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Tijelo: glava - zlatni fazan - simbolizira čenost 

tijelo - mandarinska patka

rep - paun

noge- žral 

kljun - papiga

krila - lasta - prestavljaju užnost Feng: muška ptica, yang, simbol Sunčevog ciklusa, 5 pera u repu

Huang: ženska ptica, yin, simbol Mjesečevog ciklusa, 2 pera u repu

Pojava ove ptice obilježava razoblje blagostanja.

Utjelovljuje pet vrlina: blagonaklonost

pravednost

istinitost

mudrost

iskrenost

U antičkim vremenima je simbolizirao plonost i povezivao se s genitalijama.Postupno je postao

simbol ljepote i savršenog bida, te se na kraju pretvorio u simbol ljubavi i amblem svijetla, srede i

radosti.Glava simbolizira čenost, krila simboliziraju užnost, leđa simboliziraju ispravnost, abdoben

predstavlja vjeru, a prsa predstavljaju milost.

Prestavlja šest nebeskih tijela: glava - nebo

oči - Sunce

leđa - Mjesec

krila - vjetar

noge - Zemlja

rep - planeti

Pera uključuju pet osnovnih boja: crnu 

bijelu

crvenuplavu

žutu 

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HISTORICAL NOTES ON THE PHOENIX IN JAPAN 

Below text courtesy JAANUS: A mythical Chinese bird, thought to have been introduced to Japan inthe Asuka period (mid 6th to mid 7th century AD). The phoenix has a bird's beak, a swallow's jaw, anda snake's neck; the front half of its body is thought to resemble a giraffe, the back half a deer. Its backresembles a tortoise, and its tail is like a fish. It is often shown in a paulownia tree (Chinese parasol

tree, Jp. = Aogiri 梧桐), with bamboo in the background, or surrounded by Chinese arabesque foliage

(Jp. = Karakusa 唐草). It became a popular decorative motif in the Nara period (late 7-8c), and was

used on a wide variety of items including textiles, mirrors, chests, and lacquerware. Outstanding earlyexamples of phoenix designs can be seen on the ceiling of Hōryūji Kondō Nishi-no-ma

法隆寺金堂西の間 (late 7c). Hō-ō depicted on the back of mirrors were popular in the Heian period (9-

12c). Some of these used a Chinese style, but others Japanized the Hō-ō motif, replacing arabesquefoliage with Japanese wild grasses, and changing the bird to resemble a blue magpie (Jp. =

Onagadori 尾長鳥), or a crane (Jp. = Tsuru 鶴). A famous pair of Hō-ō statues, made of copper and

measuring one metre in height, can be seen on the roof of  Byōdō-in Hō-ō-do (photo

here) 平等院鳳凰堂 , Kyoto (10c). Throughout the 13-19c the Hō-ō remained a popular design,

particularly on gold and silver lacquered boxes (Jp. = Makie 蒔絵) and for Noh 能 costumes. The

original Chinese background of paulownia and bamboo was gradually replaced by combinations of peonies, cherry blossoms, crysanthemums, and seasonal Japanese wild flowers. The phoenix

appears on three crests (Jp. = Monshou 紋章), known as hō-ō-maru 鳳凰円, lit. phoenix circle, tachihō-ō 立ち鳳凰 lit. standing phoenix, and tobi hō-ō 飛び鳳凰 lit. flying phoenix. <end quote JAANUS>

Like the dragon, with which the phoenix is always associated, it symbolizes the union of yin and yang,peace and disharmony and like the dragon, the phoenix is also made up of  elements, typifying theentire cosmos of the six celestial bodies; it has the head of a cock which symbolises the sky (the eyes,the sun); the back of a swallow as the crescent moon; its wings are the wind; its tail represents theplanets (trees and flowers); and its feet are the earth. The Chinese phoenix was thought to have alarge bill, the neck of a snake, and the tail of a fish. It represents the element of fire and its season issummer and drought.

 An interesting difference between the way the dragon and the phoenix are shown in decorations isthat the dragon is used to fill all the space available on a vase for example, while the phoenix is usedto fill specific space in the decoration such as around trees, rocks, and flowers. The symbol of the phoenix has appeared on objects in China for over 7000 years. Often in jade and originally ongood-luck totems. During the Han period, 2,200 years ago, the Red Bird represented south as thecardinal direction honored by the Shang. The phoenix symbol was often depicted in a pair with a maleand female phoenix facing each other.

In the Chinese art of placement, known as feng shui, the phoenix figures prominently, representing thesouth point of the compass, for south was considered the ideal way for one's house to face. In TheFeng Shui Handbook, Master Lam Kam Chuen writes: A mythical bird that never dies,the phoenix flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and distant space. Itrepresents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the

events unfolding within it. The phoenix, with its great beauty, creates intense excitement anddeathless inspiration. The phoenix was also used to mark the location where treasure was buried.

If a phoenix was used to decorate a house it symbolized the loyalty and honesty of the people thatlived there. Depictions of the phoenix were placed on tombs and graves. A common depiction was of thephoenix  shown with spread wings, often in the act of attacking snakes with its strong talons.

The right to wear jewellery depicting the phoenix was reserved for important people, a phoenix designshowed the wearer as a person of high moral values. T'ang dynasty gold phoenix hair ornaments lentthe wearer the protection and majesty of the bird.

It was believed that the phoenix's song controlled the five tones of Chinese music. The song includes

all five notes of the traditional Chinese musical scale; Western music theory labels the scale as thepentatonic scale consisting of five whole notes. In the time of Chou Muwang, Chou Dynasty, 1111-249 B.C., the phoenix of Mount Chhi sang as a happy portent.

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In Chinese mythology, the phoenix is represented by the Feng Huang which personifies the primordialforce of the heavens. It was thought to be a gentle creature, alighting so gently that it crushednothing, and ate only dewdrops. The Feng does not exist in nature, it is the mythical bird of fire andrepresents the Confucian virtues of loyalty, honesty, decorum and justice.

The Feng originated from fire being born in the "Hill of the Sun's Halo." Its plumage blends the five

fundamental colours: black, white, red, green, and yellow. The song of the bird is the harmony of thefive notes. Symbolizing the Five Cardinal Virtues: "Its colour delights the eye, its comb expressesrighteousness, its tongue utters sincerity, its voice chants melody, its ear enjoys music, its heartconforms to regulations, its breast contains the treasures of literature, and its spurs are powerfulagainst transgressors."

It's flight represents the capacity to leave the world and its problems behind, flying towards the sun inclear pure skies. It carries in its bill either two scrolls or a square box that contains sacred books. TheFeng appears only in peaceful and prosperous times, and hides itself when there is trouble. Therefore,the Feng is both a sign of peace and a symbol of disharmony.

The male phoenix is named "feng" and is the yang, solar, fire bird, but as the female "huang" it is

feminine, yin, and lunar. The feminine aspect denotes beauty, delicacy of feeling, and peace. TheFeng and the Huang together symbolize everlasting love, and as a bridal symbol signifies "inseparablefellowship." The Feng symbolizes a duality, the yin-yang, mutual interdependence in the universe.

The Feng Huang or Fung; the "vermilion bird," the "substance of the flame." This bird, has three legsand lives in the sun. The Feng is depicted as a bird of shining colours with the head and comb of apheasant and the feathers and tail of a peacock.

 Around 2,000 years ago the Feng came to represent the power sent from the heavens to the Empressand may be found paired with the dragon, in which case the dragon represents the Emperor andthe phoenixthe Empress. When portrayed with the dragon as a symbol of the Emperor,the phoenix becomes entirely feminine to symbolize the Empress, and together they represent bothaspects of imperial power. In ancient times, the Feng frequented the gardens and palaces of righteous

Emperors. Only the empress was allowed to wear its symbol, representing power, prosperity andpropriety.