Darrah Steffen's Blog, page 4
July 18, 2022
The Changeling
A changeling is a human-like creature found in folklore throughout Europe. A changeling was believed to be a fairy that had been left in place of a human child stolen by the fae folk.
The children taken by the fae were taken for one of three reasons: (1) to act as a servant, (2) for the fairies to receive the love of a human child, or (3) for malice or revenge. It was said the most beautiful of children were taken because fairies craved and admired these traits.
But what inspired this interesting tale?
When a baby would become ill, take on a strange appearance, or be unable to move their limbs, people would begin to suspect fairywork.
In medieval times, children with deformities, illnesses, or conditions that were unexplained at the time were thought to be replaced by changelings. Many were abandoned or killed to rid themselves of the fairy.
Some historians believe that the origin of the changeling myth stems from a dark place. Changeling tales illustrate an aspect of family survival in the pre-industrial age. A peasant family relies on every family member for survival. It was challenging to provide for the disabled or infirm.
If the family felt unable to care for a child – particularly those ill or deformed – it was easier for them to lose the child to “fairies” than it was to believe they were going to let their child die.
The infant mortality rate in the pre-industrial age was anywhere between 15%-28%. The death rate was so high due to many reasons including common childhood illnesses such as diphtheria and pertussis, poor hygiene, and the general dangers of childbirth.
Post- Industrial Revolution also drove down infant mortality rates. Central heating meant infants were no longer exposed to drafts. Food was also more abundant meaning healthier infants and mothers. Clothing was also more available for the children as well as antibiotics and vaccinations.
The Industrial Revolution – though it has its issues – helped children survive past infancy. As doctors and parents were able to address illnesses and survive with disabilities, the idea of the Changeling began to pass out of the common culture. But we still remember it as a story that helped our ancestors through terrible decisions.
Sources:
Katherine Briggs, A Dictionary of Fairies “Changelings”
Lee, C. H. (1991). Regional inequalities in Infant Mortality in Britain, 1861-1971: Patterns and hypotheses. Population Studies, 45(1), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/0032472031000145086
Post, I. (2021, December 22). Exploring Irish mythology: Changelings. The Irish Post. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/exploring-the-irish-mythology-changelings-170347
Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The first measured century: Timeline: Data – mortality. PBS. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.pbs.org/fmc/timeline/dmortality.htm
July 13, 2022
Children of War
A future torn apart by war…
Adolescence lost to battle…
What becomes of those who lose their childhood to armed conflict?
In this anthology, a diverse group of authors from around the globe bring you a multi-genre collection of short stories exploring the experiences of children trapped in war, to honour those affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and support their healing in the future. No one’s potential should be crippled because of trauma inflicted during their most impressionable years, and yet an entire generation of Ukrainians is threatened with just this outcome.
All proceeds of this anthology will be donated in perpetuity to Voices of Children Foundation in Ukraine or another similar charity.
See what stories are featured in “Children of War”
Child of Destruction by USA Today Bestselling author, Astrid V.J.
During Danaya’s famed midsummer festival, a nefarious war leader sets his plan for world domination into motion, and brings destruction into Cara’s life.
Jonah by C. Borden
Desperate to save his mother after she’s captured by a raiding party, young Jonah fails. Decades later, with the help of his brother, Jonah searches for hope and healing for his broken body and mind.
The Tarnished Key by Susan Stradiotto
Survival is all this young boy knows, but can his new visitor heal his heart?
Not Dead, Just Sleeping by Darrah Steffen
Corryn remembers little from before she lived at the Mother’s Abbey, but when she is tasked with helping an older man, her memories begin to resurface.
The Dragon’s Demise by Daan Katz
Forced to watch the brutal murder of the imperial family, Runig carries the scars of the Ingravian Rebellion with him into his adult life. A misfit and a recluse, he has nothing to lose when his dying father sends him on an impossible mission.
The Prince and the Flute Player by C. Phillip
A little prince, searching the Dark Forest for a legendary magical mango, befriends a mysterious flute player who will do anything to protect the boy from creatures both living and supernatural.
Through Vira’s Eyes by MJ Krause-Chivers
In this heart-wrenching story, five year old Vira relies on her guardian angels to face life and death decisions during modern war-time.
