Chinese | PHOENIX BOWL | Blue & White Feng-Huang fashion Medaillons, late Qing / Early Republic Porcelain
FREE DELIVERY - This listing is for one (1) Chinese rice bowl. Available are up to four (4) bowls (15% discount applicable when you purchase multiple items).
A blue and white Chinese rice bowl, of conical shape, decorated with four distinctively rounded panels of hand painted 'fenghuangs' - Chinese phoenixes. Well potted with rounded sides rising from a straight foot to an everted rim. Blue glaze to the exterior with four evenly distributed roundels formed by feathery phoenixes with spreading wings and curling tails. For ceremonial use (weddings and the like).
In Asian mythology the Fenghuang bird symbolizes the union of male and female, and represents the six celestial bodies. It is a sign of virtue, harmony, and prosperity, often seen in decorations for weddings and royal ceremonies. The unglazed foot ring reveals the buffware. Unmarked. EXCELLENT CONDITION: besides one small chip (inner rim; pictured) no other damage or repair. One other bowl shows a discolored spot due to ordinary production mishap (pictured).
DIMENSIONS:
Height: 2.87" / 7,3 cm
Diameter: 5.31" / 13.5 cm
FENG-HUANG
Chinese phoenix - Feng-Huang - represents the Empress, beauty, goodness, warmth, prosperity, peace, the Sun, abundance harvests, reason in government. It is commonly used as a female symbol. Rules over the Southern Quadrant*. Also called Vermilion Bird.
(*Phoenix is a minor constellation in the southern sky; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_(constellation))
The Fenghuang is a mythological bird in Chinese culture which represents the six celestial bodies. It is often called the Chinese Phoenix, but has only superficial similarities with the Phoenix of Greek mythology.
Fenghuang and Phoenix
In Chinese mythology the Fenghuang bird symbolizes the union of male and female, and represents the six celestial bodies. It is a sign of virtue, harmony, and prosperity, often seen in decorations for weddings and royal ceremonies.
The Fenghuang is often called the Chinese Phoenix, which makes it seem like a Chinese version of the Phoenix of Greek mythology, a bird which would repeatedly die in a burst of flames and then be reborn from the ashes, representing rebirth. This name is misleading, as the Fenghuang and Phoenix only share some surface-level similarities. However, some modern Chinese and Japanese artists, such as manga writer Osamu Tezuka, have combined the two birds in their art.
Origins and Appearance
Images of the Fenghuang go back at least 8000 years in Chinese art. Originally fashion, the bird was represented as two figures. The feng was a male bird and the huang was a female. Later, the male and female birds were merged into one, creating the Fenghuang that we know today. The modern Fenghuang is often depicted as a composite of many birds. It has the head of a pheasant, the body of a duck, the tail of a peacock, the legs of a crane, the beak of a parrot, and the wings of a swallow.
Meaning
The Fenghuang carries many different meanings in Chinese culture. As a union of male and female birds, it is often used to symbolize the yin and yang, a core of Chinese philosophy, which represents balance and harmony in the universe. In addition, despite being a combination of male and female, the Fenghuang is usually considered to be female and is often paired with the dragon, which is male. In Imperial periods of Chinese history, the dragon represented the emperor and the Fenghuang represented the empress.
The Fenghuang also represents virtue and grace. Some stories say that it only appears in time of peace and prosperity, and goes into hiding during times of trouble. For this reason, it is often used for celebratory occasions such as weddings and royal ceremonies. Finally, the Fenghuang's body, made up of different birds, is said to represent the six celestial bodies. Her head is the sky, her eyes are the sun, her back is the moon; her wings are the wind; her feet are the earth and her tail are the planets.
LOGISTIC DETAILS:
I gladly ship worldwide and combine shipping. Shipping costs are only charged once, as you will see at checkout.
The condition is as I have described, this I guarantee, see my returns policy. I pack all items with great care using bubble wrap, polystyrene chips and suitably sized boxes. I send items as soon as possible after payment, normally within 24-48 hours. Insured shipping by PostNL registered delivery.