Zi Collection, Middle Volume
Radical: Power (lì)
Pronounced lù
The name of a beast. The "Historical Records of the Song Dynasty" (Songshi), in the "Treatise on Auspicious Omens" (Furui Zhi), records: "Tianlu is a beast of pure spirit, with five colors on its body, bright luster, and serene demeanor. It appears when the ruler's virtue is complete." The "Gu Shi Shuo Lue" records: "Among beasts are Tianlu and Bixie. Tianlu is also written as Tianlu, and also as Tianlu. In the "History of the Former Han Dynasty" (Qian Hanshu), in the "Account of the Western Regions" (Xiyu Zhuan), there is a note on Wuyi's Taoba, stating: 'Taoba is also called Fuba. It resembles a deer with a long tail. One with a single horn is called Tianlu, and one with two horns is called Bixie.'"