Yeti

 Yeti is a snowman which resembled a legendary anthropoid in Himalaya. Other places in Earth is discovering a similar creature.  Big foot or Sasquatch in North America and orang pendek in Indonesia is some examples. Big foot is an unidentified creature discovered in the Rockies of the Unitied States and Canada. Besides, this creature is discovered in China,Australia,Russia,Africa and Scotland. The derivation of Yeti is Tibetan - gYa' dred Public depiction of Yeti is this : Height is mostly 2~3m, weight is more than 200kg, foot size is 30~43cm. Long fur covered whole body except stomach. They walk upright. Arms is long. Face seems like gorilla. A mountaineer, Reinhold Messner, thought that Yeti is a snow bear. Scholars of cryptozoological think that this creature is Gigantopithecus which is extinct 500,000 years ago. In addition, a scalp of Yeti exists in Buddhism Temple of Khumjung in Nepal but this scalp is confirmed as a goat.
 Yeti has a very strong power, so tears many animals to tatters. From old times, Yeti is seen by many people. Occasionally, Yeti is called as Rakshasa of devil from India in the way that appearence of Yeti is an ugly appearence.  Usually, footprints is discovered. Furthermore, Yeti has been taken in the photo but the authenticity is not proved. Human sent an expedition party to detect Yeti but can not detect. At 1980 year, a mountaineer tries to detect excretion of Yeti in Operation 'Yeti 88'. He followed Yeti's location but he can not find anyone.  In Tibet,Nepal and Bhutan, some story have been passed down but positive verification is nothing. 


 In fact, today, some fur of Yeti is secured. Scientists examined these fur but turned out bear's DNA. Yeti is not an object of study because scientists refuses to acknowledge the existence.
But, still, many witness and footprint is discovering.

Unicorn

 Unicorn is a creature that symbolizes power and purity in Europe. This creature has a long horn,mustache of goat and cloven hoofs. Unicorn is a legandry horse. Usually, Unicorn is potrayed as a white horse. But, according to Plinius of a naturalist of Rome, "Unicorn is a very violent animal, body looks like a horse, foot is an elephant, tail is a boar." According to the record of Ancient journeyer, Unicorn is a creature from India. Unicorn became known by a book of Aristotle.
 Length of the horn of Unicorn is 45cm, the bottom of horn is white, center is black, end is red. All the forces of Unicorn come out from this horn. If Unicorn meet an enemy, Unicorn uses this horn to destroy shield and armor of enemy. In addition, the horn has a very strong  detoxification ability. So medieval Europeans believed that if the horn is soaked in lake and sea, the lake and sea is cleaned.
 According to medieval legend, Unicorn is so strong and agile that we can not catch Unicorn in the normal way. So, we have to use a pure young virgin  to catch Unicorn. Because, Unicorn likes a pure young virgin. So, Unicorn falls asleep on knee of virgin. For this reason, you can see many pictures that Unicorn stick with a virgin.
 The nature of Unicorn is fierce. But, Unicorn makes a commitment to his and her young. Unicorn
become also mild in front of virgin. Therefore, Unicorn symbolizes chastity and purity. Christianity thought that Unicorn shows symbolically lifetime of Jesus Christ. Single horn signifies that Jesus as the only-begotten Son of God. The horn as an antidote symbolizes the power of Jesus. The death of Unicorn reminds holy death of Jesus. Moreover, the purity of Unicorn is a symbol of the Virgin Mary.

Dragon

 This picture is oriental dragon. You can see dragon in the myth and legend of the East,West. In the East, dragon is regarded as a auspicious creature which has sacred power. But, in the Christianity, dragon is regarded as a evil and heathenism. Dragon is found in many civilization. Appearence of dragon vary depending on area and culture. However, appearence resembled mostly a giant snake or lizard.
In the East, dragon is described a creature which has scaled body,four feet and  sharp claws. Moreover, dragon has big eyes,long mustache and blow fire,poison by using nose,mouth. Color of body is green,yellow,red,white and black.

Here is a oriental description of appearence.
'Head is camel, horn is deer, eyes are rabbit, ears are cow, body is snake, stomach is big clam, scale is carp, claws are falcon, fist is tiger. This creature has not wings but can fly.'
But, in the West, dragon has wings like bat and torny tail.

The origin of 'dragon' is discovered in inscriptions on bones and tortoise carapaces.
English 'dragon' and Latin 'draco' originate in Greek 'δρακων(drakon)'.

