The Southern Palace (朱雀) and Vermillion Bird (Zhuque)
The character for que, 雀, is the character for “sparrow.” It is made of the character for “small” over the character for “bird.” It is often translated as “phoenix,” although it is important to remember that the phoenix is a Western symbol. The Fenghuang, or Chinese rooster, is also translated as “phoenix,” and there is some confusion about the difference between the Fenghuang and the Zhuque.
The color of the Zhuque is cinnabar. Cinnabar is a naturally occurring substance from which mercury can be extracted. Mercury is viewed as being the Yin principle contained within the Yang and and when added with sulfur and made into an elixir, it supposedly embodies the pure qualities of the creative Yang force that existed before the Universe.
Birds in the Shang and Zhou dynasties were often seen guarding tombs. Red birds, in particular, were associated with good omens and were seen as auspicious symbols for the empire. Just as in the case of the Gui constellation, birds were associated with the flight to the afterlife and the journey to immortality (which was one of the uses of cinnabar alchemy).
Once again, this bird serves as a symbol of the heart and the fire element being linked to the awareness which takes one to a higher awareness.
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