A creature seen in the decoration of Chinese bronzes from the Shang dynasty, which became a popular motif on archaistic wares in a variety of media. The dragon, which has a turned-up snout, is always shown in profile with only one leg visible.
Going back into ancient Chinese mythology the Kui was indeed a one legged beast similar to a dragon but with a human face and the body of a dragon, living on Mt. Liubo in the Eastern Sea.
Its skin was used by the Yellow Emperor to make a drum to invoke rain and wind. Kui is therefore seen as identical to the thunder gods (leishen).
Quoting from a medical treatise Huangdi neizhuan it is said that during his war against Chi You, the Yellow Emperor was given kuiniu or guikui drums by the Mysterious Maiden (a legendary Daoist immortal living at the celestial court of the Yellow Emperor believed to have had a human head, but the body of a bird), which was the only means to stop Chi You from advancing.
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