Dragon has a many symbolical meaning depending on area.
India - Guardian of Buddhism law. This creature has a power to rule weather.
China - Dragon is an auspicious animal. Dragon generates cloud and rain. 
             If droughts occurs ,people  hold a ritual for rain towards dragon.
Korea - Dragon is regarded as God of sea and water.
Egypt, Europe - Dragon is regarded as a evil and assistor to help  a warrior and agricultural goddess.

In addition, dragon is regarded as an animal of  power of  emperor.So, in Korea, the face of King is
'Dragon face' - an accurate writing is the King's countenance. And sitting space is 'Dragon seat' - an accurate writing is the king's seat. In Sejong(A king of the Joseon Dynasty) era, the nation makes an epic to justify establishing the Joseon Dynasty. This epic is called as 'songs of flying dragons(龍飛御天歌)'

Dragon has many feature,story and symbolic meanings depending on area. So, you can search about dragon with Internet,books.

(Oriental) Phoenix

 'The King of birds is Phoenix, the King of flowers is peony, the King of beasts is tiger.'
Like this saying, Phoenix is regarded as a chief of all birds in the East. In addition, in Korea, this creature is of great importance for Korean's sense. 'Phoenix is the best of all birds, this creature come out from the counties of Eastern gentleman. If this creature appears on the land,  the world will be peaceful.', says an old proverb. So, Phoenix became a symbol of an emperor. In the East, the palace door of an emperor is called as 'Phoenix palace' and 'Phoenix door'. The wagon of an emperor is called as 'Phoenix wagon', 'the Royal carriage'. A good friend is called as 'Phoenix companion'. A beatiful sound of pipe is called as 'Phoenix sound'. In this sense, we can know that Phoenix is cherish creature from the past in the East.

 'The cry of Phoenix is like sound of tungso. This creature didn't eat living insect and only eat bamboo fruit. Don't fly in disorder. This creature will not sit down without Paulownia coreana.'
From old times, Phoenix is regarded as a four numinous animal with Dragon, Kirin and Black turtle.
Imaginary creature, Phoenix appeared on folk painting, accessory and a pillow end of royal family.

This creature appeared at the Later Han and was introduced in Korea with Buddhism.

China's book -  山海經  describes Phoenix like this : Phoenix is similar to chicken but Phoenix has five color feather, makes five marvelous sound and dance.                  

                       -  說文 descrebes Phoenix like this : The appearence of the front is wild goose, back is turtle, neck is a snake, tail is a fish, scales are dragon, chin is swallow.

Nowdays, you can see Phoenix in handle of the seal of state(Korea) and front gate of  Cheongwadae(the Korean presidential residence).

 

 

Three-legged crow

 Three-legged crow is a good sign. This creature live on the Sun to link between God and human world. So, this creature is called as sun god of some region in the East. Chinese orthography of Three-legged crow is 三足烏. In this word, 烏 means crow or black. For a long time, in Korea, Three-legged crow is a bird that symbolize Korean's dream for the sky.
 The ancients thought that sunspot resembled Three-legged black bird. So, they named as Three-legged crow. A thought of  bright future, clear and pure spirit of life is involved in the creature.
In old times, ancestor of Korea  thought that crow is a messenger to convey the meaning of sky and symbol of the sun to conceive life. But this creature is also known as bad sign. So, situationally, crow is also called as underworld bird. In Confucianism, crow is a bird that signify disloyal subordinate, an evil group and an ill omen.
 In Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, you can see many grave goods of Three-legged crow pattern which symbolize the King. The reason for this is that Three-legged crow is thought as incarnation of sun god. In this context, sun means abundance and prosperity.
 In ancient tomb mural of Goguryeo, if you see Three-legged crow in detail, you can see a comb.
This means water which is life in the beginning. Two wings mean the harmony,husband and wife,relative balance and warmth. Three foot mean  time and space, strength and completion.
The root of Three-legged crow's tale is the ancient Korean Penisula.
 In ancient tomb mural of Goguryeo, the four god - Blue Dragon,  Phoenix , White Tiger,  Black Turtle - is drew. In the middle of the mural of four god, Three-legged crow is drew. In this regard, Three-legged crow is a symbol of Goguryeo. Goguryeo used the pattern of Three-legged crow on the national flag to represent descendant of the Sun. This is the thought of heavenly descendant.