Images of the Phoenix have appeared in China for 7000 years and many speculate that the image represents a prehistoric bird, a variety of the ostrich. There is no connection with the Phoenix of western mythology. Over the course of time there have been variations in the image.
In some Asian literature the Phoenix has been described with the beak of a cock, the face of a swallow, the breast of a goose, the hindquarter of a stag and the tail of a fish...all of these elements can be seen in this carving. She rules the bird kingdom, is considered a token of good fortune and symbolizes loyalty and honesty. She is also associated with the Empress as the Dragon is with the Emperor.
According to Wikipedia the earliest records of the Qilin date to the 5thc BC. The image of the "lord of all mammals" has also evolved over time.
In the Ming dynasty he is seen with the head of a dragon with horns and the mane of a lion...his body is covered with the scales of a fish.....the scales are depicted in this carving with a fine crosshatch pattern with lines less than 1mm apart. The Qilin is also known for his wisdom and longevity.
For me the Phoenix and Qilin, on equal and opposite sides of the stone also represent the balance of the forces of yin and yang in the universe.
This also suggests that the pendant may have been created as a wedding gift.
I purchased this from a knowledgeable and experienced dealer who stated that it was 19thc. He added that in that period the newly discovered Burma jade...this bright green color...was reserved for the use of the royal family....
Personally, the history is interesting, but it has nothing to do with why I bought this...in this case the art, the workmanship are so compelling that I can just look at it for hours. It talks about all human wishes and dreams...but it also speaks about a culture that valued craftsmanship in a way that seems lost today.
