Phoenixes embody the feminine (yin) energy, often shown with the masculine (yang) dragon.
The phoenix symbolizes the key Confucian values. They were a popular motif on Chinese domestic ceramics, and on ceramic exports to East and Southeast Asia, but much less common on exports to the non-Confucian Middle East and Europe.
The Chinese phoenix or fenghuang was depicted as a composite mythical creature made up of various body parts from different birds and animals. Here are the common body parts attributed to the fenghuang:
Head:
- Head of a golden pheasant
- Face of a swallow
- Forehead of a fowl/rooster
Beak/Mouth:
- Beak of a rooster
- Beak of a parrot
Body:
- Body of a mandarin duck
- Breast of a goose
Wings:
- Wings of a swallow
- Wings of a roc (mythical bird)
Tail:
- Tail of a peacock
- Tail of a fish
Legs:
- Legs of a crane
- Hindquarters of a stag/deer
Other Parts:
- Neck of a snake
- Back of a tortoise
- Down/feathers of a duck
So in essence, the fenghuang combined the most striking and vibrant features from various birds like pheasants, ducks, peacocks, and cranes, along with some reptilian and mammalian elements.