“天鹿锦”或“麒麟补”

'An Immortal Deer' or 'A Unicorn'Pattern Embroidery

本文以故宫博物院藏织绣珍品《纳纱天鹿图》卷为研究对象,修正了乾隆帝命名为"天鹿锦"的错误解读,并从纹样、品名和工艺方面提出补充认识,指出明代的"天鹿"亦称"麒麟",明代麒麟多作长颈鹿形状,而此件文物本应为一件麒麟补子。

Through a further research of the pattern, title and craftsmanship for a piece of hand-scroll embroidery named in Chinese ‘Na Sha Tian Lu Tu’ (An Immortal Deer in Petit Point Gauze) by Emperor Qianlong in the collection of The Palace Museum, this thesis owes its improper name to his mistaking the pattern of a unicorn for a deer on it, and points out that ‘Tianlu’ (an immortal deer which is regarded as an auspicious beast in Chinese legend) was also called ‘Qilin’ (a Chinese unicorn which is regarded as a benevolent and auspicious beast in Chinese legend) in the Ming dynasty when a unicorn used to be shaped as a deer. Therefore it confirms this invaluable artwork actually to be a ‘Buzi’ (a patch of pattern marking the official’s rank embroidered on his ordinary garment in the Ming and Qing dynasties) with the pattern of ‘Qilin’ (a Chinese unicorn) instead of ‘Tianlu’ (an immortal deer) on it.