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There have
been many variations of the unicorn form, their body being depicted as that of a goat,
bull, a deer or a horse, or in the case of eastern countries, a dragon.
The Chinese
unicorn is called the Ki'Lin [pronounced chee - lin] This is a combination of
Ki, the
male unicorn, and Lin , the female unicorn. It has the head of a dragon, body of a deer,
tail of an ox, and hooves of a horse. Its hair is five colours , red, blue, yellow, black
and white, which represents the sacred Chinese colours. It is a gentle creature and has
such care for living things that it will not step on a blade of grass or hurt any insect.
Its appearances are rare and have heralded great events and births. One such appearance
was to herald the birth of Confucius.
The Japanese
unicorn is called the Kirin. It has the body of a bull and a shaggy mane, and unlike the
Ki'Lin, it is a creature to be feared, especially by criminals as it was said to be able
to detect guilt and would stare at the guilty party before running him through with his
horn.
The western
Unicorn has been depicted in various colours, but most often portrayed as white, white
being the colour associated with purity and innocence. Fantasy has added much to their
aspects but no matter whats its appearance, the unicorn will always be seen with a long,
single, often spiralling horn in the middle of its forehead. This is known as its alicorn.
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Unicorns
became a hunters target, not only for their alicorn but also for their hide. Shoes made
from unicorn leather were supposed to ensure healthy legs and feet, and wearing a unicorn
hide belt guarded the wearer against plague and fever. As the unicorn was a symbol of
purity and virginity it was said that only a virgin could capture one, so young maidens
were used as bait to entrap them. They would wait in the forest and when the unicorn saw
the maiden, was said to be so impressed by her presence that it would submissively lay its
head in her lap and therefore could be easily captured by the hunters. Sometimes the
maiden would take pity on the unicorn and would lead him away to safety.
A
series of famous tapestries woven around 1500 called'The Unicorn Tapestries'
depicting
the hunting of a unicorn. is housed at the Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art in Manhattan, New York City.
There is also another series of tapestries, made around
the same date, called ' La Dame a la Licorne'
[ The Lady and the Unicorn
] housed at The Musee de Cluny in Paris.
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There are
several references to the unicorn in the Bible and other religious writings although some
people think that it is just a misinterpretation. In the Old Testament, in the Book of
Genesis, God asked Adam to give a name to everything he saw. The first animal he named was
the unicorn therefore elevating it above all other creatures in the universe and blessed
by God with grace and intelligence.There is also an explanation as to why the unicorn has
not been seen for a long time. During the flood Noah gathered two of each species of
animal to guide them to safety but the unicorn was not among them. In a Jewish folk tale
it says they were originally on board Noah's ark but demanded so much space and attention
that Noah made them leave.They were either drowned or managed to survive somewhere safe.
Some believe they evolved into the Narwhal
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The unicorn
has been part of the official seal of Scotland since the 1300's when Robert III turned to
the unicorn for strength and inspiration to rebuild his nation.
On the death of Elizabeth
1 of England in 1603, James VI of Scotland became James Ist of both England and Scotland
and he drew up a new coat of arms including both the traditional English lion and the
Scottish Unicorn.According to
legend the lion and the unicorn hate each other and that every year they both had a fight,
the unicorn representing the spring and the lion , the summer, and every year the lion
won.
The fight continued in the case of Scotland and England and gave rise to the nursery
rhyme;
The lion and
the unicorn were fighting for the crown;
The lion beat
the unicorn all around the town.
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The unicorn
is a creature of contradictions in as much as it is both fierce and gentle at the same
time, fighting fiercely when cornered.
It is both real and imaginary.
Some see the unicorn
as a myth, a creature purely of legend, whilst others believe that this magnificent
creature roamed the earth centuries ago and still does.
The unicorn is a creature of
divinity, pure of heart and spirit, a symbol of strength, innocence, wisdom, beauty and
magic.
To me it is mysterious, elusive, beautiful and free. It can die, but never be
destroyed.
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The Lost Unicorn
Oh how in our childlike hearts we morn
The passing of the Unicorn
Of gentle beauty and infinite grace,
A creature unfit for our world's pace.
Yet wait! For who's to say?
Perhaps even now in some far distant forest glade,
There still moves quietly in the cool and leafy shade
That timeless creature of a golden age,
That spirit of a shining dawn,
That magic beast the Unicorn.
Oh how in our childlike hearts we morn
The passing of the Unicorn
Of gentle beauty and infinite grace,
A creature unfit for our world's pace.
Yet wait! For who's to say?
Perhaps even now in some far distant forest glade,
There still moves quietly in the cool and leafy shade
That timeless creature of a golden age,
That spirit of a shining dawn,
That magic beast the Unicorn.
Unknown
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Music 'The Town of Witchwoode'
composed by
Bjorn Lynne and used
with his permission, thankyou
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