The phoenix is a mythical sacred fire bird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Turks, Indians and (according to Sanchuniathon) Phoenicians/Canaan- ites.

I combine the object Phoenix with the ornaments taken from Chinese ancient pottery and Indonesian Batik, with the color mainly used for Chinese Angpao, which is red, orange, and gold.

Indonesia has many kinds of batik motifs and colors. The motif and colours of batik, especially from Java, is especially vibrant, and it absorbs influence from the Javanese, Arab, Chinese and Dutch cultures. In the colonial times Javanese pesisir batik was a favourite of the Peranakan Chinese, Dutch and Eurasians. Phoe- nix is one of the most favourite main motifs of Javanese batik.

The fenghuang has very positive connotations. It is a symbol of high virtue and grace. The fenghuang also symbolizes the union of yin and yang. It’s recorded that each part of fenghuang’s body symbolizes a word, the head presents virtue, the wing represents duty, the back represents propriety, the abdomen says belief and the chest represents mercy.

Phoenix is described as a bird with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold. It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self.