Tradition / Region: Chinese Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Dog
The Myth
In old Chinese tales there is mention of a rare and mysterious creature known as the Rhinoceros Dog, an animal believed to bring prosperity to the household that possesses it.
One story tells that during the reign of Emperor Hui of the Jin dynasty, a man named Huai Yao lived in Lou County in the region of Wu. One day his family began hearing the sound of a dog barking from beneath the ground. When they searched for the source, they found only a tiny hole in the earth, no larger than the burrow of a worm.
Curious, Huai Yao prodded the ground with a stick and then began digging. After digging several feet down, he struck something. Continuing to dig, he uncovered two small puppies, one male and one female. Their eyes had not yet opened, and though young, they seemed larger than ordinary newborn dogs.
He took them home and fed them, and soon word spread. Neighbors gathered to see the strange animals. Among them was an elder who, upon seeing the pups, declared that they were Rhinoceros Dogs. He told Huai Yao that whoever obtained such creatures would see their family prosper and flourish, and that they should be carefully raised.
From then on, the Rhinoceros Dog was remembered as a rare and fortunate animal, one that might appear in unexpected places and bring wealth and good fortune to those who found it.
Gallery
Sources
Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). 犀犬. In Wikipedia, from https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8A%80%E7%8A%AC
Interpretive Lenses
Religious Readings
- Christian Ascetic Deep Dive
Philosophical Readings
- Nietzschean Deep Dive
Psychological Readings
- Jungian Deep Dive
Esoteric Deep Dive
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Political / Social Readings
- Marxist Deep Dive