fenghuang (redirected from Houou)

fenghuang

 or feng-huang

In Chinese mythology, an immortal bird whose auspicious rare appearances portend world harmony, particularly upon the ascent to the throne of a new ruler. Considered to embody both male and female elements, the fenghuang in later descriptions is often considered the female counterpart of the male dragon and, as such, symbolizes the female portion of the yin-yang principle, notably with respect to marital harmony. Legend tells of its appearance before the death of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) in the 3rd millennium BC.