Differences of Phoenix Images between China and Foreign Countries
1) The English word phoenix comes from Greek, which means red, and red is the color of fire. Because of the deep relationship between phoenix and fire, phoenix is often called fire phoenix. In Greek mythology, the phoenix is described as a heron. This is a divine bird that lives in the Arabian desert. It is as big as an eagle, with golden and red feathers, and it is very gorgeous. The ancient Egyptians described the phoenix as big as an eagle, with golden feathers, shining wings, bright colors and pleasant songs. In western classical literature, it is more like a peacock or an eagle. Herodotus, the Greek historian, was the first person in the West to describe the Phoenix in detail. He said: "I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I have seen it in the painting. Its feathers are partly golden yellow and partly bright red. It looks like a giant eagle and has a beautiful voice.
2) Phoenix is a legendary bird in ancient China, the king of birds, and an imaginative animal with many animal characteristics. Phoenix is a symbol of good fortune, eternal life, love, autocratic imperial power and national culture. Phoenix worship originated from bird worship, and its appearance, name, feminization and cultural meaning have gone through a long evolution process. China's worship of Phoenix is spiritual worship rather than totem worship. According to Er Ya Shi Bird, the phoenix in China is "the head of a chicken, the neck of a snake, the chin of a swallow, the back of a turtle, the tail of a fish, five colors and six feet high". After in-depth research, Liu Chenghuai believes that "Phoenix is mainly pheasant, which combines the typical images of many birds such as eagle."