Phoenix, as an imaginary creature in Chinese culture, has been esteemed as the queen of all kinds of birds. When coupled with the image of dragon in Chinese artworks, it symbolises royal power. Later on, the use of dragon and phoenix has been extended to refer husband-and-wife, or boy-and-girl.

• Fig 1: porcelain vase, Ming dynasty, c.1430, courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Art

  Fig 2: porcelain teapot, Yongle period (1403 – 25), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 3-4: porcelain bowl, Yongle period (1403 – 25), Ming dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 5: porcelain cup, Kangxi period (1662 – 1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 6: porcelain vase, Kangxi period (1662 – 1722), courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

  Fig 7: conical bowl with phoenixes, Kangxi period (1662-1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the British Museum, London

  Fig 8: porcelain dish, Kangxi period (1662–1722), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

  Fig 9: blue-and-white porcelain bowl, 18^th century, courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Art

  Fig 10: saucer dish, c.1700 – 24, courtesy of Rijksmuseum, Holland

  Fig 11: porcelain bowl, Qianlong period (1736 – 95), Qing dynasty, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY