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Fenghuang

Fenghuang sculpture in Nanning, Guangxi
Grouping	Mythical creature
Sub grouping	Phoenix
Folklore	Chinese mythology
Other name(s)	Chinese phoenix
Country	China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam

Fenghuang are mythological birds featuring in traditions throughout the Sinosphere. Fenghuang are understood to reign over all other birds: males and females were originally termed feng and huang respectively, but a gender distinction is typically no longer made, and fenghuang are generally considered a feminine entity to be paired with the traditionally masculine Chinese dragon.

Fenghuang are known under similar names in various other languages (Japanese: hō-ō; Vietnamese: phượng hoàng or phụng hoàng; Korean: bonghwang). In the West, they are commonly called Chinese phoenixes or simply phoenixes, although mythological similarities with the Western phoenix are superficial.

Appearance

A common depiction of fenghuang was of it attacking snakes with its talons and its wings spread. According to the Erya's chapter 17 Shiniao, fenghuang is made up of the beak of a rooster, the face of a swallow, the forehead of a fowl, the neck of a snake, the breast of a goose, the back of a tortoise, the hindquarters of a stag and the tail of a fish. Today, however, it is often described as a composite of many birds including the head of a golden pheasant, the body of a mandarin duck, the tail of a peacock, the legs of a crane, the mouth of a parrot, and the wings of a swallow.

The fenghuang's body symbolizes the celestial bodies: the head is the sky, the eyes are the sun, the back is the moon, the wings are the wind, the feet are the earth, and the tail is the planets. The fenghuang is said to have originated in the sun. Its body contains the five fundamental colors: black, white, red, yellow, and green. It sometimes carries scrolls or a box with sacred books. It is sometimes depicted with a fireball. It is believed that the bird only appears in areas or places that are blessed with utmost peace and prosperity or happiness.

Chinese tradition cites it as living atop the Kunlun Mountains in northern China.

Origin

The earliest known ancient phoenix design dates back to about 7000–8000 years ago and was discovered in Hongjiang, Hunan Province, at the Gaomiao Archeological Site. The earliest known form of dragon-phoenix design, on the other hand, dates back to the Yangshao culture (c. 5000 – c. 3000 BC) and was found at an archeological site near Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. This ancient usage of phoenix and dragon designs are all evidence of an ancient form of totemism in China.

During the Shang dynasty, phoenix and dragon images appear to have become popular as burial objects. Several archeological artifacts of jade phoenix and jade dragons were unearthed in tombs dating from the Shang dynasty period.

During the Spring and Autumn period (c. 771 – c. 476 BC) and the Warring States period, common form of unearthed artifacts is the combination of dragon-phoenix designs together. One such artifact is the Silk Painting of Human Figure with Dragon and Phoenix, pictured left.

In the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), phoenix hairpins (i.e. hairpins with fenghuang decorations) and shoes which were also decorated with phoenix designs were supposed to be worn by the Imperial concubines of the Qin Emperor.

During the Han dynasty (2,200 years ago) two phoenixes, one a male (feng, 鳳) and the other a female (huang, 凰) were often shown together facing one other. In the Han dynasty, an imperial edict decreed that the phoenix hairpins had to become the formal headpiece for the empress dowager and the imperial grandmother.

Later, during the Yuan dynasty the two terms were merged to become fenghuang, but the "King of Birds" came to symbolize the empress when paired with a dragon representing the emperor.

From the Jiajing era (1522–1566) of the Ming dynasty onwards, a pair of phoenixes was differentiated by the tail feathers of the two birds, typically together forming a closed circle pattern – the male identified by five long serrated tail feathers or "filaments" (five being an odd, masculine, or yang number) and the female by what sometimes appears to be one but is in fact usually two curling or tendrilled tail feathers (two being an even, feminine, or yin number). Also during this period, the fenghuang was used as a symbol representing the direction south. This was portrayed through a male and female facing each other. Their feathers were of the five fundamental colors: black, white, red, green, and yellow. These colours are said to represent Confucius' five virtues:

1. Ren: the virtue of benevolence, charity, and humanity;
2. Yi: honesty and uprightness; Yì may be broken down into zhōng, doing one's best, conscientiousness, loyalty and shù: the virtue of reciprocity, altruism, consideration for others
3. Zhi: knowledge
4. Xin: faithfulness and integrity;
5. Li: correct behavior, propriety, good manners, politeness, ceremony, worship.

The phoenix represented power sent from the heavens to the Empress. If a phoenix was used to decorate a house it symbolized that loyalty and honesty were in the people that lived there. Or alternatively, a phoenix only stays when the ruler is without darkness and corruption (政治清明).

