qilin (mythology)
Chinese pronunciation: Qílín, Qi-Lin or Ch'i-lin
Japanese/Korean pronunciation: kirin
An unicorn-like auspicious creature in Chinese mythology.
The Korean and Japanese use the term "kirin" for a giraffe.
Kirin Brewery uses this creature for the company name and logo illustration. (Some of Kirin's soft drinks don't use this logo, though.)
Both qilins and kirins appear in Square's Final Fantasy XI. But their shapes are far different from the original folklore.
See also
- Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qilin