A Mermaid’s Tears by J.C. Seal
An accident leaves fourteen year old Mermaid-Angel hybrid Verena stranded in Egypt’s past. Duty leaves her heartbroken and in the midst of a war against Persian occupation. But will saving those she learns to love destroy the future she knows?
The War Legacy by Nandita Pant Joshi
The only thing Sarah wants is to be free of her former husband’s war legacy. But will her painful past allow for a tranquil future?
A Vampire’s Heart by I. Vélez
After years spent avoiding Hell, Akibel is summoned once again by his father to fight in another war. With memories resurfacing and bringing forth his suppressed traumas, Akibel is forced into a corner: follow orders, or gamble everything for the peace he so desperately wishes for.
A Child of Minidoka by Joan T. Seko
A Child of Minidoka is a poignant story of a Japanese-American family incarcerated behind barbed wire fencing during World War ll. Stripped of their freedom, dignity, and Constitutional rights, they lived in tar paper barracks on the desert land of Idaho.
The Borrowed Life by Elena Shelest
Old Mykola lives on borrowed time, but when he saves a young boy from the deadly arrow, their journey together might be his answer in paying things forward.
Through the Eyes of a Child by Pam Floyd Daniella is left stranded, frantically searching for her parents and brother. The harsh realities of war have left her homeless and alone.
The Curse of Blood by Lauren Merewether
Subject to the brutality of his father’s kingdom at war, Prince Inachus falls short in every way—escaping death only because of his birthright—but the kingdom’s patience may soon run out.
June 30, 2022
2022 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge- Update!
A book becoming a movie in 2022: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
5 Stars
For years, rumors of a “Marsh Girl” swirled around the town of Barkley cover. So when popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals immediately suspect her. But Kya is not what they say. The narrative weaves together perfectly with each character developing their own motivations.
A romance by a BIPOC author: You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
4 Stars
After a messy breakup, soap opera darling Jasmine works to reinvent herself as a “Leading Lady.” But her plan might go astray when she meets her sexy co-star Aston working to revive his acting career. This love story is filled with spice and bilingual love.
A book about a band or musical group: Only Pirate at the Party by Lindsey Stirling and Brooke S. Passey
3 Stars
Electronic and dancing violinist Lindsey Stirling shared her unconventional journey in a memoir filled with energy, humor, and her thoughts on life.
A book with a recipe in it: Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard
2 Stars
In Paris for a weekend visit, Elizabeth Bard sat down to lunch with a handsome Frenchman and never went home. This memoir explored the passionate love affair between an American woman, a French man, and French cuisine.
A book you can read in one sitting: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
5 Stars
Between life and death there if a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you made other choices. Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. What life will she choose?
A book with a quote from your favorite author on the cover/Amazon page: The Burning White by Brent Weeks
3 Stars
The conclusion to the Lightbringer Series. Gavin Guile has been laid low. He had lost his magic and sent on a suicide mission. Failure will condemn the woman he loves. Success will condemn his kingdom. As the Chromeria is threatened by siege, Kip Guile must gather his forces for one last impossible stand.
A book set in Victorian times: A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
5 Stars
Across the known world, Lady Trent is the preeminent dragon naturalist. She has brought the study of dragons to the forefront of modern science with her illustrations and passion for learning. Now at the end of her life, she is sharing her daring adventures that led to the discoveries we call dragons!
A book featuring a party: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
4 Stars
Caroline Parcewell is spending her 10th wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river, she can’t help but investigate, realizing she is unlocking a mystery that has plagued London for over two centuries.
A book that fulfills a 2021 Pop Sugar Challenge (A book featuring 3 generations): The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
5 Stars
During the “Dirty 30’s” millions are out of work and drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their livelihoods. In this uncertain time, Elsa Martinelli must make an agonizing decision – fight for the land she loves or go west.
A duology (1): Fable by Adrienne Young
3 Stars
For Fable, the sea is the only home she has ever known. It has been 4 years since she watched her mother drown and her father – the most powerful trader in the Narrows – has abandoned her on an island of thieves. But she is determined not to stay there. She will prove to him that he was wrong to leave her there.
A duology (2): Namesake by Adrienne Young
4 Stars
With the Marigold free from her father, Fable and her crew are set to start over. That freedom is short lived when Fable becomes a pawn in a new scheme. In order to get free, she must help her captives secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.
A book about someone leading a double life: The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
4 Stars
In April 1942, Lale Sokolov is forcibly transported to the concertation camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover he speaks several languages, he is put to work tattooing the numbers on the prisoners. This tale follows his journey working for more than two and a half years in the camp, working under the Nazi’s noses to bring relief to other inmates and fall in love.
A book with two POVs: House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas
4 Stars
Bryce lived a charmed life – working hard and partying harder – until a demon murdered her closest friends. When the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She will do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.
June 27, 2022
Dire Wolf
A dire wolf is a large wolf, usually portrayed as a larger, more intelligent, and more vicious version of a regular wolf. Dire wolves are typically depicted as black or dark grey. Some stories say that dire wolves are wolves that have been brought back from the grave to hunt.
In some stories, Dire wolves are macabre parodies of living wolves. They are similar to Hell Hounds with tattered flesh clinging to crackling bones, preying on farms and villages. But what inspired these incredible beasts?
In Norse mythology, Fenrir was a giant wolf bound by Odin. He was destined to grow too large for his chains and kill his captor. When Fenrir grew large enough that his jaws could cover the expanse between the heavens and earth, Fenrir was killed. Some stories claim that Fenrir was a dire wolf.
Somewhere in Southwestern North America during the late Pleistocene, a pack of dire wolves are feeding on their bison kill, while a pair of grey wolves approach in the hopes of scavenging.Turns out, you don’t have to look far. Dire wolves are creatures that actually existed a long time ago. Since their discovery in 1854, many have placed the dire wolf in a grossly over-exaggerated category of monstrous saber-toothed, green eyed demons. However, these animals were not far from the wolves we know today.
Canis diris – meaning fearsome dog roamed North and South America during the late Pleistocene (approx. 40,000 – 10,000 years ago). The average dire wolf appears to have been roughly the same height as a modern gray wolf, but was stockier and had larger teeth. On average, a dire wolf would weigh around 70 lbs more.
Based on the musculature, researchers have calculated that the bite force of a dire wolf would have 128% more powerful than a modern wolf. The braincase is smaller meaning the wolf would have been less intelligent than their relatives.
The domestication of a real dire wolf 15,000 years ago was likely impossible. Modern wolves prove to be largely shy, unpredictable and aggressive despite attempts at domestication. The smaller-brained dire wolf, if it was anything like its modern counterparts, would not have responded well to human training, would have been extremely dangerous
The real dire wolves became extinct about 10,000 years ago, along with most other North American megafauna. One theory links their extinction to the demise of the large, slow prey animals such as mastodons or giant sloths at the end of the Pleistocene. The faster modern gray wolf was able to survive hunting the faster animals.
More than 4,000 dire wolves have been excavated from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Dire wolves have always been an iconic representation of the last Ice Age and have inspired the myths that populate many fantasies including A Song of Ice and Fire and Warhammer.
Sources:
Dire wolf mythology. Dire Wolf Mythology | Dire Wolf Project. (n.d.). Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://direwolfproject.com/dire-wolf/dire-wolf-mythology/#:~:text=Ever%20since%20their%20discovery%20in,creature%20that%20ruled%20prehistoric%20history.
Haddock, G. (2005, June 1). Dire Wolf. Mythical and fantasy creatures. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from http://www.mythcreatures.co.uk/beasts/direwolf.asp
Preston, R. E. (2015, October 30). Direwolves: Real and George R. R. Martin-Imagined. Winter is Coming. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://winteriscoming.net/2015/10/30/direwolves-real-george-r-r-martin-imagined/
Warhammer Armies: Vampire Counts (8th Edition)
Wolpert, S. (2021, January 13). The dire wolf was a distinct species, different from the gray wolf, biologists discover. UCLA. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/prehistoric-dire-wolf-was-a-distinct-species#:~:text=More%20than%204%2C000%20dire%20wolves,have%20survived%20until%20this%20day.
June 8, 2022
Looking for ARC Readers!
The Children of War Anthology is looking for ARC Readers!
