An illuminated beast (Chinese: 仙兽 xiānshòu) is a creature with supernatural abilities, including heightened combat prowess, extreme longevity, and the ability to speak human language. Most known illuminated beasts are also adepti and have signed a contract with Morax to protect Liyue.
Overview[]
Little is known about the origins of illuminated beasts or what being an illuminated beast entails due to their conflation with adepti. Madame Ping mentions that the adeptal arts taught to them by Morax were part of their "illumination,"[1] which suggests that not all illuminated beasts are born illuminated. Further supporting this idea is the fact that Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper are both cranes, but various species of cranes can be hunted like regular animals and display no sign of illumination.
Full-blooded illuminated beasts can shapeshift into human forms[2][3] and create offspring with mortal humans.[4] Such half-blooded children will be humanoid with a few non-human traits indicating their illuminated beast heritage; it is unclear how their illuminated beast heritage will affect their growth, aging, or mystical abilities, if at all. Of the two currently known cases, Ganyu is old enough to witness the fall of the Guili Assembly and the rise of Liyue Harbor 3,700 years ago, yet she has the stature of a teenager. On the other hand, Yanfei has the stature of a teenager, but she is young enough that her mortal mother is still alive and traveling with her father, a full-blooded adeptus. She is quite aware that she may well live for thousands of years as Ganyu has.
Known Illuminated Beast Types[]
Mammalian[]
The following types of illuminated beasts are depicted in-game to have mostly mammalian features.
Deer-Like[]
Two known illuminated beasts take the form of deer: Moon Carver and Skybracer.
Suanni[]
The Suanni are a type of illuminated beast primarily found around Chenyu Vale, and are believed by the locals to be the original rulers of the land who secluded themselves in the mountains after peace came to Liyue. Three Suanni are currently known: the Solitary Suanni, Lingyuan, and Man Chai, Gaming's partner.[5]
Qilin[]
The qilin are gentle creatures who refuse to harm any animal, living a vegetarian lifestyle, with fur as soft as clouds. However, when they do not live in times of peace, they will fight.[4][6] Ganyu is half-qilin.
Xiezhi[]
No other instances of this beast has been observed in Teyvat lore with the exception for Yanfei, who is half-xiezhi,[Note 1] and her father who is implied to be a full-blooded one. Xiezhi have not been described in-game, but have appeared as an ornament on Yanfei's stamper. The creature is depicted to be goat or deer-like in appearance with a pair of antlers behind the ears, and a fluffy coat.
Avian[]
The following types of illuminated beasts are depicted in-game to have mostly avian features.
Crane-Like[]
A number of illuminated beasts are known to take the form of cranes: Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and the yaksha Pervases.
Yuandai is described as "a crane who gained sentience". She was able to transform into a human form using Cloud Retainer's potion, and beyond this she demonstrated no supernatural abilities. Cloud Retainer stated that, with training, Yuandai has the potential to become an adepti. It is unknown if she could be classified as an illuminated beast.
Unknown Taxon[]
Xiao's avian beast form has been teased in his character design, his constellation, and his yaksha alias Alatus. It is implied that he takes on the form of Garuda, a Hindu demigod, or Peng (can be seen in the Chinese translation of Alatus: 金鹏 Jīnpéng), a creature present in both Chinese and Buddhist myths.
In some lines of Genshin Impact merchandise, stylized depictions of Xiao's avian form has been shown. The bird form appears to be finch-like, though this is inconclusive due to stylization. Its plumage features multiple shades of teal, reddish eyes and Xiao's purple diamond symbol on its forehead.
Goose-Like[]
Based on Sea Gazer's Mingxiao Lantern during The Exquisite Night Chimes, he had a goose-like appearance.
Known Members[]
Pure-Blooded Illuminated Beasts[]
- Cloud Retainer
- Mountain Shaper
- Moon Carver
- Skybracer
- Yanfei's Father
- Fujin
- Herblord
- Lingyuan
- Solitary Suanni
- Man Chai
Yakshas[]
Yakshas are illuminated beasts.[7] They prefer to take humanoid forms, but their true forms are believed to be animals.
