The Origin and Significance of Phoenix and Sunbird

Like Kirin, China Phoenix ● Phoenix is a male and a female, so it is always called Phoenix. Phoenix Qi Fei is a symbol of good luck and harmony.

Phoenix is a legendary bird, one of the four spirits and the king of birds. "The Core Monument of Great Dai Li's Life" says: "The feather worm is 360 and the phoenix is long." "Shi Mao Lu Shu Eta Ursae Majoris" says: "The dragon rides the cloud, the phoenix rides the wind, ... all the birds swallow their clothes." Together with dragons, it constitutes the dragon and phoenix culture, which is an extremely important part of China traditional culture.

Phoenix is also called Zhu Bird, Dan Bird, Flamingo, etc. Also known as fairy bird, flamingo, fairy bird, flamingo.

The shape of the phoenix

According to Guo Pu's note in Er Ya Shi Bird, the Phoenix is characterized by "the fishtail with the head of a dog's head and the jaw of a tortoiseshell is five colors, and it is six feet high". "Out of the country of the oriental gentleman, flying over the four seas, crossing the Kunlun Mountains, drinking the mainstay, breaking feathers and weak water, seeing Mosufeng Cave, the world is at peace. There are five kinds of pictographs in Shan Hai Jing Tu Zan: "The first word is virtuous, the wing is smooth, the back is righteous, the abdomen is pleasing, and it is like Ren Yue. " 」

Ming Feng

According to the existing literature, Feng Ming is like a flute and his voice is like a bell and drum. Phoenix men call it Man, Fung Wong-Nui calls it Man, and men and women call it Tang Qiang.

Overview of the Origin of Phoenix

The origin of Phoenix is about the Neolithic Age. Many bird patterns on painted pottery in primitive society are the embryonic form of phoenix. Hemudu culture in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province was unearthed about 6700 years ago, and there are two carved images of bird patterns on ivory bones. These bird patterns should be the earliest records of ancient phoenixes.

According to myths and legends, the phoenix evolved from the bird totem of the Yin people in the East.

Shan Hai Jing and Xi Jing mentioned a colorful bird with three names, namely Imperial Bird, Phoenix Bird and Phoenix Bird.

Shan Hai Jing Nan Ci San Jing records a kind of bird, which is shaped like a chicken and has colorful patterns. It is called Phoenix, which means that the image of Phoenix is beautiful from the beginning.

"Poetry, elegance, volume and armour" Indus does not live, and bamboo does not eat.

In the future, just like the image of a dragon, the more complicated it is, the more it has a head, a hip, a snake neck, a fish tail, a dragon pattern, a turtle body, a swallow chin and a chicken mouth. Phoenix has been an important part of China culture since ancient times.

beauty contest

If we want to talk about the origin of the phoenix, we can't do without the dragon. Judging from the unearthed animal fossils, no fossil specimens of dragons and phoenixes have ever been found. So, how did the dragon and phoenix come from? According to legend, Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan unified three tribes and seventy-two small tribes, and established the world's first country with a * * * Lord. The Yellow Emperor intends to formulate a unified totem (similar to the current national flag or a national symbol). On the basis of totems used by various tribes, a new totem-dragon was created.

So how did the Phoenix come from? After the dragon totem is formed, there are still some tribal totems that are useless. What shall we do? Lei Zu, the first wife of the Yellow Emperor, is an extremely clever woman. After being inspired by the new totem formulated by the Yellow Emperor, Lei Zu carefully selected the remaining totems of various tribes, and imitated the method of formulating dragon totems by the Yellow Emperor: peacock head, swan body, golden chicken wings, golden chicken feathers and golden bird color … to form a pair of beautiful and gorgeous big birds. Cang Xie, who coined the word, named the two big birds "Phoenix" and "Phoenix". Phoenix, on behalf of men, Phoenix, on behalf of women, together is called Phoenix. "This is the origin of the phoenix.

For 5,000 years, the Chinese nation has accepted the myth that dragons and phoenixes become auspicious, which has become the great symbol of the Chinese nation and the spiritual pillar of everyone in China. The broad masses of people also regard the dragon and phoenix as mascots. So people in China take dragons and phoenixes everywhere they go. As long as there are dragons and phoenixes all over the world, there are people in China.

