Editing Nian

{{Short description|Chinese mythological beast}}
{{Other uses}}{{More citations needed|date=February 2022}}{{Chinese
| pic = Lion dance costume.jpg
| piccap = Southern Chinese lion dance is said to relate to driving away the Nian
| t = 年獸
| w = {{tone superscript|Nien2 shou4}}
| j = nin4 sau3
| s = 年兽
| p = Nián shòu
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|n|ian|2|.|sh|ou|4}}
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|n|in|4|-|s|au|3}}
| altname = Abbreviation
| tp = Nián shòu
| bpmf = ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄡˋ
}}
A '''''nian''''' beast ({{zh|t=年獸|p=Nián shòu|cy=Nìhn sau|s=年兽|first=first=t|zhu=ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄕㄡˋ|w={{tone superscript|Nien2 shou4}}|tp=Nián shòu}}) is a beast in [[Chinese mythology]]. According to Chinese mythology, the ''nian'' lives under the sea or in the mountains. The [[Chinese character]] ''nian'' more usually means "year" or "new year". The earliest written sources that refer to the ''nian'' as a creature date to the early 20th century. As a result, it is unclear whether the ''nian'' creature is an authentic part of traditional folk mythology, or a part of a local [[oral tradition]] that was recorded in the early 20th century. ''Nian'' is one of the key characters in the [[Chinese New Year]]. Scholars cite it as the reason behind several practices during the celebration, such as wearing red clothing and creating noise from drums and [[fireworks]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/feb/08/top-10-chinese-myths|title=Top 10 Chinese myths|last=Laban|first=Barbara|date=2016-02-08|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=June 2023}}

==Modern legends==
Once every year at the beginning of Chinese New Year, the ''nian'' would come out of its hiding place to feed, mostly on people and animals. During the winter, when food was scarce, it would raid villages, eating the crops and sometimes the villagers themselves - particularly their children. Several accounts describe its appearance, with some claiming that it resembles a flat-faced lion with the body of a dog and prominent incisors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2014/01/31/it-lurks/|title=It Lurks|last=Flake|first=Ben|date=2014-01-31|website=The Paris Review|language=en|access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref> Other authors described it as larger than an elephant with two long horns and many sharp teeth.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales from the Han Chinese|last=Yuan|first=Haiwang|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|year=2006|isbn=1591582946|location=Westport, CT|pages=168}}</ref> The weaknesses of the ''nian'' are purported to be a sensitivity to loud noises, fire, and a fear of the color red.

Some local legends attribute the [[Lion dance|Chinese lion dance]] ({{lang|zh-hant|舞獅}}) to the ''nian''. The tradition has its origins in a story of a ''nian's'' attack on a village. After the attack, the villagers discussed how to make the ''nian'' leave them in peace. Since it was discovered that the beast was afraid of the color red, people put red lanterns and spring scrolls on their windows and doors.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tagtaginep - My Dream of Opportunity|last=Espiritu|first=Roddy|publisher=Xlibris Corporation|year=2013|isbn=9781479751051|location=Bloomington, IN|pages=82}}</ref> They would also leave food at their doorstep in a bid to divert it from eating humans. Other sources say that an old man who came to visit actually informed the villagers of the ''nian'''s weaknesses.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-06|title=Episode 9: Myth of Year|url=https://chinesemythologypodcast.com/2018/04/06/episode-myth-of-year/|access-date=2022-02-07|website=Chinese Mythology Podcast|language=en}}</ref>

The traditions of firecrackers, red lanterns, and red robes found in many lion dance portrayals originate from the villagers' practice of hitting drums, plates, and empty bowls, wearing red robes, and throwing [[firecrackers]], causing loud banging sounds to intimidate the ''nian''. According to this same myth, it was captured by [[Hongjun Laozu]], an ancient [[Taoism|Taoist]] monk, and became his mount.

==Ancient sources==
Various aspects of cultural practices relating to Chinese New Year are part of the ''nian'' legend. These cultural practices are recorded in ancient texts, though none of them refer to a creature called ''nian''.

The ''[[Erya]]'' records that the character ''nian'' ({{lang|zh|年}}) was first used to mean "year" during the [[Zhou dynasty]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-04-06|title=Episode 9: Myth of Year|url=https://chinesemythologypodcast.com/2018/04/06/episode-myth-of-year/|access-date=2022-02-07|website=Chinese Mythology Podcast|language=en}}</ref> replacing terms{{which|date=June 2023}} used in previous eras. The ''[[Shuowen Jiezi]]'' records that the character ''nian'' meant "ripeness of grains" and was composed of the character "''he''" ({{lang|zh|禾}}, rice plant) and "''qian''" ({{lang|zh|千}}, indicating the sound) and quotes the ''[[Spring and Autumn Annals|Chunqiu]],'' which uses it in the sense of a great harvest.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

The attributes of the ''nian'' creature in the modern legend, of fear of noise and fire, correlate with ancient legends relating to the use of firecrackers to drive off ape-like creatures in the mountains called ''shanxiao'' ({{lang|zh|山魈}}), first recorded in the ''[[Shanhaijing]]''.

The practice of sweeping and cleaning at the start of the year is recorded in Zhou dynasty sources as intended to ward off plague spirits, and the practice of using [[Nuo opera|music and drama]] to receive gods and ward off plague spirits is recorded from the same era. The creature's role in the celebration of the Chinese New Year is highlighted by the way the Chinese call this holiday ''Guo Nian'', which means "pass over ''nian''" or "overcome ''nian''."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chinesenewyearfestival.org/culture/19-the-story-of-chinese-new-year-|title=The Story of Chinese New Year |script-title=zh:年的传说 |website=www.chinesenewyearfestival.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref>

==See also==
{{wikt|年|年獸}}
* [[Chinese mythology in popular culture]]
* [[Dragon]]
* ''[[Three Delivery]]'' (animated show where the ''Nian'' appeared in an episode)
* [[Yule Goat]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Chinese mythology}}
{{Chinese New Year}}

[[Category:Chinese legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Holiday characters]]
[[Category:Mythological lions]]
[[Category:Mythological felines]]