Chi (mythology) - Word

Word

In Modern Standard Chinese usage, chi 螭 "hornless dragon" occurs in words such as:

  • chilong 螭龍 (with "dragon") "hornless dragon"
  • chiniu 螭紐 (with "handle; knob") "carved dragon handle (esp. on cups)"
  • chiwen 螭吻 (with "mouth; lips") "a roof ornament shaped like a dragon", compare the homophonous variant 鴟吻 (with "owl; hawk")
  • chishou 螭首 or chitou 螭頭 (both with "head") "an architectural adornment; gargoyle"
  • panchiwen 蟠螭文 (with "coiled" and "pattern") "carved patterns of sinuous dragons (esp. on pillars/bronzes)"
  • chibi 螭陛 (with "palace steps") "steps of the imperial palace; the Emperor"

Note that the following discussion of the word chi 螭's written forms and etymological origins requires using some jargon linguistics and sinology.

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