Dragon: King of the Scaled
Legend has it that Fu Xi and Nüwa had dragon bodies and human heads, they were referred to as dragon ancestors.
As these tales have been passed down from generation to generation, dragons have become the culmination of our ancestor’s wisdom and ideals, the embodiment of how Chinese people are determined to pursue beauty.
Phoenix: King of the Birds
As recorded in Shuowen Dictionary, the Phoenix is a bird of the gods.
Ancient people thought that during times of peace, phoenixes would appear.
Its appearance is the result of how ancient people understood, respected, feared, loved, and judged the aesthetic of all creatures in the natural world.
Coiling Dragon, Soaring Phoenix
The dragon and phoenix permeate the East with their unique essence, an element found exclusively in Chinese culture.
The dragon and phoenix also form various images throughout the eras.
In the Spring & Autumn and Warring States Period, they were simple yet elegant. In the Qin and Han Dynasties, they were bold and lively. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, they were strong and robust. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, they were complex and ornate.
Witness the beauty of China as time passes.
