This design goes back to a story about the ch'ungming bird, which the country of Ch'ichih was said to have presented to the beneficent, legendary emperor Yao. This bird, which had the shape of a chicken and the cry of a phoenix, was said to drive away beasts and monsters and protect against disasters.
傳說帝堯在位時，政治清明，有隻支國來獻重明鳥，其狀如雞，鳴似鳳，能逐搏猛獸虎狼，使妖災群惡不能為害。