Chinese Mythology · Mythical Creature
貔貅 · píxiū
The winged beast that eats gold and can never let it out — feng shui's wealth-magnet.
貔貅
Pixiu eats only gold, silver, and jewels — and, by a quirk of legend, can never let any of it out again. A winged, lion-like beast with a dragon's head and a fanged mouth, it is said to be a son of the Dragon King who once relieved itself in Heaven, for which the Jade Emperor sealed its rear.
That sealed-rear legend is exactly why it is the premier feng shui wealth charm: it draws money in and holds it.
Distinct from the guardian lion-dogs ("foo dogs," 石狮) — Pixiu is specifically a wealth beast, not a door guardian.
One of the most-searched feng shui items in the West — sold as obsidian bracelets, rings, and statues. Its mouth should face outward to "eat" incoming wealth, and it should never face the owner directly or sit in a bedroom.
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