PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Birds in Chinese mythology and legend are of numerous types and very important in this regard. Some of them are obviously based on real birds, other ones obviously not, and some in-between. The crane is an example of a real type of bird with mythological enhancements. Cranes are linked with immortality, and may be transformed xian immortals, or ferry an immortal upon their back. The Vermilion Bird is iconic of the south. Sometimes confused with the Fenghuang, the Vermilion Bird of the south is associated with fire. The Peng was a gigantic bird phase of the gigantic Kun fish. The Jingwei is a mythical bird which tries to fill up the ocean with twigs and pebbles symbolizing indefatigable determination. The Qingniao was the messenger or servant of Xi Wangmu.

Names and translation

Written and spoken Chinese varieties have different character graphs and sounds representing mythological and legendary birds of China.

Bronze script version of the *niǎo* character (鳥)

The character *zhuī* (隹), in Large seal script

The Chinese characters or graphs used have varied over time calligraphically or typologically. Historically main generic characters for bird are niǎo (old school, traditional character = 鳥 / simplified character, based on cursive form = 鸟) and the other main "bird" word / character graph zhuī (隹). Many specific characters are based on these two radicals; in other words, incorporating one or the other radical as constituent to a more complex character graph, for example in the case of the Peng bird (traditional character graph = 鵬 / simplified = 鹏): in both cases, a version of the niǎo character is radicalized on the right.

Modern pronunciations vary and the ancient ones are not fully recoverable. Sometimes the Chinese terms for mythological or legendary birds include a generic term for "bird" appended to the pronounced name for "bird"; an example would be the Zhenniao, which is also known just as Zhen: the combination of Zhen plus niao means "Zhen bird"; thus, "Zhenniao" is the same as "Zhen bird", or just "Zhen".

Translation into English language of Chinese terms for legendary and mythological birds is difficult, especially considering that even in Chinese there is a certain amount of obscurity. In some cases, the classical Chinese term is obviously a descriptive term. In other cases, the classical Chinese term is clearly based on the alleged sound of said bird; that is, what is known as onomatopoeia. However, often, it's not so simple.^[1]

Auspicious birds

Very auspicious birds include the Feng, the Fenghuang, and the Luan.^[2]

Symbolically representative birds

Some birds in Chinese legend and mythology symbolize or represent various concepts of a more-or-less abstract nature.

The Vermilion Bird of the South symbolically represents the cardinal direction south. It is red and associated with the wu xing "element" fire.

The Jingwei bird represents determination and persistence, even in the face of seemingly over-whelming odds.

Some birds may function as totems or representative symbols of clans or other social groups.

Associated birds

Some birds are associated with other mythological content.

A three-legged bird or birds are a solar motif. Sometimes depicted as a Three-legged crow.

The Qingniao is associated with the Queen Mother of the West, bearing her messages or bringing her food.^[3]^[4]

Some birds feature as part of visions of the mythological geography of China. According to the Shanhaijing and its commentaries, the Bifang can be found on Mount Zhang'e and/or east of the Feathered People (Youmin) and west of the Blue River.^[5]

The Black-naped Oriole, represents "joy, music and a happy marriage".^[6]

Transportation

Certain birds in mythology transport deities, immortals, or others. One example is the Crane in Chinese mythology.

Various birds

Other birds include the Bi Fang bird, a one-legged bird.^[7] Bi is also number nineteen of the Twenty-Eight Mansions of traditional Chinese astronomy, the Net (Bi). There are supposed to be the Jiān (鶼; jian¹): the mythical one-eyed bird with one wing; Jianjian (鶼鶼): a pair of such birds dependent on each other, inseparable, hence representing husband and wife. There was a Shang-Yang rainbird. The Jiufeng is a nine-headed bird used to scare children. The Sù Shuāng (鷫鷞; su⁴shuang³) sometimes appears as a goose-like bird. The Zhen is a poisonous bird. There may be a Jiguang (吉光; jíguāng).

