Luan (mythology)

Mythological bird in East Asian mythology

Luan

Luan drawing, Wakan Sansai Zue, Japan

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese| 鸞
Simplified Chinese| 鸾
| Transcriptions

Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin| luán
IPA| [lwǎn]
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabet| loan
Chữ Nôm| 鸞
Korean name
Hangul| 란
Hanja| 鸞
| Transcriptions

Revised Romanization| ran
McCune–Reischauer| ran
Japanese name
Kanji| 鸞
Hiragana| らん
| Transcriptions

Romanization| ran

Luan (traditional Chinese: 鸞; simplified Chinese: 鸾; pinyin: luán; Wade–Giles: luan²), also known as luanniao (simplified Chinese: 鸾鸟; traditional Chinese: 鸞鳥; pinyin: luánniao; lit. 'Luan bird'),[1]: 102 is a mythological bird in East Asian mythology. The name is sometimes reserved for males, while female luan are called Jīnjī (金雞; lit. golden chicken).[citation needed] The luan is sometimes referred as simurgh by western sinologists when they translate the Chinese term luan; however, they do not refer to the same bird creature[2][3] and is therefore an inappropriate translation of the term.[1]: 255 It is also sometimes inappropriately translated as roc and phoenix.[1]: 255 The luan is one of the birds which have been deified in ancient China.[4]: 44 It is also sometimes confused with the fenghuang by western scholars.[3]

## Appearance[edit]

Female Immortal riding a luán-bird, Song dynasty.

Chapters 7 and 16 of the Classic of Mountains and Seas describes the luan as inhabiting paradisiacal areas where it sings spontaneously. In Chapter 11, its features are reminiscent of the fenghuang. It is said to trample on snakes while wearing one on its breast. In other sections, it is mentioned as carrying a shield.[1]: 102 In the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the luan is described as being one of the three five-coloured birds, along with huang and feng bird.[4]: 44 The luan would sing while the feng would dance to accompany it.[4]: 44

The Shuowen Jiezi defines the bird as born from the sperm of Chìdì. It is red in colour with five-coloured markings. Its body is shaped like that of a chicken. It sings in the five standard pitches and appears when hymns of praise are sung to rulers.[1]: 102 It also described the luan as being "the essence of divine birds".[4]: 44

The Sancai Tuhui states that the bird is the transformation of a divine spirit.

The Japanese Wakan Sansai Zue of the Edo period further states that due to the viscosity of the luan's blood, it could be used as an adhesive for attaching strings to musical instruments.

By the Six Dynasties period, the luan became associated with the Queen Mother of the West.[1]: 102

## Origin[edit]

It has been suggested that the luan's origins are the argus pheasant, peacock, or golden pheasant.[1]: 255

## Meaning[edit]

Like the fenghuang, a sighting of the luan indicates an omen of peace. An early legend thought to be from the Warring States period states that the luan was presented as a tribute by northwestern tribes to King Cheng of Zhou as a symbol of submission to his virtue.[1]: 102

## See also[edit]

* Fenghuang
* Phoenix

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Strassberg, Richard E. (2018). A Chinese Bestiary: Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520298514.
2. ^ Mather, Richard B. (2003). The age of eternal brilliance : three lyric poets of the Yung-ming era (483-493). Yue Shen, Tiao Xie, Rong Wang. Leiden: Brill. p. 17\. ISBN 90-04-12059-9. OCLC 52478595.
3. ^ a b Formoso, Bernard (2010). De jiao : a religious movement in contemporary China and overseas : purple qi from the East. Singapore: NUS Press. p. 19\. ISBN 978-9971-69-579-8. OCLC 794698887.
4. ^ a b c d Zhuo, Xinping (2018). Religious faith of the Chinese. Singapore. ISBN 978-981-10-6379-4. OCLC 1017489156.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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