The Chinese Hedgehog Goddess, Báixiān 1

In Human form, she is known as Báilǎo Tàitài, 'The White Old Lady', the benevolent Goddess of Healing, Medicine, Sorcery and Protects Against Disease. She is said to ward off epidemics and cure illness. However, Báixiān’s identity remains tied to the hedgehog and her association with medicine is so strong that hedgehog products were considered “immortals’ remedies”. Her worship was banned and her worshippers are (or were) persecuted by the People's Republic of China government.