凰 | ホウオウ | Phoenix | Patterns #24

The phoenix is a bird which is said to be auspicious. According to legend the phoenix is a fantastic flying bird which dies in a ring of fire, burning to a crisp into ashes. This legendary bird is then said to rise from the ashes and is reborn in a cyclic nature, having a long life in the Western tradition, in China the Phoenix simply descends from the heavens.[2] The legend in Japanese folklore see this as a great sign that a ruler will be reborn in a time of great prosperity. This will bring an era of peace, where the Ho-O will do good deeds and return to the stars when it is done.

Lady, Phoenix and Dragon (700 BCE, PD) Hunan Museum

Also a reminder that my highschool drawing style was high art based on the traditional classics, not just my inability to draw hands, feet and proportions correctly

Historically the image originates around China in 6000 BCE, and were used as a form of totemism. Most depictions were made in Jade as burial objects for their owners to use in the after life. During the Han dynasty, they became symbols of the Imperial crown.[1] It was believed the phoenix was female, and the dragon male for some reason.[2] Entering the reportoire of Japanese design in the Nara period. Later editions included Ho-Oh from the Pokemon franchise.[1] Most modern kimono feature designs which are detailed and expensive for Kakemono. These patterns are often good luck for marriage and feature extensive tails to represent this.

Bibliography

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenghuang

[2] https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/ho-oo-phoenix.shtml

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