The symbol of phoenix

Phoenix is an auspicious bird in people's minds and a symbol of world peace. The ancients believed that when there was peace and prosperity, there was a phoenix flying. Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Fengqi and Oracle Bone Inscriptions in Fengfeng are the same, which means that the wind and spiritual power are everywhere; Burning is the word of the emperor, which means supreme and great.

Phoenix is also a symbol of China's imperial power and is often used with dragons. The wind belongs to the dragon and is used for the queen's concubines. Dragon and phoenix are the totems with the most China characteristics. There are a lot of similar shapes in folk art, and phoenix also represents yin. Although phoenix is divided into male and female, it is more generally considered as feminine. "Phoenix" and "Phoenix" are common in women's names.

Phoenix is considered to be the noblest bird and the king of birds (although she is fictional), and there is a saying that "a hundred birds fly at the phoenix".

According to the theory of yin-yang and five elements, the phoenix is red and the five elements belong to fire, which is the image of the southern seven-night Zhu bird. It is also one of the four gods (Li Yun, Dragon, Phoenix, Kirin and Turtle) that China people call.

Phoenix huayun

In ancient times, the phoenix was a symbol of dignity, loftiness and virtue, which contained beautiful but different secular significance. Out of yearning for and pursuit of beautiful things, people named some mountains and cities "Phoenix". According to relevant information, there are 42 mountains called Phoenix Mountain in Chinese mainland today. The origin of their names, or because they look like big birds taking off and crouching; Or named after ancient myths and folklore. It is rare to have such a large-scale duplicate name, which can be described as "Kyushu has many phoenixes". These phoenixes are distributed in nearly 20 provinces all over the country: Chaoyang City, Fengcheng Manchu Autonomous County, Hangzhou City, Rui 'an County, Hengdong County, Fenghuang County, Qiyang County, Pingjiang County, Yan 'an County, Tongguan County, Ankang County, Chaozhou City and Zengcheng County, Guangdong Province. Sichuan Pengshui Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Chengdu, Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County, Xichong County, Daxian County, Hebei Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County, Tangshan County, Hubei jingshan county, Jiayu County, Daye County, Xuanhua City, Shanghai Songjiang County, Jiangsu Wujin County, Jiangning County, Shaxian County of Fujian Province, Xinye County of Henan Province, Lanping Bai Pumi Autonomous County of Yunnan Province and Fengyang County of Heilongjiang Province of Anhui Province.

The Cultural Orientation of Phoenix

China people's auspicious concept has a long history, which expresses people's emotional desire for happiness and harmony. The people of China endowed the mascot with moral and aesthetic significance, and after artistic processing, it was deeply branded with national culture. Specifically, China's worship culture has the greatest influence on Linglong, Phoenix, Turtle and Forest. Phoenix is a magical animal, the king of birds in China myths and legends, which can be regenerated in fire. Together with dragons, it constitutes the dragon and phoenix culture. Just as the dragon is the symbol of feudal emperors, the Phoenix has become the Fu Rui of empresses. The image of Phoenix widely appears in China culture. After artistic processing, Phoenix contains many romantic colors. Phoenix is one of the four great beasts in ancient China, which has an irreplaceable influence in the cultural history of China.

The prototype of phoenix

The zoological prototype of Phoenix has different opinions and is generally regarded as a mixture. According to the evidence and arguments listed in China and China scholar He Xin 1987 and the book Talking about Dragons and Wind published in 2004, it is shown that the prototype animals of dragons are large reptiles, mainly crocodiles and monitor lizards, and the prototype animals of phoenixes are large birds, mainly ostriches. Three generations ago, the climate in China was warm and humid, and both of these animals existed in Chinese mainland. Fossils of crocodile and ostrich eggshells were found in Paleolithic and Neolithic sites.

Allusions about Phoenix

Wutong Xifeng

Wu Tong is the king of trees. It is said that it is a spiritual tree. It can know when to build it. "Lu Wenjian": "A hundred birds in the phoenix tree dare not perch, but only avoid the phoenix". Phoenix, as the king of birds, breeds the universe. It is not a phoenix tree. "Shu Wei Wang Xie Chuan" "Phoenix is not a phoenix tree", the phoenix chooses wood to live in, and later it is compared to the sage choosing the Lord and leaning; Phoenix's gentlemanly demeanor can also be found in Jiang Ziya and Zhuge Liang. Before meeting the "buttonwood tree", they would rather be ordinary fishermen and cultivators.

The image of phoenix

Legend has it that the phoenix will be reborn after death. Legend has it that it can know the rise and fall of chaos in the world. It is the best embodiment of Wang Dao's benevolent government in the history of our country, a barometer of the rise and fall of troubled times and an "image ambassador" of theological politics. The ancients were divided into five grades, and the five movements of Phoenix marked the degree of political clarity. Therefore, the emperors of all dynasties regarded "Feng Ming Chaoyang" and "Birds at the Phoenix" as symbols of prosperity and peace. Southern Qi Xie Zhao's Ten Poems of Yongming Music: "Colorful Feng Ming is in the morning, and Yuan and Dance are clear;" Rui Yongming has been the emperor for thousands of years. "

Ask any girl

When Sima Xiangru, a lyricist in the Western Han Dynasty, was down and out, he went to Lin Qiong, Sichuan to visit his friend Wang Ji, the county magistrate. Sometimes, Zhuo Wenjun, the daughter of the local richest man, Zhuo Wangsun, becomes a widow. Sima played the piano music "Phoenix Begging for Phoenix" in public at the banquet of Zhuo Wang Sun, in order to provoke Wen Jun. Zhuo Wenjun peeped out from the window of the banquet hall and saw that he was handsome and talented, so he eloped with him that night. Later, it refers to the love between men and women, and men pursue women, which also symbolizes the yearning and praise for a happy marriage.

Phoenix returns

In Feng Haichao, Cheng Pu, assistant minister of the Ministry of War, retired in his later years and returned to his hometown. Xueyan, Mrs Yuan Pei's daughter, is very ugly. My concubine gave birth to a daughter named Xue E, who is beautiful and smart. Cheng Pu fell in love with the handsome young Mu Juyi and wanted to marry Xue E, but his wife had to marry her daughter Xue Yan. On Cheng Shousheng's birthday, Mu Juyi came to offer condolences and was locked up in the library. In the middle of the night, Xueyan went to the library in the name of Ye Xue. Mu Juyi saw that she was ugly and misbehaved. She mistakenly thought that she had been cheated and left angrily overnight.

Cheng Pu was employed by the imperial court and left home for his post. The royal family coveted Xue E for a long time and took the opportunity to come to the Cheng family to marry him in the name of Muju. His wife secretly married Xueyan with a switch. The truth came out in the bridal chamber night, and they were like dumb people eating coptis chinensis-life was hard. Cheng Puping decided to be a thief and take Xue E to join the army, and Mu Juyi joined the army here. Cheng Pu brought up marriage again. Mu remembered the past and resolutely refused to marry, but was forced to marry by the marshal and the prison army. In the bridal chamber, Mu was amazed at Xue E's beauty, made amends again and again, and cleared up the misunderstanding. The play is a comedy with a series of interesting plots due to misunderstanding and "mistakes in the middle". In the plot structure, the techniques of "keeping the buckle" and "shaking the bag" are quite successful. In the scene of "study", Xueyan braved the name of Xue E to pester Mu Juyi late at night, and Mu decided that Xue E was an ugly girl, which laid the groundwork for "leaving a button". In the scene of bridal chamber, the bride is obviously a beautiful snow moth, but Mu Juyi stubbornly thinks that she is an ugly daughter, refuses to get married and is disgusted. Married father-in-law Hong and others are somehow suspicious. This disharmony between subjective and objective leads to comedy and arouses the laughter of the audience. In the laughter, Mu Juyi was "moving bricks and hitting feet". When the "baggage" was uncovered, the curtain was opened, the misunderstanding was eliminated, and the unexpected discovery made the plot turn sharply. Mu Juyi, ecstatic, hurried to make amends to Xue E, who had been wronged, and also attracted laughter from the audience. It is the "button" that stays well and the "baggage" shakes well that the suspense of comics can firmly grasp the audience. Phoenix is also suppressed, formerly known as Tree of Yin and Yang, also known as Ugly Match, was first written and performed by Mei Lanfang.

