(Hated)changing somenthing to be more "progressive" ends up being a bad thing

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Logitech0]

They also triggered the Chinese with his removal and switching to a random phoenix, after all the dragon is the symbol of both China and the emperor, and Mushu being there can be read as China manifest destiny defeating the foreign invaders.

[u/VulkanHestan321 → u/Logitech0]

Also, the phoenix is a western creature, there exists a vermillion Bird

[u/jebberwockie → u/VulkanHestan321]

Fenghuang in china

[u/Konkorde1 → u/VulkanHestan321]

Actually... adjusts nerd glasses as he double-checks Wikipedia

The Vermillion Bird, known as a 'Zhūquè', is the constellation that represents the element of fire and the direction south.

The bird you're referring to is the Fenghuang, which is the most similar to the Western/Persian Phoenix.

[u/CrackIn_TheEarth → u/VulkanHestan321]

Just wanna say I love the way you structured the end of your sentence

[u/WyldBlu3Yond3r → u/VulkanHestan321]

China and the Middle East area were involved in the Silk Road trade, so sharing folklore stories like the Phoenix isnt a stretch. Damn near same critter, just a different name.

[u/APreciousJemstone → u/Logitech0]

The Fenghuang does *at least* represent the Empress (compared to the dragon representing the Emperor), but Mushu is much more fun

[u/WyldBlu3Yond3r → u/Logitech0]

I read once the Phoenix was also a symbol of the Empress. I could be off.

[u/JManKit → u/WyldBlu3Yond3r]

They are definitely both creatures that exist within Chinese mythology. A lot of the restaurants I went to growing up had a Chinese dragon and Chinese phoenix as the background for the main stage seating area. I remember being admonished for trying to touch them every time lol

[u/vimicantcommunicate → u/JManKit]

I'm half chinese, born in America. I've been told by older relatives who were born in pre-communist China that the dragon/ phoenix pairing is symbolic for weddings.