This is a semi-aquatic deer found in China. Between its description and its origin story, it's rather interesting.
Cultural Description
Milu are referred to as '' meaning 'four not-alike'. That is, they have features similar to, but not the same as, four animals. These are ox hooves, deer antlers, a donkey tail, and a horse head (although this is sometimes listed as a camel neck).
Anatomical Features
So what does it actually look like?
The tines of its antlers point backwards. Their coat is red by summer and grey by winter. Turning woolly when cold, its coat has wavy guard hairs.
A long tail (that ends with a dark tuft) is connected to the mane on its neck by a black dorsal stripe. Lastly, its spreading hooves are large.
Origin Story
A horse, donkey, ox and deer meditate in a forest cave. Awaking in the form of humans, they learnt thst the King had executed Bigan.
The four animals, wanting justice, decided to seek help. They became one being, the milu, having the strength of an ox, the agility of a deer, the direction of a donkey and the speed of a horse.
The Jade Pure One/Primordial Celestial agreed with their quest and sent them to Jiang Ziya. This nobleman rode the milu and defeated the King to start the Zhou Dynasty.
The milu settled along the Yangtze River to bring good fortune to future emperors.
Horse verses Camel
So, horse or camel?
When looking at a milu, its neck is instantly similar to that of a camel. Plus, milu heads are the same shape and proportion as other deer and nothing like a horse.
Yet within the story, a camel taking the role and qualities of the horse (the same qualities essential to the story) makes no sense. I suppose one could say horses have manes, but horse manes are different to the camel-like manes that milu sport.
But hey, these animals could not only join into one being but they could also transform into humans. So why wouldn't the horse be able to shapeshift into a camel?
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