-horned sheep or goat[b] which had power to divine the guilt or innocence of a person. Gao Yao, the minister of justice for the legendary Emperor Shun employed the beast during criminal proceedings, and he would command the sheep to ram (head-butt) the accused. The beast would ram the guilty, but spare the innocent. The account appears in Wang Chong, Lunheng (80 AD).[7][1][2]
In the same work (Lunheng), the legend is prefaced the remark that public offices are painted with the images of the beast and the minister.[2][1]
As a symbol of traditional Chinese law, xiezhi has been promoted by the Chinese Dynasties. The judicial hat (法冠) was also referred to as the xiezhi after the mythical sheep/ox.[8] The xiezhi hat was part of the attire of censors (yushi [zh]) into the 8th century during the Tang period, especially for an impeachment trial.[9]
Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, King Wen of Chu once obtained a xiezhi and put its image on his head, and then the xiezhi crown became a fashion in the State of Chu. Law enforcement officials in the Qin Dynasty also wore such crowns, as did the Han Dynasty, which inherited the Qin system. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, images of the xiezhi became an indispensable ornament in the Xie Men,[clarification needed] and the XieZhi crown was titled on the law.[clarification needed] Therefore, law enforcement officials were called xiezhi.[citation needed]
Mentions of the xiezhi in Chinese literature can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. "Rhapsody on the Imperial Park" (上林賦), Sima Xiangru mentions the xiezhi解豸/解廌 "sagacious stag" among the preys in the year-end barricade hunt staged by the Son of Heaven.[10][11][12] Scholar Yáng Fú (杨孚)[c] described the xiezhi 獬豸 in his treatise Yiwu Zhi as a "righteous beast, which rams the wrongful party when it sees a fight and bites the wrongful party when it hears an argument".[13] It is described in the Shuowen Jiezi as being "a cattle-like beast with one horn; in ancient times. It settled disputes by ramming the party at fault".[14]
As an inherently just beast, the xiezhi was used as a symbol of justice and law. The Censorate of the Ming and Qing eras, who were responsible for the monitoring of the civil service, wore the xiezhi as a badge of office. Among the common folk, the image of the xiezhi was believed to dispel evil spirits; a xiezhi might be carved on a lock to frighten off evil spirits.[citation needed] Similarly, military policemen of the Republic of China wear badges bearing the xiezhi[citation needed] and it is engraved on the gavels in the law courts of the People's Republic of China.[citation needed]
In 2022, a species of prehistoric giraffoid artiodactyl from early Miocene China, Discokeryx xiezhi, was named after the Xiezhi in reference to a single bony plate on top of its skull which bore a resemblance to the horn of the mythical creature.[15]
In other places
Japan
In Japan, it is known as kaichi (獬豸), also sometimes referred to as a shin'yō (神羊, lit.'divine sheep'). The kaichi is described as similar to a lion with one horn on the top of its head.[16]
Korea
The xiezhi is known as haetae (Korean: 해태) in Korea. According to Korean records, the haetae has a muscular leonine body covered with sharp scales, a bell in its neck, and a horn on its forehead. It lives in the frontier areas of Manchuria.[17]
In Joseon-dynasty Korea, the haetae was believed to protect against fire disasters. Sculptures of haetae were used in architecture (for example, at Gyeongbok Palace) to ward off fire.[citation needed] A cartoon haetae named Haechi [ko] is the city mascot of Seoul.
