Dragon and Phoenix Totems in Chinese Traditional Architecture

Chinese buildings, primarily timberwork, were formed into a system in the Qin and Han (206 BC–220 AD) dynasties. With the dragon totem, magnificent palatial architecture boarded this stage of history. From then on, the dragon and phoenix were status symbols of authority figures, treasure and emperors or the empresses. Decorations on the architecture of the Han Dynasty were single or and nose to tail dragon decorative patterns, which was basically Ying Loong with a long muzzle and neck.

With the collision of Buddhist art and traditional Chinese art, the dragon from the Wei (220-265) and Jin (265-581) dynasties had ripples and a longer body and limbs. During the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, dragons, with curly grass carving patterns, were always decorated on steles. In the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) periods, the shape of the dragon developed into a unique style as well as inheriting traditional techniques. In Ming (136-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the dragon and phoenix were used to represent emperors and their consorts and were the main decorative patterns seen on various imperial structures. palaces, columns, pathways and screen walls were all inscribed, carved or painted with their images.

The phoenix decorative pattern on architecture first appeared in the Qin and Han dynasties. The pattern was discrepant in different regions but mostly had the head of a golden pheasant, the beak of a parrot, the body of a mandarin duck, the wings of a roe, the feathers of a peacock and the legs of a crane.