The Deer

A group of six deer is known as a lülü lülü (律律): a specific term used in ancient texts to denote a grouping of deer led by a leader, which is considered the King of Deer. Because of this association with the number six, deer are said to be born in the sixth month of the year. In the region of Jingchu A historical region encompassing parts of modern-day Hubei and Hunan, the deer there look exactly like horses. When these creatures shed their antlers, it is impossible to distinguish them from horses when viewed from a distance; for this reason, the local people call them "Horse-Deer" original: 馬鹿 (mǎlù), which remains the modern Chinese word for the Red Deer or Elk.

By nature, deer are highly alert and cautious. When a herd eats, the individuals stand back-to-back, facing outward in different directions so they can keep watch and guard against harm from humans or predatory animals.

According to ancient legends, the deer is a spirit beast xianshou (仙獸): a creature belonging to the realms of the immortals. It is said that once a deer reaches sixty years of age, it will certainly harbor a piece of qiong original: 瓊 (qióng), a type of fine, rose-colored jade or precious stone beneath its antlers. These antlers possess spotted markings, purple in color and arranged like dots. When a deer is walking and saliva begins to flow from its mouth, it is a sign that it is no longer capable of running at great speeds.

The "Horse-Deer" loses its antlers and deceives the eye.