^Given as "one-horned sheep" (Chinese: 一角之羊; pinyin: yījiǎo zhī yáng) in the original Chinese. Forke rendered this "the monoceros [hsieh-chai] is a goat with one horn",[1] Karlgren as " kie-chai is a ram with one horn";[2] Karlgren and Forke read 觟𧣾/獬豸 as hsieh-chai and kie-chai respectively, but hsieh-chih is the Wade-Giles romanization according to references otherwise consulted.[3]
^Not to be confused to the official Yáng Fù (楊阜) who flourished during the late Eastern Han & Cao Wei eras
References
^ abcWang Chong (1962) [1907], "Ch. XXIX: Auguries Verified (Shih-ying)", Lun-hêng：Part II. Miscellaneous Essays of Wang Ch'ung, Forke, Alfred. tr. (2 ed.), New York: Paragon Book Gallery, p. 321
^ abcKarlgren, Bernhard (1946), "Legends and Cults in Ancient China", Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities (18): 261, 324, JSTOR 40379201
^Wang Chong 王充 (nd) [c. 85], "Shihying, chapter 52" 是應篇第五十二, Lunheng 論衡 [Discourses in the Balance] (in Chinese) – via Wikisource, 儒者說云：觟𧣾者、一角之羊也，性知有罪。皋陶治獄，其罪疑者，令羊觸之。有罪則觸，無罪則不觸。斯蓋天生一角聖獸，助獄為驗，故皋陶敬羊，起坐事之。此則神奇瑞應之類也。
^Wang, Tao (1983) [1937], Jiweiju xiaoxue jinshi luncong 微居小學金石論叢/积微居小学金石论丛, Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, pp. 82–83
^Wang, Tao (2007), "Ritual Animals: Colour and Meaning (Part 1)", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 70 (2): 339, n132, JSTOR 40379201
^Wang Chong, Lunheng(in Chinese),[4] cited by Yang (1983)[1937],[5] cited as source on xiezhi by Wang Tao (in English).[6]
^Cui Hao(崔浩 d. 450), cited in the annotative work Shiji Suoyi [zh] ("Seeking the Obscure in the Grand Scribe's Records").[3]
^Chen, Xi (2022), A Study of Criminal Proceeding Conventions in Tang Dynasty, Shi, Guang. tr., Springer Nature, pp. 134–135, ISBN9789811630415
^"Account of Sima Xiangru", in Sima Qian, Shiji (91 BCE). quote: "於是乎背秋涉冬，天子校獵。…… 弄解豸"
^"Account of Sima Xiangru A", in Book of Han (111 CE), quote: "於是乎背秋涉冬，天子校獵。…… 弄解廌"
^Sima Xiangru, "Fu on the Imperial Park" (translated by David Knechtges) (2008). in How to Read Chinese Poetry: A Guided Anthology edited by Cai, Zong-Qi. quoted: "And then, as the year turns its back on autumn and edges into winter, the Son of Heaven stages the barricade hunt. [...] Paw the sagacious stag. p. 67-68"
^Records of Strange Things (異物志) in Court Advisor Yang's works (楊議郎著書). quoted: "東北荒中有獸名獬豸一角性忠見人鬥則觸不直者聞人論則咋不正者" p. 27-28 of 980. Scanned by Chinese Text Project
^Pennisi, Elizabeth (2 June 2022). "This ancient giraffe relative head-butted rivals with an 'amazing sexual weapon'". Science. Science. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
^Gould, Charles (2009). Mythical Monsters. BiblioLife. pp. 357–359. ISBN0-559-10836-2.
^An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture - 233 traditional key words by The National Academy of the Korean Language
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xiezhi.
