Birds in Chinese mythology



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.

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.

Auspicious birds
Very auspicious birds include the Feng, the Fenghuang, and the Luan.

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.

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.

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. 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.

Main article

 * Chinese mythology

Relevant categories

 * Category:Mythological and legendary Chinese birds
 * Category:Legendary birds
 * Category:Birds in mythology

Related

 * Geese in Chinese poetry