The Phoenix:
The Phoenix represents beauty, love, peace and prosperity. It can also
represent Transformation. The Phoenix is one of 4 ‘celestial’ animals
representing the four cardinal compass points. Its direction is South.
The other three ‘celestial’ animals are the Dragon, the Tiger,
and the Tortoise. Each of these animals holds a special place in Chinese
myth and culture and their use in Feng Shui is quite common.
The chinese phoenix is called the fenghuang. It
has very positive connotations. It is a symbol of high virtue and grace.
The fenghuang also symbolizes the union of yin and yang. It appears
in peaceful and prosperous times but hides when trouble is near.
In ancient China, they can often be found in the decorations for weddings
or royalty, along with dragons. This is because the Chinese considered
the dragon
and phoenix symbolic of blissful relations between husband and wife, another
common yin and yang metaphor.
"Many civilizations spin the take of a mythological 'fire
bird' that burns itself in the flames - then is reborn from the ashes
beginning a new cycle of time and is associated with the sun. The Phoenix
is a female mythological bird symbolizing immortality, resurrection and life
after death."
The dragon:
The Dragon, or Leung, in Chinese, represents nobility, creativity,and
strength. It is the Yang within Yang symbol, the strongest of the I
Ching hexagrams, the symbol of the Emperor, and often seen as a symbol
of China itself. Unlike their Western cousins, Chinese Dragons have
a pretty good reputation. In Feng Shui the Dragon is a ‘celestial’ animal
and its direction is East.
The Chinese
dragon is a mythical creature. It is also
sometimes translated as "Oriental Dragon" because it also
appears in other East Asian cultures. Usually depicted as a long, snake-like
creature with numerous claws, it has long been a potent symbol of auspicious
power in Chinese folklore and art. It is also the embodiment of the
concept of yang and associated with the weather as the bringer of rain
and water in general.
"There are nine major types of Chinese
dragons. These include
the horned dragon, the winged dragon, the celestial dragon (which supports
and protects the mansions of the gods), the spiritual dragon which
generates wind and rain for the benefit of mankind), the dragon of
hidden treasures (which keeps guard over concealed wealth), the coiling
dragon (which lives in water), and the yellow dragon (which once emerged
from water and presented the legendary Emperor Fu Shi with the elements
of writing)."
Ways to see the dragon:
- Gnostics: "The way through all things."
- Alchemy: "A
winged dragon - the volatile elements; without wings - the fixed elements."
- Chinese: "The spirit of the way"'
bringing eternal change.
- Guardian of the 'Flaming Pearl" symbol
of spiritual perfection and powerful amulet of luck.
