A Bixie is a type of lion-like mythological Chinese creature, or chimera

Chimera (mythology)

The Chimera or Chimaera was, according to Greek mythology, a monstrous fire-breathing female creature of Lycia in Asia Minor, composed of the parts of multiple animals: upon the body of a lioness with a tail that ended in a snake's head, the head of a goat arose on her back at the center of her...

. It is considered as an exorcising animal (辟邪 literally means "Avoid Evil") and is usually hornless.

The Bixie can have a pair of wings, which makes it rather similar to the Tianlu (Chinese:天禄, Japanese: 天禄, てんろく, Tenroku) in following early Chinese sculptural traditions of winged celestial beasts.

The Bixie may have been an adoption from Mesopotamian art, through Persia and Bactria

Bactria

Bactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...

, as a consequence of extensive trade relations initiated by Emperor Han Wudi during the Han

Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...

 period.

Some western scholars of Chinese art use the word "chimera" generically to refer to the bixie, qilin

Qilin

The Qilin is a mythical hooved Chinese chimerical creature known throughout various East Asian cultures, and is said to appear with the imminent arrival or passing of a wise sage or an illustrious ruler. It is a good omen that brings rui . It is often depicted with what looks like fire all over...

, and tianlu.