The xiezhai is a mythical, lion-like, white animal with a lion's tail and paws and a single horn. Cammann discusses the appearance of this animal on badges and states that, "Chinese tradition for nearly two thousand years had claimed that the hsieh-chai could distinguish good from evil, and used its horn to gore the wicked. Therefore, it had long been a symbol of justice. This made it appropriate as a badge for imperial censors, for the latter were required to report any breach in the honesty and integrity of other offiicals." See Schuyler V.R. Cammann, Birds and Animals as Ming and Ch'ing Badges of Rank, Arts of Asia, May-June, 1991, pp. 88-94. An 18th century censor's badge is illustrated on p. 94, fig. 14