In Japanese and Korean the giraffe is still called “kirin”, the name of the mythical qilin.

1414

The mix-up goes back to the giraffe presented to the Chinese emperor in 1414.

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The event

• A giraffe at the Ming court1414 · Nanjing. In 1414 envoys from Bengal, sailing with Zheng He’s fleet, presented a giraffe to the Yongle Emperor. The court saw in it a qilin, the auspicious beast that appears under a wise ruler, and a court artist painted its portrait.

15th century

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• 1414 · 1415 The Ming court mistook a giraffe for the mythical qilin.
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All amazing facts (1058) →