- Alatus — Beast form implied to resemble Garuda or Peng.
- Bosacius
- Indarias — Beast form implied to be a Fire Rat.
- Bonanus
- Menogias — Beast form stated to be ape-like.[8]
- Pervases — Beast form is a crane.
Mixed Ancestry[]
Trivia[]
- In Chinese mythology, qilin are one-horned beasts with a dragon-like appearance, although details about their appearance vary greatly with different dynasties and regions. Genshin uses the Buddhist-influenced depictions of qilin as peaceful and benevolent creatures who will not eat flesh or harm living beings, and only appear in areas ruled by wise and benevolent rulers. While peaceful by nature, qilin will defend the innocent from the wicked.
- Qilin are seen as symbols of immortality, good fortune, and sometimes, fertility. Tales of qilin leaving a baby at a family's doorstep was integrated into Records of Jueyun: Qilin.
- While mythological qilin only have one horn, Genshin depicts qilin with two horns.
- Xiezhi are also Chinese mythological beasts, often depicted as ox- or goat-like creatures with a single long horn. They are seen as symbols of justice and law who can instinctively distinguish right from wrong. A xiezhi will point out the faulty party by either ramming them with its horn or biting them.
- Qiqi uses the term "adeptibeast" to describe the (ultimately fictional) Cocogoat. This term is rendered in the Chinese version as 半仙之兽 "a half-xian beast."
- In Shenhe's Character Details, the English localization uses the phrase "odd passing illuminated beast." The original Chinese text, however, uses 灵兽 "spirit (or divine) beast", which is only used twice in the game: here, and in the Archive description for Sumeru's Rishboland Tiger, where the term is localized as "divine beast" and refers to Viaghara.
Etymology[]
- Like the adepti, the first character in the Chinese name for illuminated beasts is 仙 Xiān, a term that refers to Taoist Immortals.
- In Chinese art, xian are often depicted with symbols of longevity, including dragons, cranes, white deer, and foxes. The first three have been mentioned as illuminated beasts and/or adepti: Morax's Exuvia takes the form of a dragon, Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper are cranes, and Moon Carver and Skybracer are deer (albeit not pure white).
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Yanfei's Character Demo featured the track Marching of Xiezhi, confirming her bloodline.
Other Languages[]
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Illuminated Beast | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 仙兽 Xiānshòu | Xian Beast |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 仙獸 Xiānshòu | |
| Japanese | 仙獣 Senjuu[10] | Xian Beast |
| Korean | 신수신수 Sinsu | Divine Beast |
| Spanish | Bestia iluminada | Illuminated Beast |
| French | Bête sacrée | Sacred Beast |
| Russian | Просветлённый зверь Prosvetlyonnyy zver' | Enlightened Beast |
| Thai | สัตว์เวท Sat wet | |
| Vietnamese | Tiên ThúTiên Thú | Xian Beast |
| German | Göttliche Bestie | Divine Beast |
| Indonesian | Hewan Pusaka | Heirloom Animals |
| Portuguese | Besta Iluminada | Illuminated Beast |
Change History[]
References[]
- ↑ World Quest: A Teapot to Call Home: Part I
- ↑ Event Fleeting Colors in Flight Quest, Part 2: Sky-Gazers, Land-Walkers
- ↑ Book: Moonlit Bamboo Forest (II)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Book: Records of Jueyun: Qilin
- ↑ YouTube: Version 4.4 Special Program (26:09–28:42)
- ↑ Ganyu's Character Story: Character Story 5
- ↑ Loading Screen Tip: The Yakshas
- ↑ Furnishing: "Naught but Indignation for the People's Lot"
- ↑ Soundtrack, The Stellar Moments Vol. 2: Marching of Xiezhi
- ↑ Xiao's Japanese Voice-Over: ⽢⾬について… (About Ganyu)
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