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A phoenix and two cranes under a tree
From the collection of National Museum of Asian Art (Freer/Sackler). Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Known since the Song dynasty (960-1279) as the "king of birds," the phoenix symbolizes the emperor's power and prestige. Here, the regal phoenix towers over the other birds, who seem loath to gaze directly at it. The phoenix is often portrayed flanked by attendant birds-a role played here by two cranes. Moreover, a number of objects are exclusively associated with this mythical bird, among them the paulownia (wu tong) tree, whose branches it is believed are the only ones upon which a phoenix is willing to perch.
National Museum of Asian Art (Freer/Sackler)’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineA phoenix and two cranes under a tree. 16th-17th century. National Museum of Asian Art (Freer/Sackler), Gift of Charles Lang Freer. CC0.