'Haechi' the Symbol of Seoul: Seoul City Official Tourism (English)
January 07, 2023
xiezhi, xiezhi, 獬豸, xièzhì, mythical, ancient, creature, chinese, origin, impact, throughout, east, asian, legends, resembles, goat, with, thick, dark, covering, body, bright, eyes, single, long, horn, forehead, great, intellect, understands, human, speech, xi. The xiezhi 獬豸 a xiezhi is a mythical ancient creature of Chinese origin impact to throughout East Asian legends It resembles an ox or goat with thick dark fur covering its body bright eyes and a single long horn on its forehead It has great intellect and understands human speech The xiezhi possesses the innate ability to distinguish right from wrong and when it finds corrupt officials it will ram them with its horn and devour them It is known as a symbol of justice XiezhiA xiezhi in the Forbidden City in Beijing China Chinese nameTraditional Chinese獬豸 獬豸Simplified Chinese獬豸TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu Pinyinxiezhi xiezhi Wade Gileshsieh chihIPA ɕje ʈʂi Korean nameHangul해태Hanja獬豸TranscriptionsRevised RomanizationHaetaeJapanese nameKanji獬豸HiraganaかいちTranscriptionsRomanizationkaichi Contents 1 History 2 In other places 2 1 Japan 2 2 Korea 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditAccording to legend the xiezhi was a single horned sheep or goat b which had power to divine the guilt or innocence of a person Gao Yao the minister of justice for the legendary Emperor Shun employed the beast during criminal proceedings and he would command the sheep to ram head butt the accused The beast would ram the guilty but spare the innocent The account appears in Wang Chong Lunheng 80 AD 7 1 2 In the same work Lunheng the legend is prefaced the remark that public offices are painted with the images of the beast and the minister 2 1 As a symbol of traditional Chinese law xiezhi has been promoted by the Chinese Dynasties The judicial hat 法冠 was also referred to as the xiezhi after the mythical sheep ox 8 The xiezhi hat was part of the attire of censors yushi zh into the 8th century during the Tang period especially for an impeachment trial 9 Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period King Wen of Chu once obtained a xiezhi and put its image on his head and then the xiezhi crown became a fashion in the State of Chu Law enforcement officials in the Qin Dynasty also wore such crowns as did the Han Dynasty which inherited the Qin system By the Eastern Han Dynasty images of the xiezhi became an indispensable ornament in the Xie Men clarification needed and the XieZhi crown was titled on the law clarification needed Therefore law enforcement officials were called xiezhi citation needed Mentions of the xiezhi in Chinese literature can be traced back to the Han Dynasty Rhapsody on the Imperial Park 上林賦 Sima Xiangru mentions the xiezhi 解豸 解廌 sagacious stag among the preys in the year end barricade hunt staged by the Son of Heaven 10 11 12 Scholar Yang Fu 杨孚 c described the xiezhi 獬豸 in his treatise Yiwu Zhi as a righteous beast which rams the wrongful party when it sees a fight and bites the wrongful party when it hears an argument 13 It is described in the Shuowen Jiezi as being a cattle like beast with one horn in ancient times It settled disputes by ramming the party at fault 14 As an inherently just beast the xiezhi was used as a symbol of justice and law The Censorate of the Ming and Qing eras who were responsible for the monitoring of the civil service wore the xiezhi as a badge of office Among the common folk the image of the xiezhi was believed to dispel evil spirits a xiezhi might be carved on a lock to frighten off evil spirits citation needed Similarly military policemen of the Republic of China wear badges bearing the xiezhi citation needed and it is engraved on the gavels in the law courts of the People s Republic of China citation needed In 2022 a species of prehistoric giraffoid artiodactyl from early Miocene China Discokeryx xiezhi was named after the Xiezhi in reference to a