A picture of an owl was used as a talisman, often on roofs, to keep away evil spirits. She painted a peacock on a screen and the first Tang Emperor Gaozu won her hand by shooting an arrow through both eyes of the peacock in the painting this led to the phrase “choose by hitting the screen of birds” which expresses the wish to catch an ideal partner. Ancient Romans consider them as a symbol of a happy death, while Celtics regard their songs as magical. They also symbolize happiness, especially if lotus flowers are depicted along with the ducks. Another name in Chinese is 猫头鹰 māo tóu yīng which transliterates as ‘cat headed eagle’ which is a pleasingly descriptive name. Ducks when portrayed in pictures or on porcelain denote a wish for happiness, especially when combined with a lotus. However calling a woman a hen is not a good idea as jī is a slang word for a prostitute. In Asia in particular the crane symbolizes immortality, and long-life. A swallow may also signify brotherly affection. It symbolizes loyalty as the ducks are said to mate for life and that when one dies its mate will pine away and also die. Here are some birds and their symbolism in Chinese art: The cockerel or rooster is an honored creature in China. This celestial raven is a messenger of the Queen mother of the West Xi Wangmu. In a painting it symbolizes a path or way as it sounds the same as 路 lù ‘way, method or path’. The Chinese zodiac is a repeating 12-year cycle. The phoenix and dragon are often paired, the dragon representing the Emperor and yang while the phoenix the Empress and yin. Like the qilin (a unicorn-like creature), the fenghuang is often considered to signify both male and female elements, a yin-yang harmony; Specific birds give hidden meanings in Chinese paintings, please refer to individual entries in this section for magpies, quails, swallows, cranes, ravens, eagles and many others. The same character 翡 fěi is used for a type of green jade and probably from this it is a metaphor for the more showy forms of female beauty. It is a sign of virtue, harmony, and prosperity, often seen in decorations for weddings and royal ceremonies. This is why magpies became a favorite decoration for the backs of mirrors. Like pine trees and stones, the crane symbolizes longevity as well as wisdom. The character ‘ying’ can mean any one of several raptors: falcons, hawks and eagles. A goose is a symbol of marital fidelity like the mandarin duck as it mates for life and often flies in pairs. Jian Birds are born with only one eye and one wing. The phoenix is traditionally associated with fire, and this is also the case with the Vermillion Bird. In Taiwan the rebel leader Zhu Yigui ➚ was called the ‘mother duck king’ because he was a duck breeder and on one occasion trained his ducks to march in step towards an enemy division. Care must be however be taken as the character for bird niao is also a commonly used expletiv ➚e! Also refers to when a person of great skill is given a menial job, A crane standing amidst a flock of chickens, Being conspicuously different (often superior). The Japanese also use the word fushichō for this image. It’s the first day the Lunar New Year. The Phoenix is the queen of all bird symbols in feng shui, and it is the one most revered. You find bad people everywhere, As rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Thanks. Feng was a male bird, while huang was a female. The emblem of the ancient Zhou dynasty was a red raven and the Manchu people fed ravens in the belief that they were the spirits of their ancestors. Young crows help their parents bring up the next brood. The 12 animals (in order) are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Bad people are all the same. Just in time for the celebration has been the news that China’s Mars explorer ➚ 天文 Tiān wén-1 (‘Astronomy-1’) has successfully entered orbit and will hope to send a lander to the surface in the summer. The name of phoenix, feng hunag, means “male bird, female bird”. One of the top symbols for good luck. This name i… It is lucky because it sounds the same as 吉 jí ‘auspicious, lucky’. It is also revered for taking tender care of its young. The bird and the serpent are Ruskin's major examples of these associations. The birds listed above are only some of the many important bird symbols in Chinese culture. 7. It is associated with yang, the sun and summer. In Chinese culture, the phoenix is the king of all birds. Like the crow, to hear the croak of a raven is generally unlucky but there are some times of day when it is in fact auspicious. The Chinese are incredibly skilled at assigning deeper meanings to various symbols to represent a condition or energy. The name of phoenix, feng hunag, means “male bird, female bird”. Sunday 4th April 2021 Bright and Clear Festival (Qīngmíng 清明). A jade scepter 玉杖 yù zhàng with a figure of a dove at one end was given to people who reached the age of seventy which is why the scepter was also known as the ‘dove staff’ 鸽杖 gē zhàng. These creatures together represent the Emperor and Empress. An old tradition for marriage gifts reinforces this, the bridegroom's family was given a gander and the bride's family a goose. The bird symbolizes friendship when depicted in pictures. The phoenix is often pictured with another important mythical Chinese creature, the Dragon. Cockerels were also trained to herd ducks in olden days. User with this ability either is or can transform into one of the Four Symbols which are four mythological creatures in the Chinese constellations, each one representing a direction and a season, and connected to certain elements. It is one of the twelve animals forming