According to legend, when Shaohao (少昊) was born, five phoenixes with different colors—red, yellow, green, white, and black—descended from the sky and landed in the yard of the Shaohao clan. As a result, Shaohao came to be known as the Phoenix Bird Clan (凤鸟氏).
Shaohao, nurtured with care by his parents, was endowed with extraordinary talents from a young age. He had a unique gift—he could understand the calls of birds, and in turn, the birds could understand his words.
Shaohao initially adopted the Xuan Bird (玄鸟, or Swallow) as the totem of his tribe. Later, when he became the leader of the Great Alliance at the Qiong Sang Tree (穷桑), a phoenix appeared, and Shaohao was overjoyed. He then changed his tribe’s totem to the Phoenix, elevating it as the deity of his people and worshiping it as their sacred symbol.
Soon after, Shaohao moved the capital to Qufu (曲阜), where he named the tribes after different birds. Among the 24 tribes were the Phoenix Bird Tribe (凤鸟氏), Xuan Bird Tribe (玄鸟氏), Green Bird Tribe (青鸟氏), and others, forming a large and vibrant society centered around the Phoenix Bird totem.
As Shaohao grew in power, he became the leader of all the Eastern Yi tribes. He established a kingdom by the East Sea and created a unique system of governance, one that incorporated birds into every aspect of society. Various types of birds were appointed as officials, with the Phoenix (凤凰) as the supreme overseer, managing all matters of the kingdom.
In this bird kingdom, different species of birds took on specific roles:
- The charming and obedient quail (鹑鸪) managed education.
- The fierce hawk (鸷鸟) oversaw the military.
- The fair cuckoo (布谷) supervised the construction of buildings.
- The majestic eagle (雄鹰) governed the law.
- The eloquent dove (斑鸠) managed public discourse and communication.
Additionally, nine other birds were in charge of agriculture and the farming cycle, ensuring that the people were neither idle nor overly indulgent. These birds were responsible for regulating the seasons and overseeing the harvests:
- The Xuan Bird (玄鸟) managed the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.
- The Shrike (伯劳) supervised the Summer and Winter Solstices.
- The Green Bird (青鸟) looked after the start of Spring and Summer.
- The Red Bird (丹鸟) oversaw the start of Autumn and Winter.
The five species of wild chickens were responsible for various crafts, including woodworking, lacquerware, pottery, dyeing, and leatherworking.
In this bird kingdom, each bird was assigned its task according to its nature, and every bird contributed to the smooth functioning of society. As a result, the kingdom was orderly and efficient. During meetings, the air was filled with the cheerful sounds of birds chirping—swallows singing, nightingales trilling, and even peacocks showing off their grandeur.
Every day, the birds flew through the skies and forests to check on the state of the kingdom. Since they had their own specific duties and lacked selfish ambitions, they carried out their responsibilities with efficiency and integrity. All matters were handled promptly, and the kingdom ran smoothly.
Shaohao, as the ruler, would listen to the reports from the birds and reward them according to their deeds. The kingdom was governed with order and fairness, and the birds greatly appreciated Shaohao’s benevolent rule. They admired his intelligence, wisdom, and the harmony he created in the land.
In this remarkable Bird Kingdom, every bird had its place and purpose, and the kingdom prospered under Shaohao’s guidance.
Shaohao, nurtured with care by his parents, was endowed with extraordinary talents from a young age. He had a unique gift—he could understand the calls of birds, and in turn, the birds could understand his words.
Shaohao initially adopted the Xuan Bird (玄鸟, or Swallow) as the totem of his tribe. Later, when he became the leader of the Great Alliance at the Qiong Sang Tree, a phoenix appeared, and Shaohao was overjoyed. He then changed his tribe’s totem to the Phoenix, elevating it as the deity of his people and worshiping it as their sacred symbol.
Soon after, Shaohao moved the capital to Qufu, where he named the tribes after different birds. Among the 24 tribes were the Phoenix Bird Tribe, Xuan Bird Tribe, Green Bird Tribe, and others, forming a large and vibrant society centered around the Phoenix Bird totem.
As Shaohao grew in power, he became the leader of all the Eastern Yi tribes. He established a kingdom by the East Sea and created a unique system of governance, one that incorporated birds into every aspect of society. Various types of birds were appointed as officials, with the Phoenix as the supreme overseer, managing all matters of the kingdom.
In this bird kingdom, different species of birds took on specific roles:
- The charming and obedient quail managed education.
- The fierce hawk oversaw the military.
- The fair cuckoo supervised the construction of buildings.
- The majestic eagle governed the law.
- The eloquent dove managed public discourse and communication.
Additionally, nine other birds were in charge of agriculture and the farming cycle, ensuring that the people were neither idle nor overly indulgent. These birds were responsible for regulating the seasons and overseeing the harvests:
- The Xuan Bird (玄鸟) managed the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.
- The Shrike (伯劳) supervised the Summer and Winter Solstices.
- The Green Bird (青鸟) looked after the start of Spring and Summer.
- The Red Bird (丹鸟) oversaw the start of Autumn and Winter.
The five species of wild chickens were responsible for various crafts, including woodworking, lacquerware, pottery, dyeing, and leatherworking.
In this bird kingdom, each bird was assigned its task according to its nature, and every bird contributed to the smooth functioning of society. As a result, the kingdom was orderly and efficient. During meetings, the air was filled with the cheerful sounds of birds chirping—swallows singing, nightingales trilling, and even peacocks showing off their grandeur.
Every day, the birds flew through the skies and forests to check on the state of the kingdom. Since they had their own specific duties and lacked selfish ambitions, they carried out their responsibilities with efficiency and integrity. All matters were handled promptly, and the kingdom ran smoothly.
Shaohao, as the ruler, would listen to the reports from the birds and reward them according to their deeds. The kingdom was governed with order and fairness, and the birds greatly appreciated Shaohao’s benevolent rule. They admired his intelligence, wisdom, and the harmony he created in the land.
In this remarkable Bird Kingdom, every bird had its place and purpose, and the kingdom prospered under Shaohao’s guidance.