Top 9 Offspring of the Phoenix in the Myth of 'Phụng Dực Cửu Sồ'

Snow Phoenix, also known as Tuyết Hào, is known for its cold and aloof nature, a stark contrast to the fiery Phoenix. It dwells in snowy lands, revels in the chill, and breathes out snowflakes. Unlike the Peacock, the Snow Phoenix possesses the unique ability to summon snow with just a gentle breath, creating a mist, or with a deep inhale, summoning a vast snowstorm.

The Snow Phoenix has large, wide wings that are covered in white feathers, symbolizing purity and sanctity. Alongside the Fire Phoenix, it represents the two extremes of Yin and Yang, with the Snow Phoenix embodying Yin and the Fire Phoenix embodying Yang.

The Snow Phoenix, Peacock, and Golden Eagle are the three legendary creatures that have survived from the nine offspring of the Phoenix. Typically elusive and rarely seen by humans, the Snow Phoenix inhabits remote, cold regions and is a creature that can survive without food or water. Today, the Snow Phoenix is considered a normal bird living in cold areas.

Blue Phoenix is completely covered in blue feathers, with a gentle, kind, and graceful nature. It is soft-hearted, loyal, and lives near coastal regions, where it has the ability to summon rain. Wherever it goes, it brings the rains, turning dry lands into places of nourishment. The Blue Phoenix is also considered one of the Five Elemental Sacred Birds, its massive size comparable to the mythical Côn Bằng (a gigantic fish that transforms into a Phoenix-like bird). This majestic creature often resides in places with water, particularly on small islands in the vast ocean.

Unlike the aggressive Eagle, the Blue Phoenix is calm and peaceful, but if disturbed, it will flap its wings over the sea, creating a storm. No creature dares to provoke the Blue Phoenix, not even the mighty Chiêu Phong. Among the nine offspring of the Phoenix, the Blue Phoenix is regarded as the most powerful.

Among the nine offspring of the Phoenix, the Peacock and the Golden Eagle are the two legendary creatures that exist in reality. In Chinese mythology, the appearance of the Peacock is not much different from what people see today. The Peacock (or Khổng Tước), with its stunning beauty and majestic presence, is considered the most magnificent and dazzling of all birds.

According to folklore, encountering a Peacock is believed to bring good luck. However, it is said that the Peacock, since its birth, was a fierce and ruthless creature, a demon that devours humans and slaughters other beings. Its power was on par with the Golden Eagle. Legend has it that the Peacock was surrounded in flames, and getting too close would result in being burned alive.

In one version of the myth, the great Buddha, Sakyamuni, was swallowed by the Peacock while meditating on Mount Snowy Mountain. The Buddha, intending to slay the Peacock to prevent chaos in the world, was advised by the celestial beings: “If you kill the Peacock, it would be like killing your own parents.” After careful consideration, the Buddha granted the Peacock the title of Phật Mẫu Khổng Tước Đại Minh Vương Bồ Tát, or the Great Enlightened Bodhisattva of the Peacock.

In ancient legends, the Golden Eagle is described as a mighty bird resembling a giant hawk, capable of soaring high with just a flap of its wings, reaching distances of up to 90,000 miles. In the classic tale of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, could leap on his cloud and travel 108,000 miles in a single bound. However, the Golden Eagle, with just two wingbeats, could surpass Sun Wukong’s great speed.

It is said that the Golden Eagle had a fierce temperament and, in moments of anger, could tear a piece of flesh from the Buddha himself. Ancient texts also mention that the Golden Eagle had an insatiable hunger for dragon meat, devouring up to 500 dragons in a single day. However, these dragons were not true dragons, but rather weaker creatures or those newly ascended to heaven.

The Golden Eagle's constant consumption of dragons led to a great massacre. In response, the compassionate Buddha called the Eagle to him and said, “From now on, you must cease your killing and follow me.” The Golden Eagle, puzzled, asked, “How will I survive if I cannot eat dragon meat?” The Buddha answered, “From now on, my disciples will offer you food in each of their meals, and you will be sustained.” The Golden Eagle, having received the Buddha’s guidance, was transformed and became a divine protector, always at the Buddha’s side, guarding the lotus throne and supporting the world.

Thunderbird (the thunderbird) is known for its impulsive and hot-headed nature, always racing through the skies. Its call is as loud as thunder, and when it flaps its wings, it can summon lightning. According to legends, the Thunderbird is a mythical creature closely associated with the history and culture of Native American communities in North America.

