The unicorn of Eastern tradition is very different in appearance from the Western unicorn, but they share many characteristics. For example, the Eastern unicorn was depicted as a solitary animal, believed to have sprung from the center of the earth, the first and most perfect of the 360 land creatures. The Eastern unicorn always reached its destination, never falling into pits or traps, so it was honored as a great spiritual guide through life. The unicorn's gentleness prevented it from treading upon an insect or eating fruit. It was said to be so sensitive it could feel the weight of a shadow cast by the light of the moon. All animals became tame around the unicorn. Rain and fire did its bidding, and when it plucked a leaf, two grew in its place. The unicorn's voice was sweet and delicate, with the sound of a thousand wind chimes. In the East they believed that once a unicorn was tamed, no other animal would ever know terror again. And, as long as humans showed greed, anger, and war, and hunger was around, the unicorn would remain elusive, hidden and wild. During evil times it would appear only when a great change was about to occur.

In many Eastern cultures, the unicorn is occasionally linked with the tiger and the lioness. Although these relationships are not always considered compatible in Western lore, it is very different in the East. The tiger is a fierce creature in Eastern tradition, its ferocity and courage often unmatched. The tiger is considered a yang (male) creature, as opposed to the yin (female) unicorn and will fight earthly demons which encourage humans to kill the unicorn. Lions and lionesses are very similar, fighting for wisdom and truth and scaring away demons with teeth and claws.

Japan's version of the unicorn, the Kirin or Sin-you was depicted with sinews more like those of a lion. Although the Kirin was normally a shy creature, taking large detours to avoid confrontations, the Sin-you unicorn was not so timid. It was known for its ability to know right from wrong and was often called upon to determine the guilt or innocence of individuals. If an individual was determined to be guilty, the Sin-you would fix its eyes upon him and pierce the guilty person with its horn.

The Kirin is featured on the label for Kirin Beer, the most popular beer in Japan.

First introduced in 1889, the label has remained virtually unchanged.

In Taoism and other mystical Eastern cultures, there arose a variety of teachings in art and dance to honor all of nature, including the unicorn and other sacred beasts. In Vietnam, a yearly unicorn dance is held on the full moon of the eighth month, the beginning of the monsoon season. People put on masks and costumes to conceal their identity. When their spirits are high, they tie an effigy of a unicorn to a platform. Archers then shoot at it while singing the effigy song (below). After the song is finished, the rains would begin.

EFFIGY SONG

The unicorn's hoofs!

The duke's sons throng.

Alas for the unicorn!

The unicorn's brow!

The duke's kinsmen throng.

Alas for the unicorn!

The unicorn's horn!

The duke's clansmen throng.

Alas for the unicorn!

In Persia and Arabia, the unicorn was called Karkadann, a beast so ferocious it could attack and kill an elephant. It was a violent, warlike unicorn, born in blood and vehement in battle. Unlike the western unicorn, it was dreaded by all living creatures and left alone.

Its body was as large as that of a rhino and had a tail like a lion. Each leg had three hooves, one in front and two in back. From its forehead rose a single black horn, curved like a crescent. The Karkadann's footprints and spoor were similar to other unicorns only larger. It's said that it possessed a deep and powerful bellow which carried over long distances and that when it called, all of the birds and other animals fled in fear. And when it ran, the earth shook. Few animals were willing to stand up to a Karkadann—even elephants would flee at the sight of one.

The Karkadann could only be tamed by a ring dove. It is said this beast responded so strongly to the dove's gentle call that it would lie beneath a dove's tree for hours and wait for the dove to land on its horn.

In other descriptions in Middle Eastern unicorn lore, the Karkadann was a fierce animal with magical abilities. It resembled a stag, horse or antelope, and the elephant was its deadly enemy. It could be mild and tender hearted though, drinking the morning dew from green plants. And when it put its head in water, the water would become pure and fruitful, opposites would unite, and all female creatures in the water would become pregnant. Any evil within the water would die and be cast out upon the shore.

As in western unicorn lore, the Karkadann was extremely fond of women, who were used as lures to capture the beast. However, in the eastern tradition, the women did not have to be virgins. Capture of this unicorn was much rarer than in western tradition. This was likely the result of the difficulty in finding women willing to cooperate in capturing such a ferocious beast.

Aelian, a Roman writer of the 3rd Century A.D. believed that it was only the youngest "cartazons" which could ever be captured, since the enormous strength of the adults made subduing them nearly impossible. According to a Latin text dating back to the 11th Century, a kind of "antholops" once existed, an extremely fierce creature that could only be captured under very special conditions. When thirsty, this animal would go to the Euphrates River to drink. While there, it would sometimes thrash playfully about in the woody vines growing near the river's edge. At times, the horn would become entangled in these vines and the creature would be immobilized and could be safely approached and captured. Perhaps it's only a coincidence that in the Latin text the vines are described as virge, or "slender branches," while the Latin name for a virgin or maiden is virgo. It has been suggested that such a similarity might account for the later widespread belief that the presence of a virgin was required in order to capture a unicorn.

The elephant was the deadly enemy of the Karkadann, and there are many tales about their great battles. In the most famous, the Karkadann stabs the elephant in the belly with his horn. Unable to dislodge his horn, the elephant collapses upon the Karkadann. A Roc, a giant mythical bird in Persia, flies by at this moment, diving and grabbing both beasts and lifting them up into the sky. The Roc then flies to its nest and feeds both the Karkadann and the elephant to its young.

Allegedly only one human ever tamed the Karkadann--Alexander the Great.