Many of our cool tea pets and decorations are designed from the Chinese legendary divine beast characters. Pixiu, Qilin, Suanxi…… If you’ve always been curious about Chinese culture and mythology, then you’ve probably heard of these names. So who are they? What do they look like? What are their meanings? In this post, we will introduce there majestic figures and tell the story behind our tea pets and ornaments.

Pixiu – 貔貅

Pixiu is a auspicious, winged creature, written about in Chinese ancient mythology. Its legend has been passed down through 2,000 years of Chinese lore.

It has the head of a Chinese dragon, the body of a lion, and historically had one horn (for males) or two horns (for females) on its head. In modern times, the legendary creature’s historical appearance has been lost somewhat, and is now more often depicted with only one horn.

The Pixiu is often confused with the Qilin, but can be easily distinguished by its feathered wings allowing it to fly between heaven and earth.

The myth depicts Pixiu as the most well-behaved youngest son of the Dragon King, spoiled by his parents. One day, Pixiu was playing on the Dragon King’s desk and happened to break the seal representing the power of the Dragon King. The Dragon King was very mad and transformed Pixiu into an animal with magic. Then he sealed his rectum and declared that from then on, Pixiu could only eat gold, silver and jewels.

Thus, in Chinese culture, it is believed that Pixiu has the ability to attract wealth from all directions. Today, Pixiu is a popular design on decorative items, and is easily seen in exterior and interior designs.

Due to our love for Pixiu, We have designed a cute version of Pixiu tea pet, to bring fun to your tea table, and bless you with the good meanings.

Qilin – 麒麟

Qilin, an auspicious beast in Chinese mythology. According to the ancient book, The Qilin, Phoenix, Turtle and Dragon are called the Four Spiritual Beasts. Qilin is the first of the four, it can be seen that the Qilin in the minds of the ancients, not inferior to the Dragon and Phoenix. Therefore, the ancestors often used the Qilin as a metaphor for the virtuous and talented young man. The Qilin has a body like a musk deer, a tail like a dragon’s tail, and a pair of dragon scales and horns. It was regarded as a god by the ancients.

The ancients believed that when the Qilin appeared, something significant would happen. It is said that the sage Confucius saw a Qilin at his birth and before his death. Qilin also means good luck, peace and longevity, and people make stone sculptures and decorations in the image of Qilin to pray for good luck.

We have also incorporated the legendary figure of the Qilin into the design of our product, bringing you this very cute little Qilin tea pet.

Suanni – 狻猊

Suanni is the fifth son of the dragon, who has the body shape of a lion. He was born majestic but preferred being still rather than moving. When the Buddha saw the mythical creature’s excellent patience, he took him as his mount and prostrated himself at the Buddha’s feet.

Suanni likes the smell of smoke and fire, and he often breathes smoke, so he often appears on top of the incense burner.

It is a symbol of wealth, courage, power and nobility. We have also designed a tea ceremony ornament inspired by Suanni, which can be used as incense burner. When the backflow incense is placed, you can see a Suanni swallowing clouds and exhaling mist.

Baxia – 霸下

Baxia is a Chinese mythical creature with the head of a dragon and the body of a turtle. It is considered to be a symbol of good luck and is often seen in Chinese art and literature.

Baxia is said to have first appeared during the reign of Emperor Shun (2294-2184 BCE) and was used as a means of divination. The creature was said to be able to forecast the future and give advice to the emperor. Baxia continued to be popular during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) and was often seen in tombs and temples. The creature’s popularity waned during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) but it experienced a resurgence during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE). During this time, Baxia became associated with the legend of the Monkey King and was often depicted in artwork alongside other mythical creatures such as the phoenix and qilin. Baxia remains a popular figure in Chinese culture today and is often seen on New Year’s greetings cards and other lucky charms.

Our tea pet and decoration is designed to resemble this creature. It is perfect for those who appreciate Chinese mythology and history, and makes a great addition to any tea lover’s collection.

Money Frog – 金蟾

The Money Frog, also known as the Three-Legged Toad or Chan Chu, has a long history in Chinese culture. It is believed that the Money Frog first appeared during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), but its origins may date back even further.

According to legend, the Money Frog was originally a three-legged toad that lived on the moon. The toad was believed to be the pet of the Moon Goddess, Chang’e, and it had the power to bring wealth and good luck to those who possessed it.

Over time, the Money Frog became a popular symbol of wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture. It is often depicted sitting on a pile of coins or holding a coin in its mouth, and it is believed to attract wealth and good luck to its owner.

In Feng Shui, the Money Frog is often placed near the entrance of homes or businesses to bring prosperity and abundance. It is also believed to help overcome financial obstacles and bring good fortune in investments and business ventures.

Today, the Money Frog remains a popular symbol of wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture and is often used in art, jewelry, and other decorative objects.

In China Tea Spirit, we have crafts such as tea pet or decorations designed from the money frog. Use its auspicious charm to attract wealth and prosperity into your life.