This creature was a key figure in their religious worship and frequently appeared in the art, music, and folklore of tribes in the Pacific Northwest. Descriptions often depict the Thunderbird as a colossal hawk, endowed with immense power. With its magical wings, it can create storms, thunder, and lightning wherever it flies.

There are many stories about the Thunderbird passed down among various Native American tribes:

• The Menominee people believe that the ptarmigan is the natural enemy of the giant horned snake Myskinnubik, preventing it from overtaking humans.
• The Ojibwe tell a tale in which the deity Nanabozho created the Thunderbird to battle an underwater demon.
• The Sioux refer to the Thunderbird as the “Great Thunderbird,” considering it a symbol of goodness, a guide, and a force for change.

Great Storm, true to its name, is a colossal creature. Its wingspan is so vast that it can cover half the sky, and when it flaps its wings, it creates a violent storm. There is a saying that great trees invite fierce winds, and in ancient mythology, the Great Storm symbolizes the stirring of controversy. Its appearance is equally unusual: it has four wings and eight tails, constantly soaring through the sky, and when it lands, it brings destruction. Wherever the Great Storm goes, it leaves a path of devastation, with violent winds and thunderous roars.

It is said that the Great Storm is the most malevolent of the Phoenix’s children, with a nature so cruel that wherever it travels, it uproots trees, demolishes houses, and causes havoc to the land, crops, and even children. Because of this, Emperor Yao (one of the Five Legendary Emperors of ancient China) ordered the mighty archer Hou Yi to eliminate it. Armed with the Divine Sun Bow, Hou Yi shot and killed the Great Storm on Mount Qingqiu.

Golden Phoenix is a mythical creature with the head of a rooster, the neck of a snake, the back of a tortoise, and the tail of a fish. It is known for its balanced temperament and noble, dignified presence. The Golden Phoenix has the power to communicate with the heavens and the earth, harmonizing the five musical notes (Cung, Thương, Giốc, Chủy, Vũ) and representing the nine virtues of a sage: tolerance, gentleness, attentiveness, integrity, governance skills, listening, righteousness, bravery, and simplicity. In addition to its striking beauty, the Golden Phoenix also carries an air of elegance and grace inherited from the Phoenix itself.

Compared to its siblings, the Golden Phoenix stands out not only for its distinct features but also for its ability to transform into a human form.

As gold symbolizes wealth, the Golden Phoenix became a common motif in architecture, silk fabrics, and decorations. During the Tang and Song dynasties in China, the image of the Golden Phoenix was often featured on the empress's robes.

It is said that the Golden Phoenix was named as such because it is a symbol of fortune, and its presence is believed to bring prosperity and good omens.

Silver Phoenix is a mythical creature that closely resembles the Phoenix, with brilliantly colorful feathers in five distinct hues. Its call is uniquely enchanting: soft and bell-like in its gentle tones, yet when louder, it echoes with the majestic power of a war drum, commanding the winds. As a creature of Yin attributes, the Silver Phoenix is deeply associated with culture and the arts. It is a symbol of ancient scholars skilled in poetry and literature, and it holds profound knowledge of musical theory and the harmony of sound.

The Silver Phoenix is said to possess the sweetest song of any bird, and it is believed that the ancestors of many melodious birds, such as the nightingale and the skylark, are descendants of this magnificent creature.

In ancient times, scholars and artists who admired music and poetic structure would often carve representations of the Silver Phoenix onto their musical instruments, hoping to capture the perfect harmony and resonance that the creature's voice embodied.

Fire Phoenix is inherently linked to fire, with flames surrounding its body. Proud and often hot-tempered, its mood can shift rapidly. When joyful, it radiates a brilliant glow, extending for miles, but when enraged, it can scorch the land for hundreds of miles, leaving it barren.

According to ancient folklore, the Phoenix possesses the power of rebirth through fire. As the offspring of the Phoenix, the Fire Phoenix shares this ability. It can rise from its own ashes, just like the legendary Western Phoenix. Because of its regenerative powers, the Fire Phoenix became a symbol of immortality, and some ancient people carved its image onto their tombs, hoping to achieve a rebirth after death.

In Jewish folklore, the Fire Phoenix is said to be the only creature to resist Eve's temptation in the Garden of Eden. Before the pure Phoenix was created, God bestowed upon this bird the gift of eternal life, and every thousand years, the Fire Phoenix would be reborn from the flames.