The Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Portraits, Volume 11

Page 5

...hey ascended to the heavens. Completing the thought from the previous page regarding the moment the couple's music summoned a phoenix.

Xiao Shi attained the WayOriginal: "道" (Dao); referring here to his mastery of spiritual and alchemical secrets that lead to immortality. and was particularly skilled at playing the xiaoOriginal: "簫"; a vertical, end-blown bamboo flute known for its mellow, haunting tone.. Duke Mu of QinOriginal: "秦穆公"; a powerful ruler of the Qin state (reigned 659–621 BCE) during the Spring and Autumn period. gave his daughter, NongyuOriginal: "弄玉"; her name literally means "Playing with Jade.", to him in marriage.

Subsequently, Xiao Shi taught Nongyu to play the xiao and mimic the song of the phoenixOriginal: "鳳" (Feng); the mythological king of birds, whose appearance signals a time of great harmony and spiritual resonance.. A phoenix eventually came to dwell upon their house, drawn by the celestial quality of their music. Because of this, the Duke constructed the Phoenix Terrace for them.

Later, Nongyu mounted a phoenix while Xiao Shi mounted a dragonOriginal: "龍" (Long); here representing the masculine (yang) counterpart to the feminine (yin) phoenix., and together they ascended to heaven and departed.