The phoenix is an Arabian bird, it is as large as an eagle, with brilliant scarlet and gold plumage and a melodious cry. It is said that the phoenix was very long-lived - no ancient sources gave it a life-span less than 500 years. As its end approached, the phoenix made a nest of aromatic branches and spices, set it on fire, and was consumed in the flames. From the ashes another phoenix was born. People use the symbol of a phoenix as a sign of eternity, immortality and resserection.
In Chinese mythology, the phoenix represents the union of yin and yang. It was thought to be a gentle creature, alighting so gently that it crushed nothing, and eating only dewdrops. The Chinese phoenix was thought to have a large beak, the neck of a snake, the back of a tortoise, and the tail of a fish. It carried two scrolls in its beak, and its song included the five whole notes of the Chinese scale (I don't know how it could sing with its mouth full). Its feathers were five colors: black, white, red, green, and yellow.