Don’t know what that is?
An ARC is an Advanced Reader Copy. An ARC Reader gets the book before the official release for review. It is simple. You get a free book in exchange for reviewing the book on all your favorite platforms.
Reviews are incredibly important for the success of a book. Amazon’s algorithm pushes new releases with reviews to more potential buyers. Leaving a review within 48 hours of Children of War going live will help us reach more people and make more sales, which will increase the amount we can donate to Voices of Children, the Ukranian charity providing psychological support to war trauma victims. Your help is imperative in making this charity project a success and raising more funds for children suffering from war trauma.
SIGN UP!Children of War
A future torn apart by war…
Adolescence lost to battle…
What becomes of those who lose their childhood to armed conflict?
In this anthology, a diverse group of authors from around the globe bring you a multi-genre collection of short stories exploring the experiences of children trapped in war, to honor those affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and support their healing in the future. No one’s potential should be crippled because of trauma inflicted during their most impressionable years, and yet an entire generation of Ukrainians is threatened with just this outcome.
All proceeds of this anthology will be donated in perpetuity to Voices of Children Foundation in Ukraine or another similar charity.
Fourteen authors have come together to write stories in multiple genres with a common goal: helping the children affected by the war. Every story features a person who experienced conflict in their developmental years.
Children of War will be released on August 24, 2022!
Preorder today!June 7, 2022
The Bauk
The Bauk is a creature from Serbian mythology. It is said to hide in dark places, holes, or abandoned houses, waiting to grab, and devour its victim. Legend says that the Bauk is easily scared by lights and noises.
The appearance of the Bauk is not well known, due to the face that it hides in the darkest and most secluded of places. However, stories say it can be identified though the sounds of fingernails against wood.
So what inspired this menacing creature?
The name “Bauk” comes from the anomatopeaia BAU! The word “Bau” is the Serbian work used to scare someone, similar to the English “boo.”
Stories say that Bauk is a stealthy stalker with glowing eyes. It is easily scared by noise and lights. The story is often used to scare disobedient and restless kids.
Considering the Bauk’s habits and known attributes, most historians believe the creature was most likely inspired by the cultural memory of bears. Brown Bears once existed in Serbia but went extinct for a significant amount of time and were mostly only known by legends.
The story of the Bauk is an exaggeration for the animals that disappeared from the region as told by people who had never seen the animal before.
Aside from the large body and sharp claws, the Bauk is also said to have glowing eyes. Like most animals with night vision, bears have an tapetum lucidum. This is the structure in the eyes that allows for better vision in the dark. It is also the structure that “glows” when you shine light on them.
Bears eyes take on a bright yellow glow when exposed to light in the dark. This could explain the “glowing eyes” that were sometimes reported.
The Bauk is a strange creature. Some people say that it has been used to describe any boogeyman-like creature in Serbian mythology. Most theories however, point to the creature being a bear. Wherever it came from, this is an interesting story.
Sources:
Bauk. Cryptid Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Bauk
Bauk. The Demonic Paradise Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://the-demonic-paradise.fandom.com/wiki/Bauk#:~:text=The%20bauk%20is%20an%20animal,away%20by%20light%20and%20noise.
JamesHey, J. (2021, December 30). Identifying animal eyes at night: With eye shine chart. Survival Freedom. Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://survivalfreedom.com/identifying-animal-eyes-at-night-with-eye-shine-chart/#:~:text=Some%20animals%20have%20glowing%20yellow,What%20is%20this%3F&text=Bears%2D%20A%20bear%20has%20dark,on%20them%20in%20the%20dark.
Matanic, D. (2020, July 23). Slavic myths. Danijel Matanic. Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://danijelmatanic.com/slavic-myths/
McLellan, B.N.; Proctor, M.F.; Huber, D.; Michel, S. (2017). “Ursus arctos“. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017
Mentzer, A. P. (2019, November 22). What animals have a tapetum lucidum? Sciencing. Retrieved June 7, 2022, from https://sciencing.com/animals-tapetum-lucidum-8541210.html
May 23, 2022
The Minhocão
The minhocão is a legendary creature from Brazilian folklore. It is described as a subterranean serpentine creature with scales and horns. It causes significant destruction through its tunneling. People have claimed that it grows up to 80 m long.
The name “minhocão” means giant earthworm in Brazilian Portuguese. The creature calls the forests of South America its home. It supposedly moves by burrowing through the earth. Many people were said to spot it throughout the 19th century, as it stole livestock and smashed trees. Sitings are no longer reported by those in the area.
That leaves the question: What inspired the myth of the minhocão?
It has been thought that the Minhocão is a fictional creature invented to explain otherwise-mysterious earthquake damage. Charles Darwin suggested the appearance was inspired by the discoveries of fossilized bones such as the Titanoboa. However, other naturalists of the time state that the sitings could not be explained.
Scientist Auguste de Saint Hilaire theorized it could be a giant species of Lepidosiren. This lungfish is an elongated animal resembling an eel or worm. It has slender pectoral fins that could possibly be misconstrued as horns. It has teeth adapted for seizing and tearing at prey. The muscles of their jaw are strong.
While known species of the South American lungfish typically grow only to around 1.5 m, a more extensive form could exist. Researchers are reportedly discovering new species every two days across South America, including 93 new fish species in 2017. A more robust lungfish could account for reports of livestock being dragged away.
Another thing that connects the Lepidosiren to the Minhocão is the lungfish’s ability to cocoon itself during the dry season. it buries itself in the mud at the bottom of rivers and waits until it rains again. This would account for the trenches of the minhocão.
Other researchers believe that the Caecilian is responsible for the myth’s origin. Karl Shuker proposed the theory that a large species of caecilian had evolved in South America and led the people there to come up with the idea of the minhocão.
Caecilians are segmented, legless amphibians. They look superficially like earthworms but have visible mouths and some have a pair of sensory tentacles on their head that resemble horns. These animals inhabit rivers and lakes in South America. Terrestrial species are known to emerge from their burrows after heavy rainstorms and most have a habit of grabbing their prey from below.
While most caecilians today only grow to around 1.5 m, it is possible one had grown larger and went extinct. This would account for the lack of sitings later in the 19th century.
The Minhocão has appeared in the Final Fantasy games and Zoo Tycoon 2. It is possibly even an inspiration for the sandworms in Dune. This legend has endured no matter how it started.
Sources:
Evans, Susan E.; Sigogneau-Russell, Denise (2001). “A stem-group caecilian (Lissamphibia: Gymnophiona) from the Lower Cretaceous of North Africa”. Palaeontology. 44 (2): 259–273.
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). “Lepidosiren paradoxa” in FishBase. April 2014 version.
Minhocão. Encyclopaedia of Cryptozoology. (n.d.). Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://cryptidarchives.fandom.com/wiki/Minhoc%C3%A3o
Trimble, M. (2017, August 31). Nearly 400 new species discovered in the Amazon rainforest | best … U.S. News. Retrieved May 23, 2022, from https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2017-08-31/nearly-400-new-species-discovered-in-the-amazon-rainforest
May 9, 2022
Friday the 13th Myths
Friday the 13th… It inspires fear in the superstitious. Long considered a harbinger of ill luck, Friday the 13th inspired a 19th-century secret society, novels, horror films and is the cause for friggatriskaidekaphobia.
But where did this fear come from? And why is 13 so unlucky?
Exactly how the date became associated with ill fortune is murky. Certainly by the time the slasher flicks of the ’80s came around it was already cemented in the cultural consciousness.
In many Western cultures, the number 12 is a sign of completeness. For example, we celebrate 12 days of Christmas, 12 months in the year, 12 zodiac signs, and 12 gods of Olympus just to name a few. It would stand to reason that its successor would bring ill-fortune.
The ancient Code of Hammurabi reportedly omitted a 13th law from its list of rules. While some believe this was a clerical error, others point to this as long-standing proof of negative association.
According to the Bible, 13 people attended the Last Supper – Jesus and his 12 apostles. The next day, Jesus was crucified. The seating arrangement is believed to give rise to the Christian supertation that having 13 guests at a table was to court death.
Biblical tradition also state that Jesus was crucified on a Friday as well as the day Eve gave Adman the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and when Cain committed the first murder.
