典藏书目

The *History of Ming* records that many foreign countries contributed Qilin (mythical chimeric animal). The Qilin from the Aden country had front legs nine chi tall, hind legs six chi tall, a neck one zhang and six chi long, with two short horns. Lin (a component of Qilin) has a body like a sika deer, a tail like an ox, hooves like a horse, five-colored patterns on its body, and a yellow belly, standing one zhang two chi high. The description in the *History of Ming* regarding such a long neck is not found in ancient texts, nor does it mention a single horn covered with flesh; thus, it is suspected to be another species, not the true Qilin.

(Bingzhang) notes: *Ye Yu* states: In the Xinmao year of Shunzhi (1651), an ox in Pingding Prefecture, Shanxi, gave birth to a Qilin, with fleshy scales all over its body, shining, and having claws on its four feet. In the 17th year of Kangxi (1678), in Yuanzhou, Jiangxi, an ox gave birth to a Qilin. In the 28th year of Kangxi (1689), in the northern township of Yuyao, the Hu family's ox gave birth to a Qilin. *Juyi Lu* states: The Hu family in Wushan had an ox give birth to a Lin, with a wolf's neck, horse's legs, sika deer's body, and ox's tail, covered in fleshy scales, appearing in gold and purple hues.

In November, the *Shixian Shu* (Imperial Calendar) changed "Mi Jiao" (Elk Antler) to "Zhu Jiao Jie" (Dust Deer Antler Shedding), starting in the Wuzi year of Qianlong (1768). Emperor Gaozong Chun believed that the deer in Mulan and the elk in Jilin shed their antlers in summer, whereas the Zhu sheds its antlers in winter. He verified this at the Southern Hunting Ground and specifically corrected the error. He also ordered the *Shixian Shu* to add annotations for ages sixty-one to one hundred twenty in the calendar years, allowing the sexagenary cycle to repeat continuously, thereby extending the celebration of longevity. This practice likely began in the Ximao year of Qianlong (1771).

(Bingzhang) notes: The Zhu (Dust Deer/Elk) is produced in various places in Ninguta, Liaodong. Its head resembles a deer, its feet resemble an ox, its tail resembles a donkey, and its back resembles a camel. From a holistic view, it shares no complete similarity with any single animal, hence commonly called "Si Bu Xiang" (Four Unlike) by northerners. It is as large as a young calf, with pale brown fur, slightly darker on the back, and gradually lighter on the belly. The antlers are hard, flat, and broad, crystal clear with texture, and uneven on the surface. The base of the antler is thick, branching into two from the main stem, one pointing outward and one backward. The feet are quite large, and the hooves are smaller. The body length, excluding the tail which is seven chi and two or three cun long, resembles a deer in temperament, walking slowly, eating plants, and running faster than horses when galloping. It gives birth in May each year, with a gestation period of eight months. It sheds its antlers at the Winter Solstice. Its long tail can be used as a whisk; this describes the morphology of the Zhu.