Title: Phoenix: The Mythical Bird and Symbol of Chinese Culture

The Phoenix, the legendary king of birds, also known as "Fenghuang," is referred to as Fengniao, Danniao, Huoniao, Kunji, and Weifeng, among others. In Chinese mythology, the Phoenix is a pair of mythical birds, with a distinction between male and female: the male is called "Feng," and the female "Huang." Together, they are known as the "Phoenix." According to legend, after the Phoenix dies, it sets a fire at the base of the parasol tree where it rests and is reborn from the flames, emerging with a stronger life force than before. Hence, the phrase "reborn from the ashes" originates from this story, and the Phoenix is also called the "Immortal Bird."

The Phoenix is one of the most significant totems of the Chinese people. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Phoenix resembles a chicken, covered in multicolored feathers. The pattern on its head is shaped like the character for "Virtue," its wings bear the pattern for "Righteousness," its back is marked with "Courtesy," its chest with "Benevolence," and its abdomen with "Trust."

Origins

The origins of the Phoenix date back to the Neolithic period. Many bird patterns on primitive pottery are considered prototypes of the Phoenix. An artifact discovered at the Hongjiang Gaomiao Culture Site in Hunan, which dates back about 7,400 years, features a white pottery jar with stamped designs of divine birds (including beast faces and the sun) on its neck and shoulders. Archaeologists believe that the bird patterns on this pottery represent the Phoenix, which predates the Phoenix design found at the Hemudu Culture Site in Zhejiang by at least 400 years, making it the earliest known Phoenix design in China.

The earliest written record of the Phoenix can be found in the Shangshu (Book of Documents), in the "Yixi" chapter. It describes the grand celebration held by Emperor Yu after controlling the floods. During the event, led by the Kui dragon, birds and beasts sang and danced, and in the end, a Phoenix appeared—"At the ninth stage of the music of Shao, the Phoenix arrived."

In early inscriptions on bronze vessels, such as those on the Zhong Ding, there is a reference: "…bringing the Phoenix to the King."

The Han Shi Waizhuan (The Outer Traditions of the Han Poems) contains a legend about the Phoenix: "When the Yellow Emperor ascended to the throne, he practiced benevolence and followed the heavenly way. Despite his virtue, the Phoenix had not appeared. The Yellow Emperor, eager to know its form, summoned the celestial elder and asked, 'What does the Phoenix look like?' The elder replied, 'The Phoenix has the front of a swan, scales at the back, a snake's neck, and a fish's tail, with dragon-like patterns and a turtle's body. It has a swallow's jaw and a chicken's beak. It embodies virtue, benevolence, loyalty, and righteousness, with small sounds like metal and large sounds like drums. It stretches its neck and flaps its wings, displaying five colors, and its cries move the eight winds, bringing timely rains. Its diet is measured, and its behavior is ceremonious. When it departs, it marks the beginning of civilization, and when it arrives, it signals prosperity.'"

A similar story tells of how the Yellow Emperor unified the three major tribes and seventy-two smaller ones to establish the first state under a common ruler. The Dragon totem was created by combining various totems of the tribes, but some totems were left unused. The Yellow Emperor's first wife, Leizu, was an exceptionally intelligent woman. Inspired by the Dragon totem, she gathered the remaining totems and combined them: the head of a peacock, the body of a swan, the wings of a golden chicken, the feathers of a golden pheasant, and the colors of a golden finch, creating two magnificent birds. Cangjie, the creator of Chinese characters, named these birds "Feng" and "Huang," representing male and female, respectively. Together, they became known as "Fenghuang," or Phoenix.

Legends

Like the Qilin, the Phoenix is a symbol of good fortune. It is also known as Danniao, Huoniao, and Kunji, and similar legends can be found in the histories of other East Asian countries.

According to Erya Shinian (Annotations on Erya) by Guo Pu, the Phoenix is described as having "a chicken's head, a swallow's jaw, a snake's neck, a turtle's back, and a fish's tail, with multicolored feathers and standing about six feet tall." The Classic of Mountains and Seas also mentions five types of pattern markings: the head represents Virtue, the wings Righteousness, the back Courtesy, the abdomen Trust, and the chest Benevolence.

The Phoenix has a noble character, drinking only morning dew, eating only tender bamboo shoots, and resting only on parasol trees that are a thousand years old. There are five types of Phoenixes, each associated with a different color and meaning: the red Zhuique, the green Qingluan, the yellow Yuanchu, the white Honghu, and the purple Yuehuo.

In myth, every time the Phoenix dies, its body is engulfed in flames, and it is reborn from the fire, emerging stronger than before. This cycle repeats endlessly, granting the Phoenix eternal life.

Symbolism

The Phoenix is considered an auspicious bird, symbolizing peace and prosperity. In ancient times, it was believed that during peaceful eras, the Phoenix would appear. Its pictogram resembles that of "wind," representing its all-encompassing nature and spiritual power. The term "Huang" also relates to royalty, symbolizing supreme status.

The Phoenix is also a symbol of imperial power, often depicted with the dragon, where the Phoenix represents the empress and the dragon represents the emperor. Together, the dragon and phoenix signify prosperity and harmony. In folk art, the Phoenix is frequently used as a decorative motif and symbolizes the feminine principle, while the dragon represents the masculine.

According to the theory of Yin and Yang, the Phoenix is associated with fire, representing the southern direction and the Vermilion Bird of the South constellation. It is one of the Four Symbols of Chinese mythology, along with the dragon, Qilin, and the Black Tortoise. The Phoenix is also a symbol of everlasting love and harmony in marriage, as well as a representation of societal harmony, expressed through the five virtues: Benevolence, Righteousness, Courtesy, Wisdom, and Trust.

Throughout history, the Phoenix has been depicted in jade and bronze artifacts, symbolizing authority. Its image, like that of the dragon, has been a powerful cultural symbol, representing the spiritual and cultural identity of the Chinese people. The Phoenix, embodying beauty, good fortune, and virtue, was created by early humans as a reflection of their reverence for nature and spirituality. Today, it is a symbol of national pride and cultural heritage.

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