i 4 4 BIRDS IN LEGEND 



further facts as to the place the bird holds in the religious 

 and artistic thought of the Orient. In China, for ex- 

 ample, in the time of the Tang dynasty (8th century, 

 A. D.), "many thousand districts," according to the 

 chronicles, "paid tribute in peacocks, because their 

 feathers were required by the state, not only as decora- 

 tions for the imperial processions, but for the designa- 

 tion of official rank; for the peacock feather was be- 

 stowed upon officials, both military and civil, as a reward 

 for faithful service." Such feathers differed according 

 to the honor to be dispensed, hence there are the "flower" 

 feather, the "green" feather, and the "one-eyed," "two- 

 eyed" and "three-eyed," all of which were greatly 

 treasured and worn on special occasions. This use of the 

 feather is accounted for by Mrs. Ball in this way: "In 

 the Chin dynasty a defeated general took refuge in a 

 forest where there were many peacocks. When the pur- 

 suing forces arrived, and found the fowl so quiet and 

 undisturbed, they concluded that no one could possibly 

 have come that way, and forthwith abandoned the search. 

 The general — who later became known as the ancestor of 

 five kings — was thus able to escape, and so grateful was 

 he that later when he came into power he instituted the 

 custom of conferring a peacock feather as an honor for 

 the achievement of bravery in battle." This incident re- 

 minds us of the escape of Yoritomo of Japan, and of the 

 Tartar general who avoided capture under the protection 

 of a quiet owl, as related elsewhere. 



The Japanese are fond of the peacock as a motive in 

 their exquisite art, and frequently combine it with the 

 peony, as do the Chinese, who consider that. the only 

 flower worthy of such association. Another subject fre- 

 quently seen illustrated is a representation of the Buddhist 



