Pixiu is the Chinese mythical beast associated with wealth and commonly depicted with a dragon’s head and a lion’s body.
Pixiu is a hybrid creature in Chinese mythology and feng shui. Artistic traditions vary: it may have wings, hooves, horns, a tail, or features resembling a horse or qilin. Even with those variations, the dragon-headed, lion-bodied form is a well-established depiction and makes Pixiu the best answer to this question.
The beast is regarded as auspicious because it is believed to draw wealth and good fortune from all directions. Popular legends say that Pixiu consumes precious materials such as gold, silver, and jewels but cannot expel them, turning it into a symbol of accumulating and retaining wealth. It is also treated as a protective creature that wards off evil influences.
Pixiu is sometimes confused with the qilin, another auspicious Chinese beast, or with Taotie, a motif associated with gluttony and ancient bronze decoration. Fenghuang is a phoenix-like bird, not a dragon-lion hybrid. Historical sculptures, including tomb guardians, show that Pixiu’s visual form has changed across periods.