Etymology and meaning

Etymology

Linguist Wang Li relates element 鳳, OC:*‍bums (ZS), mod. fèng to 鵬, OC:*‍bɯːŋ (ZS) "peng, fabulous great bird"; 鳳 is also related to *plum, OC:*‍風, mod. fēng "wind".

Historical linguist Marc Miyake reconstructs 鳳凰, OC:*‍N-prəm-s ɢʷˁɑŋ, mod. fènghuáng, which he proposes, though with uncertainty, to be the affixed form of 風皇, OC:*‍prəm ʷˁɑŋ (B&S), mod. fēng huáng "wind sovereign".

Meaning

The fenghuang has positive connotations. It is a symbol of virtue and grace. The fenghuang also symbolizes the union of yin and yang. The first chapter of the Classic of Mountains and Seas , the "Nanshang-jing", states that each part of fenghuang's body symbolizes a word. The head represents virtue (德), the wing represents duty (義), the back represents propriety (禮), the abdomen represents credibility (信) and the chest represents mercy (仁).

The fenghuang originally consisted of a separate male feng and a female huang as symbols of yin and yang. The male feng represented the yang aspect while the huang represented the yin aspect; and together, the feng and huang image was symbolic of love between husband and wife. However, since the Qin dynasty, the fenghuang progressively went through a feminization process as the dragon became a symbol of masculinity. Eventually, the feng and the huang merged into a single female entity.

In ancient and modern Chinese culture, fenghuang can often be found in the decorations for weddings or royalty, along with dragons. This is because the Chinese considered the dragon-and-phoenix design symbolic of blissful relations between husband and wife, another common yang and yin metaphor. In some traditions, it appears in good times but hides during times of trouble, while in other traditions it appeared only to mark the beginning of a new era. In China and Japan, it was a symbol of the imperial house, and it represented "fire, the sun, justice, obedience, and fidelity".

• A fenghuang on the roof of Longshan Temple in Taipei
• Drawing of a Fum Hoam (fenghuang) by a Dutch man, circa 1664.
• Classic of Mountains and Seas illustration of a nine-headed phoenix (colored Qing Dynasty edition)
• Portrait of an empress, possibly Empress Xiaoxianchun, (wife of the Qianlong Emperor) sitting on a chair decorated with phoenixes

Modern usage

The phoenix is still used in modern Japan and Korea in relation to the head of state:

• Japan: The Hōō (ほうおう, [hoːoꜜː], the Japanese pronunciation of 鳳凰) is associated with the Japanese Imperial family. The seemingly vast difference between hōō and fenghuang is due to Chinese vowels with ng usually being converted to ō in go-on reading. Examples include:
  • The actual Imperial throne Takamikura (高御座) is adorned by numerous Hōōs.
  • The Imperial regalia Kōrozen no Gohō (黄櫨染御袍) is decorated by numerous textile patterns including a pair of Hōō.
  • Various Japanese stamps and currency, such as the back of the current series E (2004) ¥10,000 yen note.
  • Toyota's flagship vehicle favored by the Japanese Imperial family and high Japanese government officials, the Toyota Century, uses the Hōō as an identifying emblem.
• Korea: two bonghwang (봉황, Korean pronunciation of 鳳凰) are used in the symbol of the Korean President. They are also appeared on the national seal. Historically the bonghwang was used for queens and empresses.

Other uses include:

• Fèng or Fènghuáng is a common element in given names of Chinese women (likewise, "Dragon" is used for men's names).
• "Dragon-and-phoenix infants" (龍鳳胎; 龙凤胎) is a Chinese term for a set of male and female fraternal twins.
• Fenghuang is a common place name throughout China. The best known is Fenghuang County in western Hunan, southern China, formerly a sub-prefecture. Its name is written with the same Chinese characters as the mythological bird.
• Phoenix talons (鳳爪; 凤爪) is a Chinese term for chicken claws in any Chinese dish cooked with them.
• The Vermilion Bird, (Suzaku in Japanese) one of the Four Symbols of Chinese myth, sometimes equated with the fenghuang.
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) uses it in its emblem to symbol nobility, beauty, loyalty and majesty.
• Phoenix Television (鳳凰衛星電視) is a Hong Kong-based media company
• Typhoon Fung-wong has been a meteorological name for three tropical cyclones. The term was contributed by Hong Kong and is the Cantonese pronunciation of fenghuang.
• When describing chinoiserie or authentic Asian ceramics and other artworks, English-speaking art historians and antique collectors sometimes refer to it as "hoho bird", a name derived from hōō, with a second extraneous h added. The Japanese also use the word fushichō for this image.

