Tradition: Chinese Mythology
Alternative Names: Three-Horned Beast
Category: Deer
The Myth
The Three-Horned Beast is a strange creature from Chinese legend with three horns: one on its head, one on its forehead, and one on its nose. It has a red body and red feet.
The creature is recorded in several ancient Chinese texts. In the Yuan Shi·Yupufu, the Three-Horned Beast is described as having a red body, red feet, a horn on its head, a horn on its forehead, and a horn on its nose, with a white belly and a green back. The Sancai Tuhui describes it as a deer with three horns.
According to the Sancai Tuhui, a Three-Horned Beast appeared on Mount Xishan. It was regarded as an auspicious creature, appearing during the reign of a virtuous ruler who had successfully cultivated the Way of the sages.
The Song Shi·Fuzhi Zhi likewise records the Three-Horned Beast as an auspicious sign associated with the successful cultivation of the teachings of the sages.
The Tianjian states that when a ruler inherited and successfully practiced the Way of the sages without losing it, the Three-Horned Beast would appear.
Sources
“三角兽 (Sānjiǎo shòu; Three-Horned Beast).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 5, 2026.
https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E8%A7%92%E5%85%BD