The Fenghuang are the rulers of all birds in the East Asian region. In ancient times, females were distinguished only by the name Huang and males as Feng, but this practice ceased, which is why they are now called Fenghuang. They can also be considered the Chinese Phoenix .
Origin of this mythical being
This mythological animal has its historical origins in the Han dynasty, which lasted 2,200 years. There were two phoenixes, a male and a female, who spent their time looking at each other.
Later, with the arrival of the Yuan dynasty, the names were combined to create Fenghuang, which became the “King of Birds.” It also became the symbol representing the empress when paired with the dragon, which was the symbol of the emperor.
In the years 1522-66, with the Jiaqing era, people could already differentiate a pair of phoenixes by the feathers on their tails, even though they formed a circle together. Thus:
The male had a tail made up of five long, serrated feathers, representing the masculine yang.
The female, on the other hand, had two curled feathers, representing the feminine yin.
However, although this mythical creature is more widely known in Chinese literature, it also appears in other Asian cultures, as it symbolizes good fortune for populations, homes, and rulers, since it has the gift of recognizing when people’s inner selves are good.
What is the meaning of the Fenghuang?
In Asian culture, this mythical animal is associated with positivity, virtue, and grace.
However, it is essentially a representation of yin and yang, and its body also had a specific value:
- Abdomen: Credibility.
- Wings: Duty.
- Head: Virtue.
- Back: Property.
- Chest: Mercy.
For Chinese and Japanese cultures, it symbolized the imperial house of that time, and also conveys “Fidelity, Fire, Justice, Obedience, and the Sun.”
On the other hand, in some traditions, they appear in good times and disappear in troubled times, although they also represent the beginning of a new era. Another similar alternative was that this mythical animal only stays in a house when the ruler is good and not corrupt or dark.
It should be noted that this creature was a visual element used to decorate people’s homes, as well as weddings and royalty, serving as a metaphor for yin and yang, which symbolizes the marital success of a couple.
Appearance
In ancient times, this animal always had snakes attacking its heels and outstretched wings.
It was therefore thought to have a beak and a rooster’s forehead, a swallow’s face with a snake’s neck, a goose-like chest and a turtle’s back, and a deer-like rear end with a fish tail.
However, this representation changed over time and now it is depicted as a typical bird with a golden pheasant head, the body of a mandarin duck with a peacock tail, crane legs, a parrot-like mouth, and swallow wings.
In short, its body sought to emulate six celestial bodies, as its head evokes the sky, its eyes the sun, its back the moon, its wings the wind, its feet the earth, and its tail the planets.
It should be noted that his feathers have five main colors, which are:
- Yellow.
- White.
- Black.
- Red.
- Green.
