| Vermilion Bird | |
|---|---|
 | |
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Other Names |
Suzaku, Jujak, Chu Tước, Nán Fāng Zhū Què |
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First Appearance |
Chinese Mythology |
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Created by |
Chinese Mythology |
Origin[]
The Vermilion Bird is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. According to Wu Xing, the Taoist five elemental system, it represents the Fire element, the direction south, and the season summer correspondingly. Thus it is sometimes called the Vermilion Bird of the South or the Nán Fāng Zhū Què in Chinese.
It is described as a red bird that resembles a pheasant with a five-colored plumage and is perpetually covered in flames. It is known as Suzaku in Japanese, Jujak in Korean and Chu Tước in Vietnamese.
It is often mistaken for the Fenghuang due to similarities in appearance, but the two are different creatures. The Fenghuang is a legendary ruler of birds who is associated with the Chinese Empress in the same way the dragon is associated with the Emperor, while the Vermilion Bird is a mythological spirit creature of the Chinese constellations.
Notes[]
- In the anime YuYu Hakusho, there is group of villains called the Saint Beasts who attempted to cause havoc in the Human World. Each member is based on one of the Four Symbols including Suzaku who was based on the Vermilion Bird.