Bixi, (
Wade-Giles romanized as
Pi-hsi or
Bi Xi), is a figure from
Chinese mythology. One of the
9 sons of the
Dragon King, he is depicted as a
dragon with the shell of
turtle. Stone
sculptures of Bixi have been used in
Chinese culture for centuries as a decorative
plinth for commemorative
steles and tablets, particularly in the
funerary complexes of its later
emperors and to commemorate important events, such as an imperial visit or the anniversary of a
World War II victory. They are also used at the bases of bridges and archways. Sculptures of Bixi are traditionally rubbed for good luck, which can cause conservation issues. They can be found throughout
East Asia in
Japan,
Korea,
Vietnam,
Mongolia, and even the
Russian Far East.