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ARCHITECTURE & ICONOGRAPHY

 

 

 

  phoenix-and-dragon-relief

 

China

A relief of the phoenix and the dragon on a window frame in  the Forbidden City in Beijing (fig.). Depicted together these mythical animals are a symbol of the Emperor.

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In this case, the fenghuang, which normally has both male and female connotations, becomes entirely feminine as the Empress, and together they represent both aspects of imperial power.

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