Spirit turtle
| Spirit turtle | |||||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | LinhQuy | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | Linh quy | ||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | Spiritturtle | ||||||||||||||
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| Vietnamese name | |||||||||||||||
| Vietnamese Alpha bet | linh quy | ||||||||||||||
| Chữ Nôm | Linh quy | ||||||||||||||
| Korean name | |||||||||||||||
| Hangul | 영귀 | ||||||||||||||
| Hanja | Linh quy | ||||||||||||||
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| Japanese name | |||||||||||||||
| Kanji | Linh quy | ||||||||||||||
| Hiragana | れいき | ||||||||||||||
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Thespirit turtle(Chinese:Linh quy) orspirit tortoiseis aturtleoriginated fromChinese mythologyand spread withEast Asian cultural sphere.It is believed by East Asian cultures, like other turtles in mythology, to representlongevity(Thọ mệnh).
It is said to be chief among allshelledcreatures.[1]
Identification[edit]
Among theFour Intelligent Beasts(Tứ linh), a list of auspicious animals, the turtle goes by several names. Although it can simply be called "turtle" (Quyguī), it is also referred to as "old turtle" (Lão quylǎoguī) and "spirit turtle" (Linh quylíngguī). The latter is sometimes understood as being synonymous with "divine turtle" (Thần quyshénguī) although distinctions are made.
The term is also used in reference to the turtle shells used in traditionaldivination.
China[edit]
TheEryaprovides entries on the terms "divine turtle" (Thần quy) and "spirit turtle" (Linh quy). The former term includes an annotation which simply reads "the most sacred of turtles" (Quy chi nhất thần minh).
According to theShuyiji(Thuật dị nhớTales of Strange Matters) compiled by Ren Fang, a turtle that has lived for one thousand years has grown hair, a five thousand year old tortoise is called a "divine turtle" (Thần quy) and an animal older than ten thousand years is called a "spiritual turtle" (Linh quy).[2]
TheBaopuzigives a slightly different account, describing the spirit turtle as one thousand years old. While the theme of longevity persists, the age at which the creature is recognized as a "spirit turtle" (Linh quy) is in stark contrast with the account found in theShuyiji.The text continues to describe the turtle as having five colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and black; together representing thefive elements.
Japan[edit]
InJapanese mythology,the creature is identified as theReiki(Linh quy"spirit turtle" ).
TheZenrin-kushūprovides akōanthat readsReiki o o hiku(Linh quy duệ đuôi"The spirit turtle sweeps its tail" ). It is described as a variant of the phraseAto o haratte ato shōzu(Phất tích tích sinh"Erasing traces creates traces" ).[3]
The spirit turtle is an endemic motif atShintō shrinesandBuddhist templesin Japan. Thesangōtitle "Reigizan" (Linh quy sơn"Spirit Turtle Mountain" ) belongs to several temples across the country, includingTenryū-jiandRinsen-jiinKyōto,Hontoku-jiinHimeji,Daichō-jiinUwajima,and others.
It is said theKameoka HachimangūshrineinSendaiis so-called because a spirit turtle appeared at the time of its construction. Stone statues of the creature can be found atZenyōmitsu-jiandKameoka HachimangūinMashiko, Tochigi.
Reikiis also the name of the firsteraof theNara period.
Korea[edit]
InKorean mythology,it is known asYeonggwi(Korean:영귀;Hanja:Linh quy).[4]
Popular culture[edit]
 |
- Master Roshifrom theDragon Ballfranchise is also known as the "Turtle Hermit" (Quy tiên nhânlit. "TurtleImmortal"). This title is inspired from the relationship betweensagesand turtles.
- The Spirit Turtle is a character in the Japaneselight novelseriesThe Rising of the Shield Hero
- Linggui (Linh quy) is the nickname of the characterGrey α Centauriin the Japaneselight novelseriesInfinite Dendrogram.
- Thepuzzle video gamePuzzle & Dragonsfeatures two skills, each calledPentagon – Spirit Turtle DanceandTri-Guard – Spirit Turtle Dance.They are attributed to the monstersDark Paths Guardian Genbu, MeimeiandAwoken Meimei,respectively. The title of the former character is derived from the Japanese name for theBlack TortoiseofChinese astrology.
- It is the name of a game piece inTaikyoku shōgi.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Kusano, Takumi (1997).Ảo tưởng động vật từ điển[Dictionary of the Monster]. SHINKIGENSHA Co Ltd.ISBN9784883172832.
- ^Yuan KeViên kha(1985).Zhongguo Shenhua Chuanshuo CidianTrung Quốc thần thoại truyền thuyết từ điển[Dictionary of Chinese Myths and Legends]. Shanghai: Shanghai Cishu Chubanshe.
- ^Heine, Steven and Dale S. Wright (2006).Zen Classics: Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism.Oxford University Press.ISBN9780195175264.
- ^거북.브리태니커 백과사전(Britannica Online).Archived fromthe originalon April 28, 2016.Retrieved2019-04-04.
External links[edit]
- Book of RitesLễ Ký.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - "Chinese Mythology".ChinaKnowledge.de – An Encyclopaedia on Chinese History, Literature and Art.
- Bình thành mười sáu niên độ nhân văn ngành học tốt nghiệp nghiên cứu quy の Trung Quốc tư tưởng sử －そ の khởi nguyên をめぐって－.MAYANAGI's Laboratory for the History of Medicine.
- Thần sử い の quán.Bạc khuyển の đỗ ☆ biệt quán.
- Bốn linh thú ( long ・ kỳ lân ・ phượng hoàng ・ linh quy ).Thần sử giống めぐり＊ dư lời nói.