Nine-Headed Bird: Mythical Creature Worshiped In Ancient China

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - One of the earliest forms of the Chinese Phoenix is the nine-headed bird (“Jiu Feng”), a monster in Chinese mythology.

The creature – with a bird's body and nine heads with human faces - was worshiped by ancient natives in Hubei Province (part of the kingdom of Chu in central China) during the Warring State Period (475 - 221 BC).

Qing-dynasty (1644-1911) print shows the nine-headed phoenix, a being from Chinese mythology. Image via World Digital Library

The nine-headed bird (also called "Nine Phoenix") was viewed as a totem in the kingdom of Chu from 475 BC to 221 BC.

The royal family of Chu is considered descendants of the Yellow Emperor, a deity in Chinese religion, one of the legendary Chinese sovereigns and cultural heroes, credited with the invention of Chinese medicine and religious practices, including worship of the sun, moon, and five planets; and technological inventions, like the compass and calendar.

"Nine Phoenix" was one of the most worshiped mythical and divine creatures (another one was the Chinese dragon) in Chinese history and is mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shanhai jing) dated to the 4th century BC.

According to ancient beliefs, the nine-headed bird is a rare creature because it has nine brains and is very intelligent. It also can foresee the future.

People in China used to say that someone is as intelligent as the ‘nine-headed bird’; however, this term may have a negative and insulting meaning because it characterizes a person as cunning, unscrupulous, and treacherous.

When the Chu rebelled against the Zhou dynasty during the Warring States period, their phoenix was subsequently demonized. Later, during the Han Dynasty (202BC~220), the bird was often described as a monster, a creature of ill omen, and often considered a demon in Chinese myths and legends.

Many Legends About The Nine-Headed Bird

One legend has it that this terrifying creature used to cause great suffering by kidnapping young girls and letting them die of hunger in its lair.

Once upon a time, a king and queen were blessed with a daughter, and when, one day, the princess was strolling in the garden, an intense storm suddenly swept her away. A mythical bird with nine heads appeared, abducted her, and took her away to its dwelling.

The nine-headed bird – legendary creature of the Chinese people. Image source

Accidentally, Guang, a young man, saw the incident. The king publicly announced that the man who successfully locates and returns the princess will be rewarded with her hand in marriage. However, the cave was hazardously located in the middle of a steep, and strongly fortified rock. One could reach the cave only if one had wings.

He decided to find some help in the nearby village and approached a strongly built man, who was carrying logs of wood on his shoulder, and told him what happened. The man listened and, in fact, believed he could help. He prepared a basket with bamboo shoots and some strong ropes. The two climbed up the hill that was right near the cave entry. For Guang was not difficult to find some place in the basket, and the man lowered the basket to the cave.

Guang jumped off the basket and entered the cave.

In the cavern, he stumbled upon the sight of the princess, who was busy cleaning the wound of the bird with nine heads. Sensing Guang’s presence, the princess gestured for him to take cover, and without hesitation, he complied at once.

Then he emerged from his hiding spot and decapitated all nine heads of the bird with a single sword. He said he came to rescue her, and she was happy.

Now, they could leave the cave, and he asked her to get in the basket. But before she did so, she took a long pin from her hair and broke it into two halves, giving him one and keeping the other.

The nine-headed bird – legendary creature of the Chinese people. Image source

Next, she took out her handkerchief from the pocket of her dress and tore it into two. She gave one of the pieces to Guang and kept the other back in her pocket. She wanted him to keep her two gifts till they met again.  Then she jumped to the basket.

The strong man who offered his help in rescuing the girl lifted the basket up, and the princess was on safe land. However, he did not lower the basket for Guang and left him stranded in the cave.

He had other intentions. He took the princess to her palace and was ready to marry her. The king was happy and kept his word, but there was a problem.

The princess refused to get engaged to that man. She told her parents that the man was not the one who saved her from the bird with nine heads.

The true man who saved her must furnish the gifts she had given him while partying.

In the meantime, the stranded Guang decided to explore the cave, where he discovered the tragic remains of several girls, all victims of the nine-headed bird who had abducted them and left them to starve. On one wall was a fish secured by four nails. When he touched it, the fish transformed into a good-looking young man who expressed gratitude for being freed from his curse.

Fortunately, Guang had also encountered some magic pearls enclosed in shells, once guarded by the nine-headed bird. He flung a magic pearl into the ocean, and the water parted into two so Guang could walk through it. Then, he encountered a dragon who lived beneath the sea, and from him, he received a magic gourd flask that could conjure up anything as a gift from it.

After that, Guang used his magic pearls and gourd flask to conjure food whenever he was hungry, water whenever he felt thirsty, and several other things that helped him arrive at the king’s palace.

When Guang reached the king’s court, he showed the piece of gold hairpin and the silken handkerchief that belonged to the princess. The king recognized Guang and called for the princess. The royal wedding of Guang and princess Liling took place the next day. The bird with nine heads was hence dead and no more maidens went missing from the kingdom.

The two lived in peace and happiness till the end of their days.

The number ‘nine’ was long believed to possess mysterious power in Chinese culture and still remains lucky in China. Despite some ancient legends and myths, even the legendary nine-headed bird is believed to symbolize wisdom and good fortune.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on February 19, 2024

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