It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise. CBR supports the hard work of industry professionals on properties fans know and love and the wider world of Harry Potter that fans have adopted as their own. You can find CBR's continuing coverage on J.K. Rowling here.
The Wizarding World has showcased a healthy amount of magical creatures. Even just in the first two Harry Potter movies, the audience was shown unicorns and giant spiders, which only scratched the surface. But it wasn't until the Fantastic Beasts movies that an even greater spectrum of magical creatures was revealed, including animals like the sticky-fingered Niffler. Some of the most important of these creatures even partook in ancient magical practices.
Audiences met a creature known as the Qilin in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which was a rare beast that moved the movie's plot forward. However, in learning about the Qilin, viewers also see how different the Wizarding World is compared to the Muggle world and how tradition could be embraced to move forward. That said, it also made the Qilin a highly desired creature among characters like Grindelwald, showcasing the inherent dangers of tradition.
What Could a Qilin Do in the Wizarding World?
Qilin were incredibly rare creatures found in the Kweilin Hills of China. What made them visually unique was their half-dragon/half-horse features that gave them the frame of a horse while the top of their bodies was covered in scales. They were largely benevolent and docile but got protective when their children were in danger. Qilin also had the unique ability to see the future and sense the purity in someone's heart.
In The Secrets of Dumbledore, it comes to light that a Qilin was the key to selecting the next Supreme Mugwump, a high-ranking title in the Wizarding World. Because of the fabled walk of the Qilin, they would approach the candidates and bow to the one they deemed the purest, making them Supreme Mugwump. This was why Grindelwald wanted one, as he planned to use necromancy to revive a dead Qilin and rig the election by making it choose him. Even still, utilizing a Qilin was one of the best ways to secure a trustworthy vote.
Qilin's Represented the Importance of Tradition
Tradition in the Wizarding World was taken very seriously as it was what kept the community orderly and proper. A world without structure and only power would descend into chaos. In the case of the Qilin and their role in the community, finding and utilizing these rare creatures represented a strong connection to the world and what it provided, no matter how advanced things got. Though it could be corrupted, as Grindelwald showed, it required intensive effort and luck, which made it nearly pointless even to attempt.
Sadly, the late 20th century did away with the tradition of the Qilin, focusing instead on a democratic election to decide the Supreme Mugwump. Though he was chosen by the Qilin in the 1930s, Dumbledore would later be voted in 1991 but sadly voted out in 1995. By forgoing tradition, it left more room for corruption and fear to influence a vote, which is why Dumbledore was voted out following Voldemort's return. Had the Qilin remained, it would've given others a chance to believe and support Dumbledore and his warning of Voldemort's arrival. In the end, the Qilin represented the importance of tradition in the Wizarding World and proved that by disconnecting from the magic of the natural world, darkness and fear could begin to reign.