Real birds

The line between fantastic, mythological, or legendary birds and actually real exotic birds is sometimes blurred. Sometimes, the student of the real versus the unreal becomes challenged.

Sources

Various sources for information on Chinese legends and mythology about bird. This includes the Shanhaijing.^[8] Also, "Questions to Heaven".^[9]^[10]

References

^ Strassberg 2002, pp. xvii–xviii.
^ Strassberg 2002, p. 102, sub XI:49.
^ Yang & An 2005, p. 219.
^ Christie 1968, p. 78.
^ Strassberg 2002, pp. 110 & 163.
^ Chadd, Rachel Warren; Taylor, Marianne (2016-08-25). Birds: Myth, Lore and Legend. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4729-2288-5.
^ Strassberg 2002, pp. 110–111.
^ Strassberg 2002, passim.
^ Strassberg 2002, p. 11.
^ Yang & An 2005, pp. 8–10.

Sources

Christie, Anthony (1968). Chinese Mythology. Feltham: Hamlyn Publishing. ISBN 0600006379.
Ferguson, John C. (1928). "China". Mythology of All Races. Vol. VIII. Archaeological Institute of America.
Hawkes, David, translator and introduction (2011 [1985]). Qu Yuan et al., The Songs of the South: An Ancient Chinese Anthology of Poems by Qu Yuan and Other Poets. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-044375-2
Schafer, Edward H. (1963) The Golden Peaches of Samarkand. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Strassberg, Richard E. (2002). A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the GUIDEWAYS THROUGH MOUNTAINS AND SEAS. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-29851-4.
Wu, K. C. (1982). The Chinese Heritage. New York: Crown Publishers. ISBN 0-517-54475X.
Yang, Lihui; An, Deming (2005). Handbook of Chinese Mythology. with Jessica Anderson Turner. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-533263-6.

[FOOTNOTEStrassberg2002xvii–xviii-1] Strassberg 2002, pp. xvii–xviii.

[FOOTNOTEStrassberg2002102''sub''_XI:49-2] Strassberg 2002, p. 102, sub XI:49.

[FOOTNOTEYangAn2005219-3] Yang & An 2005, p. 219.

[FOOTNOTEChristie196878-4] Christie 1968, p. 78.

[FOOTNOTEStrassberg2002110_&_163-5] Strassberg 2002, pp. 110 & 163.

[6] Chadd, Rachel Warren; Taylor, Marianne (2016-08-25). Birds: Myth, Lore and Legend. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4729-2288-5.

[FOOTNOTEStrassberg2002110–111-7] Strassberg 2002, pp. 110–111.

[FOOTNOTEStrassberg2002''passim''-8] Strassberg 2002, passim.

[FOOTNOTEStrassberg200211-9] Strassberg 2002, p. 11.

[FOOTNOTEYangAn20058–10-10] Yang & An 2005, pp. 8–10.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Birds in Chinese mythology

Names and translation

Auspicious birds

Symbolically representative birds

Associated birds

Transportation

Various birds

Real birds

Sources

See also

Main article

Relevant categories

References

Sources

Read other articles:

بلدة فاسار (ميشيغان)

Carottage

Giles Gilbert House

العلاقات الإسبانية السيشلية

Treaty of Berlin (1889)

Camellia (genus)

Gesher, Israel

Russi

The Greens (Netherlands)

Persekam Metro FC

Slush Puppie

Abel Lafleur

2015 Uttlesford District Council election

土库曼斯坦总统

Alexei Stakhanov

تاريخ الجمهورية التركية

Mark Binskin

David Miliband

Indigo dye

Ghidra

Birds in Chinese mythology

Names and translation

Auspicious birds

Symbolically representative birds

Associated birds

Transportation

Various birds

Real birds

Sources

See also

Main article

Relevant categories

Related

References

Sources

Read other articles: