The Chinese phoenix (凤 凰 Fenghuang) is the “king of birds” with fabulous colors and the head of a pheasant, crown of a duck, beak of a swallow, back of a tortoise and tail of a fish. According to the 4th century BCE Chinese Classic of Mountains and Seas, its head represents virtue, back propriety, wing duty, chest mercy, and abdomen credibility. Said to have been born facing the sun’s rays, the mythical bird symbolizes the sun’s warmth, embraces the yang(male) principles of light and heat and promotes creation of male progeny. It brings affluence and only appears during periods of prosperity, peace and good government. Phoenix images decorated ceremonial costumes and were used in the Empress of China’s headwear and the ceremonial headdresses of the Queen Mother of the West and Matsu. As one of the four divine animals that presides over the southern quadrant it was a popular motif in Chinese Straits furniture and accessories with special meaning for Chinese residents in Southeast Asia. A pair with wings out or flying balance each other, represent harmony between a husband and wife and is a wish for a harmonious marriage with many sons. When the “king of birds” is paired with peonies (the “king of flowers”) they symbolize harmony, blessings, rank, good fortune and prosperity. A dragon and phoenix together symbolize a happy and harmonious union a popular decorative motif, especially in bedrooms. In feng shui, the phoenix symbolizes luck and is said to bring auspicious chi both to one’s life and home.
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The Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) is the most significant of the female Taoist deities and is viewed as having magical powers to controls life, death, creation and destruction and determines the lifespan of every living being. She lives with her husband the Jade Emperor in Kunlun Mountain where she attends her famous garden…
Irvin identifies the Queen-Mother of the West as one of the three Great Chinese Goddesses who all were imperially sanctioned revered by all sectors of society. All are syncretic deities embraced by Popular Folk Religion, Taoism and Buddhism, share the feminine principles of compassion and are protectors who grant health, long life and safety in…
This lovely carving is likely the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) and may be a puppet head or an attachment to a larger figure. Xiwangmu is the most important female deity in the Taoist pantheon generally identified by a single phoenix in her headdress. The unique headdress here has three phoenixes instead of her…
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