Feng Ming sonorous

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the divination doctor of Chen Guo married his daughter to his son Chen Yi. His wife divination said: "Auspicious means' The Phoenix Emperor is flying in the air, he is in harmony with Qiang Ming, and he was in the Qing Dynasty during the Five Dynasties.". After VIII, it echoed with Jing' "(see the twenty-two years of Zhuang Gong in Zuo Zhuan), that is, men and women are in harmony, and in this statement, husband and wife are bound to be in harmony, and future generations are extremely powerful.

All birds pay tribute to the Phoenix-peace and harmony under the wise ruler.

The Yellow Emperor ascended the throne, conscious that the world was at peace, and wanted to see the legendary Phoenix with his own eyes. To this end, he asked Tian Lao. Tian Lao replied: The appearance of Phoenix is a sign of good luck, and it will only appear in times of peace and prosperity. It's not easy to see it pass by. If you can see it flying among the birds, it will be a golden omen. The yellow emperor was very unhappy after hearing this. He said: since I acceded to the throne, the world has been at peace. Why haven't I seen the shadow of the phoenix? God said: With Chiyou in the east, Shao Hao in the west, Emperor Yan in the south and Zhuan Xu in the north, how can there be peace on all sides? After hearing this, the Yellow Emperor led the troops to crusade, and the world was unified. He saw a big bird with colorful feathers soaring in the sky and countless exotic birds dancing around it. The Yellow Emperor knew that this big bird was the Phoenix, and it was also the auspicious sign that he wanted to see-birds flying towards the phoenix (The Biography of Hanshu Poetry).

Phoenix is singing on Qishan

It is recorded in the Mandarin "Zhou Yu Shang" that when the Zhou Dynasty rose, birds such as phoenix sang in Qishan, Shaanxi. There is also a saying in Volume I of the Book of Songs in the late Western Zhou Dynasty: "Feng Huang Yu Fei is also rich in heaven ... Feng Huangming is very rich in his post." This is also about Qishan in Feng Ming. Therefore, in the Western Zhou Dynasty, the phoenix bird was regarded as a magical auspicious creature, which was quite heavy for Feng Niaowen.

Phoenix Nirvana

Guangya: "Phoenix, nominal, full of mother". Xiang Mu flew for 500 years, flew into the Sun Temple and set himself on fire on the altar. The next day, he gave birth to feathers. On the third day, his wings were full, so he resigned from the temple owner and flew away. The astronomical motto in Huainanzi says: "The essence of internal heat is the sun" and the phoenix is the essence of fire, which is the symbol of the ancient phoenix as the sun, and was originally called "Golden Bird". The poem Goddess refers to the birth of new China.

As rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns-rare among rare.

"Rare" is often not used as a metaphor for rare outstanding talents or other rare treasures. Liu Yiqing, a poet in the Southern Song Dynasty, wrote "Shi Shuo Xin Yu Rong Zhi": Huan Wen, a general in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, also used the word "Mao Feng" to praise Wang Jinglun, the fifth son of Prime Minister Wang Dao: "Jinglun looks like his father. Duke Huan looked at it and said,' Big slaves have feathers.' "Lin, Kirin, the legendary beast." Lin Jiao, like Feng Mao, is also described as a rare and precious preface to Biography of Northern History Wen Yuan: "Scholars are a dime a dozen, and winners are horns. "Now it is often used as a metaphor for rare outstanding talents or other rare treasures.

auspicious omen

Phoenix flies gracefully. In ancient times, it was used to describe auspicious signs and feelings. "Biography of Wang Han Mang": "The nectar comes from the earth, the sweet spring comes from the ground, the phoenix comes to the instrument, and the immortal comes down to earth." "Shangshu Yiji": "Xiao Shao is 90%, and the phoenix comes to the instrument." The 80th time of Romance of the Three Kingdoms: "Since Wang Wei ascended the throne, Kirin was born, and the phoenix came to the instrument."

Play the flute to attract the phoenix.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Qin Mugong tried his best to find a suitable husband for his daughter Nong Yu. One day, Nong Yu dreamed that a young man was riding a phoenix to play the flute, and Qin Mugong sent someone to find a boy who played the flute. The boy's name was Shaw History. Qin Mugong admired Shaw History's talent so much that he betrothed Nong Yu to him. Shaw History and Nong Yu got married happily, because Shaw History is a fairy in the sky and can't stay on earth forever, so Shaw History, Lapras and Nong Yufei flew to heaven.