Musk Deer and Musk

Musk Deer and Musk

　　The musk deer, also known as the musk goat or fragrant deer, is a rare wild animal in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. It has short front legs and long hind legs, small hooves, large ears, and neither males nor females have antlers. Its body is brown, darker on the back; some are grayish-brown, and some have faint, indistinct yellowish-brown stripes and spots. The dried secretion from the musk sac of the male musk deer forms the spice known as musk — an extremely precious medicinal ingredient as well as a highly valued aromatic substance. Yunnan Province ranks fourth in musk production nationwide, with the Nujiang region leading in the province. In traditional Chinese medicine, musk is primarily used to open orifices, dispel foulness, unblock meridians, and dissipate stasis. It treats conditions such as stroke with phlegm collapse, loss of consciousness, sudden severe pain in the heart and abdomen, bruises and injuries, as well as abscesses and poisonous sores. Musk-based perfumes are pleasantly fragrant, long-lasting, and serve to harmonize and fix scents. Ancient people also added a small amount of musk to ink, calling it “musk ink.” Writing or paintings made with musk ink exude a subtle, elegant fragrance, and when sealed properly, they resist decay and moth damage. (Nujiang)