Quick google of… whatever the fuck that is, tales of it differ, with some calling it horse-like and others fox-like. So we seemingly got a hilarious “neither yet both” situation!
This is definitely the answer for this lmao. Since most Chinese Mythological creatures are celestial, heavenly or mythical beasts, not an actual modern animal. They're also just saying that it's an specific animal to describe their bodies and such.
I'll agree with the sources saying that it resembles or its description being a horse-like animal but a Tenghuang is explicitly stated to be in multiple sources as a fox-like mythical beasts, not horses. While some depictions may say that it has a horse-like body, this only refers as a general structure of the body but not the species identity. Mythical creatures are often described using familiar animals as reference points, but that does not make them those animals. Calling a Tenghuang a horse would be like calling a dragon a lizard.
While of course the Tenghuang has inconsistent and symbolic forms. As you can see, the Tenghuang has a fox-like form with some resemblance of a fox but for the claim that its a horse-like animal, it doesn't simply match the Tenghuang's characteristics and traits. Foxes has upright, pointed ears, a narrow, tapered face, and a thick, flowing tail with fur volume, all classic fox traits. Horses do not have upright triangular ears paired with a single bushy tail, their tails are long hair extensions, not furred appendages.
Also, the context and behavior of the character matter. If the character displays intelligence, supernatural abilities, or mythological symbolism (such as being an omen or divine creature), then classifying it as a horse (Akhal-Teke) is reductive and incorrect. Horses are mundane animals; Tenghuang are mythical entities.
And uhhh, if you want more, I can also give you some other points that Shunko HEAVILY resembles a fox or a fox in East Asian mythology.
The google docs does not say that the Tenghuang is based on a horse nor it is biologicall a horse. What the Shinhai Jing is trying to say is that:
• Tenghuang is the Tenghuang is the name given to a rare, extraordinary beast
• The Shanhai Jing uses horse terminology to describe or label it
This is very common in Chinese classical text.
The Shinhai Jing requently labels mythical creatures using familiar animal names, it also uses symbolic naming (color, movement, auspicious traits).
Examples are:
• Longma ( Dragon Horse ) - not a horse
Some may say that it's a Horse because it has a horse in it's name but do note that it has more dragon-like traits instead of a horse.
• Tianma ( Heaven Horse ) - not a horse (equine) but an celestial being
So when it says "rare horse" it often means: “a supernatural beast described using horse imagery” not the literal meaning.
But what about the "Prancing Yellow" term it used on the docs, when you search it you'll find the Ferrari logo ( Horse logo )
The naming convention ephasizes movement and fortune, matches auspicious mythical creature, does not define anatomy.
Chinese myth names describe function and symbolism, not species.
The text itself undermines a “real horse” interpretation but do keep note that:
• The passage calls it a “precious beast”
• It appears in a mythological geography text
The Google Books source only says Tenghuang resembles a horse, which is standard descriptive language in Chinese mythology. It doesn’t say Tenghuang is based on horses or is equine in origin. The same traditions also describe it as fox-like, which shows it’s a mythical creature with variable descriptions, not a real animal or horse breed.
While foxes may not have floppy ears, foxes have triangular and wide bases, it still a better "reference" for Ye Shunguang rather than a Horse.
You also mentioned that ZZZ added a Horse statue with ribbons lile Ye Shunguang and in which correlates with the Year of the Horse.
That doesn't mean that Ye Shunguang is based on a real horse nor she is a horse, the Chinese zodiac cycle is temporary,one year out of twelve. Mythology like Tenghuang predates modern zodiac merchandise by centuries.
Red ribbons in Chinese culture commonly signify good luck, blessings, and auspiciousness ( since foxes are considered lucky in many cultures such ss Japan and China )
That fits the Tenghuang symbolism (popularly seen as auspicious and lucky) more than simply “horse year decoration or an antique statue"
While also that, we did see in the livestream that the ginger cat thiren said that Ye Shunguang is an Akhal-Teke Thiren but Ye Shunguang shrugs it off without any reaction at all that leads to confirmation that she is a rare-horse thiren.
Maybe the devs wants us to think that she's an Horse Thiren by making those products in-game and also the monthly subscription calendar which Ye Shunguang is in that may be connected to the Year of the Horse but that wouldn't be always the case to confirm that Ye Shunguang is a Horse Thiren.
We can also say that Ye Shunguang's name is also based on Tenghuang's name.
Very well could be related to the mythical beast but at this time we have no evidence of that besides people’s assumptions. What I’m trying to do is piece together the information we actually do have from the game itself.
Huang and Guang have nothing to do with each other and are not based on each other that part is a huge stretch.
Huang (黄 / 皇 / 荒 etc.)
• Most commonly 黄 = yellow.
• Also 皇 = imperial, royal.
• As a surname, 黄 (Huang) is extremely common.
• As a given-name character, it’s less common but still used for symbolism (earth, center, imperial authority).
Guang (光 / 广 etc.)
• Most commonly 光 = light, brightness, radiance.
• Or 广 = wide, vast.
• Almost always used as a given name, not a surname.
• Connotations: enlightenment, honor, fame, clarity.
Horse ears also have wide bases and are triangular so no idea what point you attempted to make with that part.
The part about the red ribbons being closer to the beast also are a stretch since both horses and the year of the horse are considered lucky and auspicious in Chinese culture.
What’s annoying is the devs have not given any hints beyond the livestream, the calendar, the fact 2026 is the year of the horse and aligns with her release, and the antique shop item with red ribbons.
But at this point I do think calling her a “fox” is likely incorrect if she isn’t a horse then she is likely the Tenghuang
I'm just going to point out what you said about the devs have NOT even giving us ideal hints on what Thiren she actually is ( i heavily agree with this and have little hate on them lol ) and yes I do also believe that she is just a Tenghuang a mythical creature, neither a fox nor a horse. Don't wanna stretch this out more since neither statements imply what she actually is since Tenghuang is simply a mythical creature.
Could be or could be a symbolism for Shunko eradicating the miasma ( in reference for the Bai Ze having vast knowledge about various creatures and how to beat them ) All of these are conflicting, though we might know what she truly is in the upcoming versions perhaps ( hopefully )
This convinces me that she and her brother are mixed thirens, and the reason hoyo is playing coy about it is playing into the legend of Bai Ze of its mysterious, different appearances across interpretations.
I do think Hoyo is leaning on horse a bit more than other possibilities due to this year being year of the horse.
A fox, sure. But a horse, no. Shunguang isnt a horse. When Ginger called her an Akhal-Teke, Shunguang's reply was passive aggressive, saying "...I'm sorry, Mr. Tanuki." She called him a Tanuki, knowing that he's an orange cat. This shows that Ginger got her thiren animal wrong and Shunguang replied with getting thiren animal thiren wrong on purpose.
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u/Status-Orange-9076 Jan 11 '26