Kirin is the Japanese rendition of the Qilin (麒麟), a mythical Chinese hooved animal, revered as a sacred creature. It is a holy beast and a sign of peace and prosperity. It is considered the ancestor of all beasts and it's said that all beasts obey it. A Qilin's appearance which is wreathed in flames clears away darkness and expels monsters.
Male Kirin have horns which only sprout from their heads when they are angry and crackle with lightning. They are thus sometimes viewed as sacred creatures of thunder. Kirin rarely become angry, but will strike down any who threaten or cause harm to nature and living things with bolts of purifying lightning.
Generally, it may be originated from a deer-like animal, but other renditions identified Qilin as a giraffe. Records of the Ming dynasty referred to giraffes brought into the capital city as the Qilin. In Japan, the Kirin is depicted as a dragon-like unicorn with the tail of a horse. The word now is used in Japanese to refer to a giraffe. The Kirin is occasionally referred to as the Chinese Unicorn.
According to the Chinese Classic or Rites, the Feng Huang, the Turtle, the Dragon, and the Kirin are together referred to as the "Four Symbols." In some cultures, children who show exceptional talent at a young age are called "Kirin children." The Kirin is sometimes counted among the Nine Children of the Dragon.
One note for linguistic clarity, Kirin in Japanese and Korean languages is also borrowed to name the common giraffe, this is not the case with Qilin in modern Chinese language as the noun is dedicated to the mythical beast exclusively. Giraffe in Chinese is called "long-neck deer."
"Origin: China. A holy beast, sign of peace and prosperity. It is considered the ancestor of all beasts and it's said that all beasts obey it. A Qilin's appearance, wreathed in flame, clears away darkness and expels monsters."
—Shin Megami Tensei A-Mode DDS Dictionary
Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE[]
"A legendary beast of Chinese folklore, revered as a sacred creature. Almost never appearing to humans, the word "Kirin" has become synonymous with "mythical creature" in China. It resembles a deer in appearance and stands three to five meters tall. Male Kirin have horns which only sprout from their heads when they are angry and crackle with lightning. They are thus sometimes viewed as sacred creatures of thunder. Kirin rarely become angry, but will strike down any who threaten or cause harm to nature and living things with bolts of purifying lightning. According to the Chinese Classic or Rites, the Feng Huang (Phoenix), the Turtle, the Dragon, and the Kirin are together referred to as the "Four Symbols." This is why children who show exceptional talent at a young age are called "Kirin children." The Kirin is sometimes counted among the Nine Children of the Dragon."
—Shin Megami Tensei IMAGINE compendium
Kirin can be encountered on all levels of the Ichigaya Camp instance. Kirin are one of the mountable demons within the game.
DemiKids Light & Dark[]
"This one-horned demon has the speed to cover thousands of miles in a single day."
