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), courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 5-6: famille jaune octagonal bowl​, Kangxi period (1662-1722), courtesy of the Stamen Collection

  Fig 7 & 8: saucer dishes, c.1700-24, courtesy of Rijksmuseum, Holland

  Fig 9: dish, 18^th century, courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago

  Fig 10: porcelain bowl, Kangxi period (1662-1722), courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

  Fig 11: porcelain cup, Kangxi period (1662-1722), courtesy of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

  Fig 12: porcelain vase, Kangxi period (1662-1722), courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

  Fig 13: conical bowl, Kangxi period (1662-1722), courtesy of the British Museum, London

  Fig 14: porcelain dish, Kangxi period (1662-1722), courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

  Fig 15: blue-and-white porcelain bowl, 18^th century, courtesy of Minneapolis Institute of Art

  Fig 16: porcelain bowl, Qianlong period (1736-95), courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY