Qiqirn
Encyclopedia
In Inuit mythology
, Qiqirn is a large, bald dog
spirit. It is a frightening beast, but also skittish and foolish. Men and dogs run from it, and it runs from men and dogs. It has hair on its feet, ear
, mouth
and the tip of its tail
.
When people approach it, they suffer fits
. One way to scare it away is to shout its name
.
's short story "Quiquern" collected in The Second Jungle Book
(even though it is not a jungle story) tells how two young Inuit hunters, desperate to find food for their starving tribe, believe they are being guided by Quiquern/Qiqirn, only to discover that the many-legged "spirit" is actually a pair of sled dogs whose collars had become entangled. Nevertheless, once they realise the dogs are well-fed the hunters realise the "spirit" has guided them to find food after all.
In the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI
there is a race of beastmen known as Qiqirn. They are funny rat-like creatures, roughly three feet tall. They are known for the over-pronunciation of the vowels in all words (especially "oo"). They share similar characteristics with the mythical animal since they can cause the status effect "Amnesia" on players and will run away when attacked.
Inuit mythology
Inuit mythology has many similarities to the religions of other polar regions. Inuit traditional religious practices could be very briefly summarised as a form of shamanism based on animist principles....
, Qiqirn is a large, bald dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
spirit. It is a frightening beast, but also skittish and foolish. Men and dogs run from it, and it runs from men and dogs. It has hair on its feet, ear
Ear
The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
, mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
and the tip of its tail
Tail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
.
When people approach it, they suffer fits
Convulsion
A convulsion is a medical condition where body muscles contract and relax rapidly and repeatedly, resulting in an uncontrolled shaking of the body. Because a convulsion is often a symptom of an epileptic seizure, the term convulsion is sometimes used as a synonym for seizure...
. One way to scare it away is to shout its name
Name
A name is a word or term used for identification. Names can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. A personal name identifies a specific unique and identifiable individual person, and may or may not include a middle name...
.
Popular culture
Rudyard KiplingRudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
's short story "Quiquern" collected in The Second Jungle Book
The Second Jungle Book
The Second Jungle Book is a sequel to The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. First published in 1895, it features five stories about Mowgli and three unrelated stories, all but one set in India, most of which Kipling wrote while living in Vermont...
(even though it is not a jungle story) tells how two young Inuit hunters, desperate to find food for their starving tribe, believe they are being guided by Quiquern/Qiqirn, only to discover that the many-legged "spirit" is actually a pair of sled dogs whose collars had become entangled. Nevertheless, once they realise the dogs are well-fed the hunters realise the "spirit" has guided them to find food after all.
In the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI
Final Fantasy XI
, also known as Final Fantasy XI Online, is a MMORPG developed and published by Square as part of the Final Fantasy series. It was released in Japan on Sony's PlayStation 2 on May 16, 2002, and was released for Microsoft's Windows-based personal computers in November 2002...
there is a race of beastmen known as Qiqirn. They are funny rat-like creatures, roughly three feet tall. They are known for the over-pronunciation of the vowels in all words (especially "oo"). They share similar characteristics with the mythical animal since they can cause the status effect "Amnesia" on players and will run away when attacked.