Black “Wave, Lion & Deer” Shu Brocade Fabric

Northern Dynasties Chinese Silk — China National Silk Museum

This textile is a Northern Dynasties warp-patterned brocade (Jingjin), preserved in the collection of a private collector in Qinghai, China. Its distinctive composition is formed by two interwoven structural frameworks: paired S-shaped wave motifs and hexagonal tortoiseshell patterns. At the points where these frameworks intersect, delicate eight-petaled floral motifs serve as connecting elements.

Within these geometric frameworks, the animal motifs are arranged in two rows. One row features paired deer and paired lions, while the other depicts paired deer and paired phoenixes.

In ancient China, the deer was regarded as an auspicious and sacred creature. It was believed to be a mount for immortals ascending to the heavens and became a popular decorative motif in ceramics, jade, textiles, and other forms of traditional art. Deer motifs appeared on Chinese jade as early as the Shang Dynasty and continued to evolve throughout successive dynasties, developing distinctive artistic characteristics in each historical period.

With its graceful and varied forms, the deer motif carries auspicious symbolism and has been widely used in traditional Chinese decorative arts. More than a beloved ornamental motif, the deer represents people’s enduring aspirations for happiness, prosperity, and a better life.

In traditional Chinese culture, the deer is a symbol of auspiciousness, prosperity, and good fortune. The Chinese word for deer, lù (鹿), is pronounced the same as lù (禄), a traditional term associated with official rank, prosperity, and wealth. For this reason, the deer has long been regarded as a symbol of enduring prosperity and good fortune.