In recent times, Friday the 13th has become a staple in pop-culture. In 1907, the novel, Friday, the Thirteenth was written by Thomas William Lawson. It told the story of a stockbroker who plays on superstition to create chaos in the stockmarket.
In the 1980s, the cult classic Friday the 13th featuring the hockey mask killer Jason was born. The movie spawned numerous sequels, novellas, videogames, and merchandise.
There is a lot of superstition surrounding the day, but is there any validity to the day’s unluckiness?
On Friday, October 13, 1307, hundreds of Knights Templar were arrested and imprisoned on charges of various illegal behaviors. It was found later King Philip IV of France wanted access to their financial resources. He had the knights executed.
In more recent times, the Buckingham Palace was bombed (September 13, 1940); the Murder with 40 Witnesses: Kitty Genovese occurred (March 13, 1964); a cyclone killed more than 300 thousand people in Bangladesh (November 13, 1970); the death of Tupac Shakur (September 13, 1996); and the crash of a cruise ship off the coast of Italy which killed 30 people (January 13, 2012).
While these events are all tragic, there is no evidence that events happen on these days more than any other.
Sources:
History.com Editors. (2017, October 10). Friday the 13th. History.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/friday-the-13th?fbclid=IwAR0_JR6alzijT8LUv8KykRmQlnU4mOONrAwLVC0Z1z0fSTSbVgT7zbmvErY
Pappas, S. (2017, October 13). Origins of Friday the 13th: How the day got so Spooky. LiveScience. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.livescience.com/49806-origins-of-friday-the-13th.html?fbclid=IwAR2M0O5kb-_eWPXYMiLuZjrfoRnIFzlMJsnIWwkD1rxJGiuAqFIrA9DDA4s
Taneja, R. (2018, April 13). Why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky? A look at some common superstitions. NDTV.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022, from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/why-friday-the-13th-is-considered-unlucky-a-look-at-some-common-superstitions-1837163
April 25, 2022
The Qilin
The Qilin is a legendary hooved creature that appears in Chinese mythology. They are said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a ruler. They are also sometimes called the Kirin in Japanese and Korean mythology.
The Qilin generally have Chinese dragon-like features with antlers, thick eyelashes, manes that flow upwards, and beards. The body is fully or partially scaled and is often shaped like an ox or horse. These animals are always shown with cloven hooves. The Qilin maybe a variety of colors, and is often shown with jewel-like brilliance. Color choice are often associated with the elements, but can also reflect earth tones.
According to Taoist mythology, even though they look fearsome Qilin only punish the wicked. Court trials were even decided based on Qilin divinely knowing whether the defended was good or evil.
In Buddist-influenced depictions, Qilin can walk between grass blades so they will not harm a single blade or another creature. As divine and peaceful creatures, they are only herbivores. It is said they only appear in areas ruled by wise and benevolent leaders and they become fierce if a pure person is threatened.
But what inspired this creature?
Giraffes have long been associated with the image of the legendary Qilin. Their association can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
After Zheng He traveled to East Africa he brought giraffes, zebras, and other exotic animals back to Ninjing. The two giraffes were declared magical creatures by the emperor, whose capture signaled greatness in his power.
It is said the female was called lin and the male was called qi. Together the giraffes were called Qilin.
The identification between the Qilin and the giraffe is supported by attributes in both animals. They both are herbivorous animals and have calm, quiet demeanors. As previously mention, the Qilin is able to walk on grass without disturbing it. This may be related to giraffe’s long, thin legs.
Qilin’s also have antlers like a deer and scales like a dragon. Giraffes have horn-like ossicones on its head and a tiled coat pattern resembling scales.
It is easy to draw an analogy between these two creatures. The identification of Qilin has had a lasting influence. Even today the same word is used for the mythical animal and the giraffe in both Korean and Japanese.
You can see recent depictions of this mythical creature in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.” Perhaps as you see them there, you will remember what inspired this fantastic beast.
Sources:
Parker, J. T.:” The Mythic Chinese Unicorn”
Qilin. The Demonic Paradise Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2022, from https://the-demonic-paradise.fandom.com/wiki/Qilin
Wilson, Samuel M. “The Emperor’s Giraffe”, Natural History Vol. 101, No. 12, December 1992 “