single bony plate on top of its skull which bore a resemblance to the horn of the mythical creature 15 In other places EditJapan Edit In Japan it is known as kaichi 獬豸 also sometimes referred to as a shin yō 神羊 lit divine sheep The kaichi is described as similar to a lion with one horn on the top of its head 16 Korea Edit The xiezhi is known as haetae Korean 해태 in Korea According to Korean records the haetae has a muscular leonine body covered with sharp scales a bell in its neck and a horn on its forehead It lives in the frontier areas of Manchuria 17 In Joseon dynasty Korea the haetae was believed to protect against fire disasters Sculptures of haetae were used in architecture for example at Gyeongbok Palace to ward off fire citation needed A cartoon haetae named Haechi ko is the city mascot of Seoul In English the haetae may be called the unicorn lion citation needed Gallery Edit Xiezhi in Beijing A haetae at a Korean palaceSee also EditBixi Qilin Pixiu UnicornPortals Asia China Society Japan Mythology ReligionNotes Edit Other variants are 解豸 解𧋈 獬廌 解廌 觟𧣾 觟䚦 Given as one horned sheep Chinese 一角之羊 pinyin yijiǎo zhi yang in the original Chinese Forke rendered this the monoceros hsieh chai is a goat with one horn 1 Karlgren as kie chai is a ram with one horn 2 Karlgren and Forke read 觟𧣾 獬豸 as hsieh chai and kie chai respectively but hsieh chih is the Wade Giles romanization according to references otherwise consulted 3 Not to be confused to the official Yang Fu 楊阜 who flourished during the late Eastern Han amp Cao Wei erasReferences Edit a b c Wang Chong 1962 1907 Ch XXIX Auguries Verified Shih ying Lun heng Part II Miscellaneous Essays of Wang Ch ung Forke Alfred tr 2 ed New York Paragon Book Gallery p 321 a b c Karlgren Bernhard 1946 Legends and Cults in Ancient China Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities 18 261 324 JSTOR 40379201 a b Ssu ma Ch ien 2020 The Grand Scribe s Records Volume X Nienhauser William H tr Indiana University Press p Endnote 208 ISBN 9780253056795 Wang Chong 王充 nd c 85 Shihying chapter 52 是應篇第五十二 Lunheng 論衡 Discourses in the Balance in Chinese via Wikisource 儒者說云 觟𧣾者 一角之羊也 性知有罪 皋陶治獄 其罪疑者 令羊觸之 有罪則觸 無罪則不觸 斯蓋天生一角聖獸 助獄為驗 故皋陶敬羊 起坐事之 此則神奇瑞應之類也 Wang Tao 1983 1937 Jiweiju xiaoxue jinshi luncong 微居小學金石論叢 积微居小学金石论丛 Beijing Zhonghua shuju pp 82 83 Wang Tao 2007 Ritual Animals Colour and Meaning Part 1 Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 70 2 339 n132 JSTOR 40379201 Wang Chong Lunheng in Chinese 4 cited by Yang 1983 1937 5 cited as source on xiezhi by Wang Tao in English 6 Cui Hao 崔浩 d 450 cited in the annotative work Shiji Suoyi zh Seeking the Obscure in the Grand Scribe s Records 3 Chen Xi 2022 A Study of Criminal Proceeding Conventions in Tang Dynasty Shi Guang tr Springer Nature pp 134 135 ISBN 9789811630415 Account of Sima Xiangru in Sima Qian Shiji 91 BCE quote 於是乎背秋涉冬 天子校獵 弄解豸 Account of Sima Xiangru A in Book of Han 111 CE quote 於是乎背秋涉冬 天子校獵 弄解廌 Sima Xiangru Fu on the Imperial Park translated by David Knechtges 2008 in How to Read Chinese Poetry A Guided Anthology edited by Cai Zong Qi quoted And then as the year turns its back on autumn and edges into winter the Son of Heaven stages the barricade hunt Paw the sagacious stag p 67 68 Records of Strange Things 異物志 in Court Advisor Yang s works 楊議郎著書 quoted 東北荒中有獸名獬豸一角性忠見人鬥則觸不直者聞人論則咋不正者 p 27 28 of 980 Scanned by Chinese Text Project SWJZ Radical 𢊁 quote 𢊁 解𢊁 獸也 似山牛 一角 古者決訟 令觸不直 Pennisi Elizabeth 2 June 2022 This ancient giraffe relative head butted rivals with an amazing sexual weapon Science Science Retrieved 2 June 2022 Gould Charles 2009 Mythical Monsters BiblioLife pp 357 359 ISBN 0 559 10836 2 An Illustrated Guide to Korean Culture 233 traditional key words by The National Academy of the Korean LanguageExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xiezhi Haechi the Symbol of Seoul Seoul City Official Tourism English Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Xiezhi amp oldid 1131521101, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
