Chinese phoenix adapted from a Han dynasty (150 A.D.) lacquer box found with Silla objects in Korea. Executed in cotton and silk threads. This was originally a companion piece to the Archaic Dragon and is his best friend. He was envisioned as blended with the Western concept of phoenix death & rebirth from ash. The nascent flames in red will burn away the ash and charcoal layer to uncover the phoenix's red, yellow and orange colored full plumage.