Why do dragons and phoenixes cooperate and appear accordingly?
A "dragon and phoenix pattern" painted pottery flask was unearthed from Yangshao cultural site in Beishouling, Baoji, Shaanxi. This precious cultural relic shows that both dragons and phoenixes originated in the Neolithic Age 7000-8000 years ago, and they were synchronous.
As a long and rich cultural phenomenon, both dragons and phoenixes are the marks, emblems, signs and symbols of the Chinese nation. If the traditional cultural symbols of the Chinese nation are ranked according to their functions and effects, the dragon will undoubtedly occupy the first place, and then the second place is the Phoenix.
Dragon is a kind of deity produced by the ancient people's vague collection of fish, crocodiles, snakes, pigs, horses, cows and other natural phenomena such as clouds, thunder and lightning, rainbows and so on. Reptiles and mammals are the main collection objects of dragons. Therefore, the dragon is often called "the head of scales" and "the king of beasts".
Phoenix is a kind of god produced by the ancient people's fuzzy collection of many kinds of birds and some stray animals. Birds with wings are the main gathering objects of Phoenix, so Phoenix has ascended the throne of "the leader of feather family" and is known as "the king of birds".
The dragon has the divinity of loving water, flying, flying, fickle, supernatural, auspicious, ominous and demonstrative.
Phoenix has such gods as love of fire, sunshine, virtue, auspiciousness, loftiness, Shang Jie, beauty and metaphor.
The complementarity and correspondence of divinity combine dragons and phoenixes: one is the king of beasts and the other is the king of birds; Change into the sky, change into magic, change into elegance, change into beauty, change into auspiciousness; A beautiful relationship of mutual assistance and cooperation has been established between them.
Bronze Dragon and Phoenix —— The saying that "the phoenix is on the top and the dragon is on the bottom"
The arrangement of dragon and phoenix translocation in front of Renshou Temple is the best embodiment of Cixi's view. A pair of bronze dragons and phoenixes are displayed on both sides of Renshou Hall. Dragon and phoenix are auspicious with an empty stomach. When Cixi and Guangxu were handling state affairs in the main hall, sandalwood burned in the belly of the dragon and phoenix, and rich cigarettes could overflow from Longkou and Fengzui, creating a mysterious atmosphere. Since Gu Long symbolizes the emperor, he sits in the world and is in the middle; Phoenix means queen, take care of the harem and stand aside. However, since Empress Dowager Cixi usurped the Qing regime, in order to show her supreme position and power over the emperor, she broke the traditional way of placing dragons and phoenixes.