• Phoenix sculpture in Fenghuang mountain, Fengcheng.
• Dragon & Phoenix Arch in China
• Seal of the South Korean President, with twin phoenix emblem.
• Seal of the South Korean Presidential Residence
• National seal of South Korea
• Phoenix sculpture by the Blue House (former residence of the Korean President).
• President's office in the Blue House
• The emblem of CUHK is the mythical Chinese bird feng (鳳) which has been regarded as the Bird of the South since the Han dynasty. It is a symbol of nobility, beauty, loyalty and majesty. The University colours are purple and gold, representing devotion and loyalty, and perseverance and resolution, respectively.

See also

• Birds in Chinese mythology
• Byōdō-in, Buddhist temple in Japan
• Byodo-In Temple, Buddhist temple in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
• Chinese mythology
• Firebird in Russian mythology
• Four Holy Beasts
• Garuda in Hindu mythology
• Hōō, the Japanese name for the Fènghuáng
• Huma bird in Persian mythology
• Lạc bird in Viet mythology
• Phoenix (manga)
• Phoenix (mythology)
• Phoenix Program, Vietnam War operation by the US
• Phoenix Mountain, a mountain in Zhejiang, China
• Roc (mythology) in Middle Eastern mythology
• Simurgh, an Iranian mythological bird identifiable with the phoenix
• Turul in Hungarian mythology

References

1. 《尔雅·释鸟》郭璞注，鳳凰特徵是："雞頭、燕頷、蛇頸、龜背、魚尾、五彩色，高六尺许"。
2. ^ Nozedar, Adele (2006). The secret language of birds: A treasury of myths, folklore & inspirational true stories. London: HarperElement. p. 37. ISBN 978-0007219049.
3. ^ Hu, Jiaxiang (2019). Study on Chinese traditional theory of artistic style. New Jersey: World Scientific. pp. 34–36. ISBN 978-981-327-943-8. OCLC 1222224249.
4. "Silk painting with female figure, dragon and phoenix patterns | 湖南省博物館". www.hnmuseum.com. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
5. Cheng, Hui-Mei (2001). "Research on the Form and Symbolism of the Chinese Wedding Phoenix Crown". Proceedings of the Korea Society of Costume Conference: 59–61.
6. "Confucius' Five Virtues". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
7. Wang, Li (王力) (1982). 《同源字典》 (Dictionary of Word Families). Beijing: Commercial Press. p. 318. Cited in Schuessler, Axel (2007). ABC Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 239
8. Schuessler, Axel (2007). ABC Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 239
9. Miyake, Marc (5-6 November 2015) "Old Chinese type A/type B in areal perspective: Recent Advances in Old Chinese Phonology beyond Boundaries", a talk given at Recent Advances in Old Chinese Historical Phonology held at SOAS, University of London; under the auspices of the European Research Council Grant Beyond Boundaries: Religion, Region, Language and the State. Slide 43 of 49
10. Shan Hai Jing - chapter 1. "Nanshang Jing" - Nan Ci San Jing: 有鳥焉，其狀如雞，五采而文，名曰鳳凰，首文曰德，翼文曰義，背文曰禮，膺文曰仁，腹文曰信。是鳥也，飲食自然，自歌自舞，見則天下安寧。
11. ^ Rosen, Brenda (2009). The mythical creatures bible : the definitive guide to legendary beings. New York: Sterling. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4027-6536-0. OCLC 244063992.
12. ^ Sources:
    • "Hou-ou (or Hoo-oo)". It's rumored to only land in areas where there is something precious underneath. Such as so, in one story, a man who saw a Fenghuang land on a patch of ground later returned to dig in that area and salt was discovered.
    • "The phoenix in Egyptian, Arab and Greek mythology".
13. Lim, Brandon (26 June 2019). "How the Toyota Century Rivals Rolls-Royce". Motortrend. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
14. Definitions of Chinese Phoenix and Chinese Vermillion Bird
15. "Mission & Vision, Motto & Emblem | About CUHK". www.cuhk.edu.hk. Retrieved 2019-02-08.
16. Examples (retrieved 3 July 2013): Cosgrove, Maynard Giles (1974). The Enamels of China and Japan: Champlevé and Cloisonné. Hale. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-7091-4383-3. Catherine Pagani (2001). Eastern Magnificence and European Ingenuity: Clocks of Late Imperial China. University of Michigan Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-472-11208-1. Van Goidsenhoven, J. P. (1936). La Céramique chinoise sous les Tsing: 1644–1851. R. Simonson. p. 215.

External links

• Media related to Fenghuang at Wikimedia Commons

• Mythological and legendary Chinese birds
• East Asian legendary creatures
• Four Holy Beasts
• Japanese legendary creatures
• Korean legendary creatures
• Legendary birds
• Phoenix birds
• Yangshao culture
• Creatures described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas