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Phoenix Tree, Phoenix and Empress: Empress Historical-Cultural Symbol of Phoenix Tree and Its Good Environmental Civilized Value

Received: 22 November 2021     Accepted: 7 December 2021     Published: 8 January 2022
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Abstract

This paper is intended to analyze the interrelation, mutual influence and integration of phoenix tree, phoenix and empress in ecological and cultural terms. The study indicates the historical-cultural symbolical meaning of Empress Wu of phoenix tree, and the ecological value. Empress Wu is the incarnation of dragon, rebirth of Maitreya Buddha with godship. From aspect of theology, phoenix stays at phoenix tree that is a myth by means of phoenix tree; phoenix and dragon keep abreast, phoenix represents outstanding woman, and Empress Wu is the incarnation of phoenix (super holy bird). Phoenix liked to stay on phoenix tree (super sacred tree), therefore, phoenix tree represents the body of empress. In Buddhism, phoenix tree’s imagery being the sacred tree of Chinese Buddhism is its feature, which is formed when the tree is cultivated in religious temple. Empress Wu is a human with humanity. In forest culture, imagery of phoenix tree is of aesthetic culture which represents pure love subjective intention by means of phoenix tree in gardens planting of past dynasties and composition of poetry. Love imagery of phoenix tree and phoenix symbolizes human emotion of Empress Wu. Lofty imagery of phoenix tree symbolizes the only one empress in China. That falling leaves of phoenix tree shows autumn comes symbolized Empress Wu lost her Kingship and became queen for the rest of her life. Aesthetic cultural connotation, consisting of nobleness and hope of phoenix and misery and sad of phoenix tree, symbolized people’s comment to Empress Wu in the past one thousand and three hundred years. Ecological value of phoenix imagery: nine holy birds which perch at bronze divine trees of Sanxingdui, and Sunbird of the Jinsha Site gives an impression that golden bird carries the sun to soar in the universe; in human’s mental concept, phoenix tree symbolizes habitat for humanity of ecological civilization, and phoenix symbolizes human’s dream of flying. Phoenix likes to stay on phoenix tree, which symbolizes harmonious civilization of human and human’s earnest hope for good life.

Published in American Journal of BioScience (Volume 10, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajbio.20221001.11
Page(s) 1-9
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Phoenix Tree, Phoenix, Sacred Tree of Chinese Buddhism, Empress Culture

References
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[4] Xin Mo. Wu Zetian and Huangze Temple [M]. Chengdu: Sichuan Art Publishing House, 1988: 36-39.
[5] Ma Yunhuan. Guangyuan Trip to Shu Road, Jianmen [M]. Xi’an: Taibai Literature and Art Publishing House, 2000, 11, 12.
[6] Hu Ji. Biography of Wu Zetian [M]. Xi’an: Sanqin Publishing House, 1986.
[7] Chen Yang. Decrypt of Wu Zetian [M]. Beijing: Popular Literature and Art Publishing House, 2009.
[8] Li Qianxiu. Wu Qianqiu [M]. Chengdu: Sichuan People’s Publishing House, 2000: 2-4.
[9] Liu Zongyuan. Discrimination of Giving Leaves of Phoenix Tree to Brother [M]. Changsha: Yuelu Book Society, 1987: 203-205.
[10] Meng Man. Meng Man Talking about the Tang Dynasty: Wu Zetian [M]. Nanning: Guangxi Normal University Press, 2008: 2, 3, 27, 185, 186.
[11] Zhang Wendi. Poems about the Empress’s Hometown [M]. Beijing: Popular Literature and Art Publishing House, 2006: 175.
[12] Shi Yongtao. “From Daming Palace to Luoyang Mingtang” [N]. Urban Economic Bulletin, 2007-6-26 (5).
[13] Yu Liangxiu. Chengdu Landscape Plants [M]. Chengdu: Sichuan Science and Technology Publishing House, 2002.
[14] Chen Youmin. Landscape Dendrology [M]. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House, 1990: 400-403, 570, 571.
[15] Hui Huanzhang, Wu Qiao. 100 Secrets of Wu Zetian [M]. Xi’an: Xi’an Publishing House, 2002 Vol 75-78.
[16] Li Daming. Twenty-five Histories [M]. Chengdu: Bashu Publishing House, 2005: 511-514.
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[19] Wu Zhiwen. “Development of Forest Culture, Forestry Creative Industry and New Forestry Economic Growth Point” [J]. World Forestry Research, 2008 (9): 184-192.
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  • APA Style

    Wu Zhiwen, Wu Songyuan, Yang Shujun. (2022). Phoenix Tree, Phoenix and Empress: Empress Historical-Cultural Symbol of Phoenix Tree and Its Good Environmental Civilized Value. American Journal of BioScience, 10(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20221001.11

