Phoenix Yokai

**Phoenix Yokai** are mythical birds who has the power of regeneration.

## Physical Appearance

Wild phoenixes has colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or, according to some legends, purple, blue, and green). They can be large or can be in an average bird size. The civilized Phoenix Yokai has the power to shapeshift between their Yokai and Humanoid form. When they become human, they take the appearance of a harpy with having wings as their arms and having talons for their legs.

## Description

Coming from the mythologies of the Arabian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Chinese, Turkish, Indian and Phoenician/Canaanite people, phoenixes are mythical sacred birds. They symbolize rebirth, immortality, and renewal as they have the power to be reborn anew after their deaths. They could have a 500 to 1,000, or even 1,461-year life-cycle. Making them immortal as they could never die.

## Abilities

Here are the abilities that Phoenix Yokai can have in their arsenal:

* Fire Manipulation
	+ Holy Fire Manipulation/Pure Fire Manipulation
* Fire Mimicry
* Healing Tears
* Regenerative Healing Factor/Time Manipulation/Nigh-Omnipotence
* Self-Resurrection/Ash Resurrection/Matter Transmutation
* Transcendent Bird Physiology

### Variations

* Grand Flame Manipulation
* Light Manipulation
* Palingenesis Embodiment
* Pyroportation
* Samsara Embodiment
* Sand Mimicry
* Shapeshifting

### Types of Phoenixes

* **Bennu Physiology**
* **Fenghuang Physiology**
* **Firebird Physiology**
* **Huma Physiology**

### Associations

* Anqa Physiology - in some translations
* Cosmic Fire Manipulation
* Cycle Manipulation
* Divine Beast Physiology
* Immortality
* Life and Death Manipulation
* Mythical Bestiary
	+ Mythical Avian Physiology
* Phoenix Dragon Physiology
* Samsara Manipulation
* Solar Deity Physiology
	+ Solar Affinity
	+ Solar Manipulation

## Pop Culture

When you're thinking about the phoenix, you immediately know them as mythical birds who has the power of reincarnation. There's also a city called Phoenix, Arizona which is the capital of said state. The origin of the Phoenix has been attributed to Ancient Egypt by Herodotus and later 19th-century scholars, but other scholars think the Egyptian texts may have been influenced by classical folklore. Over time the phoenix motif spread and gained variety of new associations: Herodotus, Lucan, Pliny the Elder, Pope Clement I, Lactantius, Ovid, and Isidore of Seville are among those who have contributed to the retelling and transmission of the phoenix motif. Over time, extending beyond its origins, the phoenix could variously "symbolize renewal in general as well as the sun, time, the Empire, metempsychosis, consecration, resurrection, life in the heavenly Paradise, Christ, Mary, virginity, the exceptional man, and certain aspects of Christian life". Some scholars have claimed that the poem De ave phoenice may present the mythological phoenix motif as a symbol of Christ's resurrection. Ho-Oh and Moltres are both based on the phoenix as they are both Fire/Flying-types. Some Digimons has taken inspiration from the phoenix.

## Variations

### Harpy Yokai

The Phoenix is a demi-human liminal race with the body of a human and the wings and talons of a bird. An ancient and long-lived race, the Pheonix are legendary for their ability to become reborn anew after dying. Due to this, while a Pheonix may look young, it is not uncommon to find that they are actually centuries old due to their regeneration cycle.

The majority of human myths surrounding the species stem from Ancient Greece, where the species are held to symbolize the process of renewal and the sun due to their flame-coloured feathers. They are have the same characteristics as Harpy. Except they reborn after dying.

### Bird Yokai

Phoenix is a mythical, sacred fire-bird that symbolizes rebirth, immortality, and renewal. They're described as birds with colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or, according to some legends, purple, blue, and green) with a 500 to 1,000, or even 1,461-year life-cycle.

## Life in the Hidden World

The phoenix is one of the most powerful and sacred Yokai in the Hidden World. Wild phoenixes would live on top of volcanic mountains in which they can absorb the flames from the volcano. Near the end of its life, a phoenix builds itself a nest of twigs or whole trees that it 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. Their civilized counterparts can do the same as well. Because of their regeneration cycle, they often look young. But it is not uncommon to find that they are actually centuries old. Associated with the sun, these yokai can gain more power the longer they're under the sun. Once the moon comes out, they'll return to their normal power level.

## Symbolism

A phoenix symbolizes birth, death, and rebirth, as well as eternity, strength, and renewal. The whole idea that this mythical bird is reborn from the ashes of the flames of death signifies a journey through fire or adversity. It's a great way to express a transformation or survival of a challenge.