Handle-form Object with Dragon and Phoenix Design, Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century—771 BCE). Jade. Length 12.6 cm, Width 4.7 cm, Thickness 0.4 cm. © Shanghai Museum 

A kind of decorative pattern combining man and animal designs began to appear among the jade wares in the Western Zhou dynasty, which was rarely seen in other eras. With a phoenix on top and a dragon below in the composition, this pattern was the trendy design of the mid and late Western Zhou period, also fairly common on the bronze wares of the same time. It might be related to the legend of the rising of Zhou ‘phoenix singing on the Qishan Mountain’, implying an auspicious meaning.