What are some sacred Chinese animals?

Well the panda is so darling and so embodies the spirit of China that it escapes being barbecued. Sadly, it’s not faring so well on the habitat destruction side of things, though. The dragon, the suanni and the Pìxiū are sacred because they don’t exist in China and by not existing have cleverly avoided being barbecued.

I don’t know if it’s considered sacred, but the Chinese do have a thing for tigers. It’s been in their stories and poetry for centuries and is associated with goodness and bravery. Warriors were, and are still often likened to the tiger, and I do believe that a branch of kung fu is called ’‘Tiger Claw Kung Fu. (the kind of kung fu that involves a lot of grabs and limb twisting I think)

Dragon, rat, horse, pig, snake, ox, tiger, crane, mantis, turtle, monkey, rabbit, rooster, sheep

Ideas

Lions, tigers, dragons, even a phoenix might be the most traditional. However I was tickled by the idea of a peacock. It’s your fanfic you decide

The dragon has long been associated with emperors of China.

I’m with @downtide. I vote for dragon also.

@Symbeline Although a man was recently jailed for 12 years in China for killing and eating the last tiger there, Chinese folk medicine and superstition is a major part of what has the tiger population so decimated in the wild today. They believe that the powdered bone and teeth of the tiger will confer superhuman strength and virility on them. The same goes for rhino horns and for lots of other unfortunate animals.

And while the list that @talljasperman provided may be venerated as sacred, the only one on the list not subject to killing for Chinese consumption is the dragon, and that only because there are none around to kill and eat.

@ETpro Interesting…but sad. Reminds me of how in some rural African places, albino people are hunted down and killed, because it is thought that their blood can cure things like AID’s. :/

@Symbeline Exactly the same sad, superstitious horse manure leading to needless death.