| Magpie, a Symbol of Happiness | |
Magpie is a symbol of happiness in Chinese culture. The singing of a magpie foretells happiness and good luck. That's why it is called 'Happy Magpie' by Chinese people. The Manchu minority in Northeast China even regards magpies as sacred birds. Legends concerning magpies are found in the historical records about Manzhu.
One day, Fokulon, the goddess from heaven, and her two sisters were playing beside
the lake when a beautiful magpie with a red fruit in its mouth flew above them. The magpie dropped the fruit. Fokulon picked it up and ate it. Some months later, she gave birth to a boy, named Bukulirongshun. He was the forefather of Manchu minority.
Bukulirongshun and his descendants were all heroic and skilled fighters.
The neighboring tribes all thought of them as a potential threat.
They formed an alliance and decided to wipe out the rising tribe.
A boy named Fancha escaped the slaughter. The slaughterers discovered this and tried
to catch him. Fancha kept running until dusk fell.
The boy was almost caught when a magpie lighted on his head. He stood motionless
so that he looked more like a tree trunk in the dim field. The hunters did mistake him
for a trunk and ran on in another direction. It was the magpie that saved Fancha,
the only survivor of the tribe in the genocide.
Fancha was grateful to the bird and believed it to be something sacred,
who brought him happiness and good fortune. Generation to generation,
Manchu people consider magpies a symbol of happiness and luck.
In 1644, a Manchu man became China's emperor and established the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911). Since Manchu culture has been assimilated into Han culture, the belief
that magpies bring happiness is now shared by most Chinese people.
Written by our column writer Ye Qinfa.
Related Link: