108 



CHINESE POETRY AND ITS CONNOTATIONS 



dise, there to "pick the fairy grasses" and to partake of the 

 various growing things which ensure longevity. As far as the 

 "connotations" of Chinese poetry are concerned, however, 

 more important than either of these creatures are the birds; 

 firstly, the Feng Huang M, HH, which as the symbol of the 

 Empress is associated with the Dragon symbol of the Em- 

 peror. Someone, probably in desperation once translated the 

 "Feng" as "Phoenix" and this name has been used ever 

 since; it seems, however quite wrong — to students of western 

 literature the word "phoenix" suggests a bird which, being 

 consumed by fire, rises from its ashes. The Feng has no 

 such power, the description of this lovely creature reads: — 



The Chinese "Feng Huang" or Phoenix, is probably based on the 

 Argus pheasant. It is described as adorned with every colour, and 

 combines in its form and motions whatever is elegant and graceful, 

 while it possesses such a benevolent disposition that it will not peck or 

 injure living insects, nor tread on growing herbs. Like the kylin it has 

 not been seen since the halcyon days of Confucius, and from the account 

 given of it seems to have been entirely fabulous. The etymology of 

 the characters implies that it is the emperor of all birds. One Chinese 

 author describes it as "resembling a wild swan before and a unicorn 

 behind ; it has the throat of a swallow, the bill of a cock, the neck of a 

 snake, the tail of a fish, the forehead of a crane, the crown of a 

 mandarin drake, the stripes of a dragon, and the vaulted back of a 

 tortoise. The feathers have five colours, which are named after the- 

 five cardinal virtues and it is five cubits in height ; the tail is graduated 

 like Pandean pipes and its song resembles the music of the instrument^ 

 having five modulations." 



THE KH-J.3N AND >?(;#«>MWAj*«0' 



;&:? 



disposition toward <tfbi>r Hvittg amwab, and appear* only when: 

 wise and jnst kings, like V»« and Bt«««, *>r sage* like Ct>rtCn«*u*» 

 are born, to govern and teach mankind.' TW Chines*- descrip- 

 tion presents many roscniblanee* to the popular notices of the; 

 unicorn, and the independent origin of their account adds* *onto- 

 thing to the probability that a single-horned equine or c£*r*itre; 

 animal haa once existed." 



Cnvier expresses the opinion dial Pliny's description of fjie 





mm 



Hlv 



*^®M& 



■«4W 



*mM 



Arabian p|u*njj£ was -derived from t)ie golden pheasant, thongj^ 

 V.tLe» think the Egyptian plover is the original type. From hi**; 

 likening it xo an eagle for him, having a yeilownt^k witivpnrphvl 

 ablae tail varied with red feathers, and arieWyfeatheralt«ffW| 

 ■head, i%te more nrobable thaitho Impevan pheasant was Bin* '"" 



Feng Huang. 