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    ACS Style

    Wu Zhiwen; Wu Songyuan; Yang Shujun. Phoenix Tree, Phoenix and Empress: Empress Historical-Cultural Symbol of Phoenix Tree and Its Good Environmental Civilized Value. Am. J. BioScience 2022, 10(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20221001.11

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    AMA Style

    Wu Zhiwen, Wu Songyuan, Yang Shujun. Phoenix Tree, Phoenix and Empress: Empress Historical-Cultural Symbol of Phoenix Tree and Its Good Environmental Civilized Value. Am J BioScience. 2022;10(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ajbio.20221001.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajbio.20221001.11,
      author = {Wu Zhiwen and Wu Songyuan and Yang Shujun},
      title = {Phoenix Tree, Phoenix and Empress: Empress Historical-Cultural Symbol of Phoenix Tree and Its Good Environmental Civilized Value},
      journal = {American Journal of BioScience},
      volume = {10},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-9},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajbio.20221001.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajbio.20221001.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajbio.20221001.11},
      abstract = {This paper is intended to analyze the interrelation, mutual influence and integration of phoenix tree, phoenix and empress in ecological and cultural terms. The study indicates the historical-cultural symbolical meaning of Empress Wu of phoenix tree, and the ecological value. Empress Wu is the incarnation of dragon, rebirth of Maitreya Buddha with godship. From aspect of theology, phoenix stays at phoenix tree that is a myth by means of phoenix tree; phoenix and dragon keep abreast, phoenix represents outstanding woman, and Empress Wu is the incarnation of phoenix (super holy bird). Phoenix liked to stay on phoenix tree (super sacred tree), therefore, phoenix tree represents the body of empress. In Buddhism, phoenix tree’s imagery being the sacred tree of Chinese Buddhism is its feature, which is formed when the tree is cultivated in religious temple. Empress Wu is a human with humanity. In forest culture, imagery of phoenix tree is of aesthetic culture which represents pure love subjective intention by means of phoenix tree in gardens planting of past dynasties and composition of poetry. Love imagery of phoenix tree and phoenix symbolizes human emotion of Empress Wu. Lofty imagery of phoenix tree symbolizes the only one empress in China. That falling leaves of phoenix tree shows autumn comes symbolized Empress Wu lost her Kingship and became queen for the rest of her life. Aesthetic cultural connotation, consisting of nobleness and hope of phoenix and misery and sad of phoenix tree, symbolized people’s comment to Empress Wu in the past one thousand and three hundred years. Ecological value of phoenix imagery: nine holy birds which perch at bronze divine trees of Sanxingdui, and Sunbird of the Jinsha Site gives an impression that golden bird carries the sun to soar in the universe; in human’s mental concept, phoenix tree symbolizes habitat for humanity of ecological civilization, and phoenix symbolizes human’s dream of flying. Phoenix likes to stay on phoenix tree, which symbolizes harmonious civilization of human and human’s earnest hope for good life.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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    AU  - Wu Songyuan
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    AB  - This paper is intended to analyze the interrelation, mutual influence and integration of phoenix tree, phoenix and empress in ecological and cultural terms. The study indicates the historical-cultural symbolical meaning of Empress Wu of phoenix tree, and the ecological value. Empress Wu is the incarnation of dragon, rebirth of Maitreya Buddha with godship. From aspect of theology, phoenix stays at phoenix tree that is a myth by means of phoenix tree; phoenix and dragon keep abreast, phoenix represents outstanding woman, and Empress Wu is the incarnation of phoenix (super holy bird). Phoenix liked to stay on phoenix tree (super sacred tree), therefore, phoenix tree represents the body of empress. In Buddhism, phoenix tree’s imagery being the sacred tree of Chinese Buddhism is its feature, which is formed when the tree is cultivated in religious temple. Empress Wu is a human with humanity. In forest culture, imagery of phoenix tree is of aesthetic culture which represents pure love subjective intention by means of phoenix tree in gardens planting of past dynasties and composition of poetry. Love imagery of phoenix tree and phoenix symbolizes human emotion of Empress Wu. Lofty imagery of phoenix tree symbolizes the only one empress in China. That falling leaves of phoenix tree shows autumn comes symbolized Empress Wu lost her Kingship and became queen for the rest of her life. Aesthetic cultural connotation, consisting of nobleness and hope of phoenix and misery and sad of phoenix tree, symbolized people’s comment to Empress Wu in the past one thousand and three hundred years. Ecological value of phoenix imagery: nine holy birds which perch at bronze divine trees of Sanxingdui, and Sunbird of the Jinsha Site gives an impression that golden bird carries the sun to soar in the universe; in human’s mental concept, phoenix tree symbolizes habitat for humanity of ecological civilization, and phoenix symbolizes human’s dream of flying. Phoenix likes to stay on phoenix tree, which symbolizes harmonious civilization of human and human’s earnest hope for good life.
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Guangyuan Forestry Bureau, Guangyuan, China

  • School of Mathematical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

  • The Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Lizhou District, Guangyuan, China

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