About
The character 麈 is a phono-semantic compound, with the semantic radical 鹿 (deer) on top indicating its animal category, and the component 主 below serving as a phonetic marker. Originally, it referred to a large deer or elk-like creature. Over time, the character became closely linked to a cultural object: a fly whisk crafted from the tail hair of this animal, often mentioned in historical texts as an instrument used by scholars and monks.
Etymology Hide
