little_details

Googled: Kirin, kirin myth, kirin mythology, Asian mythology, Asian unicorn, (insert country here) kirin mythology, qilin/kylin/keilin/girin/kỳ lân/ki len kirin, etc, etc.

The kirin is essentially an Asian unicorn found in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai mythology (at least according to the internet.) I have a story I'm writing for a class involving them, and while I can find the traits of it online, I can't find any of the actual myths/stories/legends about them. Does anybody know of some or know where I can find them?

Also, most sites make very minimal differentiation between the kirin of, say, China and Thailand. Does anyone know of any substantial differences in, say, attributed powers, myths, etc?

I’ve been trying to find some sources for information and I’ve found it to be really hard. If anyone knows any information or could send me in the right direction, it would be amazingly appreciated.

I’m looking for information about 500 AD Scandinavia. The basic background is that I’m working on a novel about Wealtheow, the queen of the Danes who was a member of the Wulfing clan. I can find stuff about Beowulf, of course, but not a lot about the actual society that Beowulf took place in. There’s a lot of stuff out there about Vikings but since that’s about three hundred years later that’s not much help either.

I’m mainly looking for background information, like attitudes towards sex and marriage. Would a peaceweaver be expected to be a virgin, what would be the repercussions of an extramarital affair, things along that line. Also, were the landscapes of Sweden and Denmark different from its current condition? I remember reading it wasn't as cold but I can’t remember where and find that again for the life of me.

Basically, if someone could point me in the direction of some sources about life in the 500’s, I would give them my first born.