麒麟原型与中国古代犀牛活动南移考

麒麟单称麟,又作麐,古文字中作"蔽",古代被视为四灵兽之一。麒麟身上有铠甲式的外表及圆泡钉式的纹斑"肉甲"而被称为"麐"(蔽)或"麟",因有头顶部的一只角而被归于鹿属动物。但据头上独肉角、铠甲式外表、圆泡钉式"肉甲"与马蹄类圆蹄,其原型为印度犀牛。印度犀牛因为气候环境的变迁,不断南移,中原少见,偶尔来至中原,便被认为是因圣王"仁德"而来,这便是麒麟被神化的原因。被称为麒麟的印度犀牛,其生活之地不断南移。商代活动在黄河流域,春秋至秦汉活动在吴越、江汉流域一带,今则仅见于印度东北部和尼伯尔地区。

Study on the Prototype of Kylin and the Moving to South of Rhinoceros in Ancient Chinese History

According to the looking of the kylin,I consider its prototype was the rhinoceros unicornis.The rhinoceros unicornis moved to south continuously because the climate and environment changed.That was why the rhinoceros unicornis was rare in the area of Yellow River.If the rhinoceros was seen in the area of Yellow River,it was considered that it came for Saint King.In this sense,the rhinoceros was deified.The Indian rhinoceros which was called kylin kept on moving to south.It lived in the Yellow River valley in Shang Dynasty.From Spring and Autumn Period to Qin and Han Dynasty it could be seen in the Jianghan basin.Now it only can be found in northeast of India and Npali.