The Deer

In traditional Chinese culture, the deer (鹿, lù) is a potent symbol of longevity and prosperity, partly because its name is a homophone for "official salary" (祿, lù). It is frequently depicted as the companion of Shoulao, the God of Longevity. In natural history texts like the Sancai Tuhui, the deer is often described as a "spirit animal" (仙獸) that sheds its antlers at the summer solstice, reacting to the shift in cosmic dualities (yin and yang).