Abstract

During the Chinese Imperial period, Bixie was endowed with various mysterious powers said to be able to repel demons, condemn crimes, or even carry the dead to the heavenly wonderland, and was frequently rendered in imperial temples, public infrastructure, and mortuary art. In the Chinese myths and legends, this untamed animal even challenged the imperial dragon’s authority, confronted the tiger’s credibility, and defied the mandate of heaven. This article aims to examine how this unruly beast was edified, trained and turned into a cultural symbol, and eventually became the emblem of Nanjing.