Some people maintain that the picture is actually that of a phoenix. The phoenix, which "soars a thousand yards high and when hungry pecks no grain," may symbolize integrity and thrift.
也有人說雞碗上畫的是鳳凰，或許即在表現古人所謂「鳳飛千仞，饑不啄粟」的意思，寓意廉潔，也勸人節約。