the Chinese zodiac. As a Chinese decorative motif, the apple blossom is considered a symbol of feminine beauty. Chinasage is a delveoping web resource dedicated to anything relating to China. The raven is a large, intelligent black bird. With this intriguing interpretation, Ruskin reintroduced a very wide-spread ancient belief. May 19, 2015 - Explore Maria Kresho's board "Chinese symbols", followed by 183 people on Pinterest. The bird is mentioned in the 1,000 character classic. The word for parrot can also mean a young girl. It is thus extremely auspicious to have the image of … A dragon's flight and a phoenix's dance - very powerful and invigorating. To use the English name ‘phoenix’ is rather misleading as there is little in common with the Egyptian mythical bird ➚. Everywhere in China the characters for Good Fortune 福 fú and the Ox 牛 niú will be seen during the next week to welcome in the Chinese New Year of the Ox on February 12th. There are a range of different pheasant species often with spectacularly colored plumage. Although Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries, the most popular version of this celebration is Chinese New Year. Multiplicity in flower-and-bird symbolism In contrast to the usually clear-cut flower symbol ism of Western culture, in Chinese tradition, the meaning of the flower­ and-bird symbolism is multi-layered. Storks tend to live in wetlands while cranes prefer drier areas. The seemingly vast difference between hō-ō and fenghuang is due to Chinese vowels with ng usually being converted to ō in Go-on reading. Chinese Name Phoenix - Chinese Characters and Chinese ... Chinese Name for Phoenix - Chinese Names and Characters translated from English names, personal Chinese chop, t-shirts, pendants and Chinese gifts - csymbol.com In Chinese, the word for Apple and Peace are similarly pronounced as “Ping.”The giving of the gift of apples, whether real or symbolic, is considered an offering of the idea of eternal peace and harmony and is comparable to the salutation “peace be with you”. The founding father of the Manchu dynasty is said to have been prevented from taking an unwise military action by a magpie landing on his head. The word for ‘deer’ in Chinese is lu, which sounds similar to another word that means good income and prosperity. In a picture a quail may symbolize peace as 安 ān sounds the same as ‘quail’. 2018 is the Year of the Dog, and 2017 was the Year of the Rooster. Interestingly, the Vermillion Bird has been considered to be identical to the phoenix. In China it has a positive connotation, a harbinger of joy and as such a magpie is used in paintings to wish someone joy as 喜 xǐ means ‘glad; joy; happiness’. Rather than being associated with young love as it is in the West the Chinese association of the dove is with long life and fidelity as doves pair for life. If the character is shown upside down, like fu (good fortune), it means happiness is arriving. From very early times courtyard homes had a small garden at its heart. Chinese luck can be found in all types of plants as well. There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says ‘it is better to be an honest crow than a deceitful magpie’. A figure of a crane was sometimes included in a funeral procession to represent the ascension of the soul to paradise which was carried by a crane. The Chinese phoenix is considered the representative of all feathered creatures. Plum 梅(méi) , Chinese traditional flower, is highly seen as strong, noble and humble. An important part of the new year is the Chinese Zodiac. Two grades of Qing dynasty officials had a pheasant decoration to indicate their rank. The oriole has a beautiful song and so is associated with joy. Though eagles are quite commonly seen, sighting them is associated with diverse things, such as achieving success and prosperity, doing an act of kindness and generosity, or being contemplative and enlightened. This makes the Phoenix the perfect Yin counterpart to … They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise(also called "Bla… The feathers have been used to create colorful artwork collages. See more ideas about chinese symbols, symbols, chinese tattoo. Tianjin University staff and students have programmed a robot to paint the character for good fortune based just on the eye movements of the operators. birds, animals, flowers, fruit, nature and miscellaneous, Book : Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs:…, Book : Massacres of Christians by heathen…, Book : The Collision of Two Civilizations:…, Chinese Charms -- Hidden Meaning of Symbols. It is a word you have to be careful with in China as it is also a slang term for a homosexual. They are a popular motif on wedding gifts. This bird is also extremely docile and signifies high moral standards. Some say that the bird at the center of the sun is a three-legged cockerel rather than a raven. The phoenix alone is a symbol of joy and peace, it heralds the coming of auspicious days just like the qilin. Mandarin Ducks are said mate for life, so they represent long term love and marriage. In Chinese culture, the Phoenix bird is the symbol of the Empress and represents beauty, peace and happiness. The Phoenix became the symbol of the Empress. Thus, Chinese associates this Chinese flower as a lucky symbol of spring festival. Often, its appearances herald the beginnings of large fires, so they are not a lucky symbol to have in your home. It’s said that you are unlucky during your animal year, but there are things you can do to increase your luck. If shown with a lotus then this adds the sentiment of progression as 莲 lián ‘lotus’ sounds the same as 连 lián ‘successive’ giving the phrase: 路莲升 lù lián shēng ‘May you follow a path of continuing promotion’. Another association is with the hard study of a scholar. The handsome male peacock struts around showing off its amazing ‘eyed’ tail feathers to a passing peahen. Roosters are the only birds included that also feature in the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. The Chinese name of the crow comes from its raucous call, which was considered an ill omen, particularly if heard when a deal was being negotiated. Marco Polo, with his customary exaggeration, describes an excursion of Emperor Kubai Khan took 70,000 attendants with eagles large enough to take away wolves. The And so the dragon and phoenix together represent a married couple. They are believed to mate for life and so signify marital loyalty. We have one bird in the Chinese Zodiac: the Rooster (last year’s animal). The phoenix and Chinese culture “In the earliest times, feng huang referred not to one bird, but two. So peacocks in decoration can represent the wish to become an official. In mythology, the ‘boy of the white crane’ is a messenger of the gods who helps heroes. A crane is often portrayed with a tortoise (longevity) or a deer (longevity and riches) and a stork often accompanies the Queen Mother of the West. For A Happy Marriage, fidelity. It is one of the twelve Imperial insignia and sometimes also like the phoenix represents the Empress. Out of reverence, the cockerel in contrast to hens, was not killed for meat. The Crane is also the Chinese symbol for wisdom and is often called the blessed-crane or heavenly crane. Tips on how to use bird symbols in your home and work. We've been through and revised all the information on the main symbols used in Chinese artwork. They are seen as fierce, wise, courageous, benevolent and loyal. Your can also use our contact page to leave comments and suggestions. • 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 hō-ō, with a second extraneous h added. Butterfly - joy and conjugal felicity. It is considered lucky if a magpie builds its nest near your home. Cock fighting ➚ was once a very common sight in China as elsewhere in the world. One legend is that young owls only left the nest after pecking out the eyes of their mothers. If you like this topic, let me know and I can highlight some more of them. Therefore, learning about these Chinese symbols is a great way to learn about the culture a little bit more. With plums 梅 méiit gives the message 喜上眉梢 xǐ shàng méi shāo ‘may happiness fill you to the top of your eyebrows’. The symbolism of flowers and fruit in Chinese art 花 朵 huā duǒ Plate 87. The cock's comb 冠 guān uses the same character as for the hat of an official and and so symbolizes a wish for an appointment as an official. They represent longevity, wisdom, purity, and peace. Feel free to share your interest on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr or Mix using the buttons. Less seriously some students have been turning robots into service to help celebrate the Spring Festival. Chinese Symbol For Longevity. There are over 170 entries divided between birds, animals, flowers, fruit, nature and miscellaneous. A pair of magpies symbolize marital bliss (double happiness). An association with young female beauty makes it also crop up in descriptions of prostitutes and brothels. In Chinese folklore, the mythical phoenix is attributed with the qualities of beauty, inspiration, and genuine grace (feminine yin qualities). As the bird is the symbol of the spirit of life, the serpent is the symbol of the sting of death. Known as the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year occurs on the second new Moon after the Winter Solstice. The eagle is not widely seen in Chinese art, it is sometimes used to symbolize strength. Animal Emoji Animal Type Unicode Hex HTML Dec Code Ox: U+1F402 🐂 Water Buffalo: U+1F403 🐃 Cow: U+1F404 🐄 Pig Face: U+1F437 🐷 Though we have different words for them in English, eagles, falcons, and hawks are all seen as the same general type of bird in Asian languages. This may be linked to their amazing nest building skills, they can quickly repair and build a structure just out of mud. A picture of a cock crowing (公鸡鸣 gōng jī míng) symbolizes achievement. With peony and plum blossom it expresses a wish for joy to arrive in Spring. Traditionally there were said to be four types of crane: white, black, white and blue. The Rooster is a lucky bird because it sound similar to the Chinese word for lucky, or jí. Cranes also signify authority, so cranes were embroidered onto the robes of Imperial officials. ‘Guan’ sounds the same as 官 guān ‘official’ and 冠 guān ‘hat, first place’ so can symbolize the wish for job promotion. As animals, we admire their faith and loyalty as many birds form tight loving bonds and many mate for life. Bird Symbols: Eagle: Eagle symbolizes independence, freedom, endurance, courage, determination, control, authority, focus, skill, mental acuity and also opportunism. This article will discuss some Chinese symbols for longevity: bamboo, cicada bugs, the heron bird, and the gourd and peach plants. The Chinese phoenix is known as the Fenghuang. Another legend features a hand mirror broken in two so husband and wife could each take one part, if either party was unfaithful then the mirror turned into a magpie and flew back to the aggrieved partner. It is fabled that when a crane reaches 600 years old it no longer needs to eat. Birds and Insects. These birds are very common on wedding gifts and cards. In the Ming and Qing dynasties the seniority of officials could be judged by the number of peacock feathers he wore in his hat.