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Text: Little Fish
Editor|Little Fish
——【· Preface ·】——》
When you think of the national bird, you may immediately think of the majestic rooster of France, or the bald eagle, a symbol of strength in United States. However, when it comes to China's national bird, many people are puzzled: what is the bird that represents this ancient country with a 5,000-year-old civilization?
Actually, the answer to this question is not as simple as you think. Despite China's abundant natural resources and bird species, the process of identifying a national bird is fraught with controversy and complex cultural connotations.
So, which bird did China choose to symbolize its national spirit? Why do many people don't know anything about this?
Flying high: The rise and fall of the bald eagle in United States
Among the many iconic symbols of the United States, the bald eagle is undoubtedly one of the most striking. This majestic bird of prey not only appeared on the national emblem of United States, but also became the embodiment of the spirit of United States. However, the path to becoming the national bird of United States has not been easy.
In 1782, the United States Congress made an important decision: the bald eagle was chosen as the national bird. The importance of this choice, which predates the formal establishment of the United States by a few years. The majestic appearance and strong survival ability of the bald eagle perfectly interpret the spirit of United States in pursuit of freedom and courage.
However, this decision was not without controversy. The famous scientist and politician Benjamin · Franklin openly voiced his opposition. In Franklin's view, the bald eagle had a worrisome moral character, often stealing food from other birds, a far cry from the honest, courageous character that United States admired.
Franklin preferred the turkey as the national bird, arguing that turkeys, while looking a little silly, were at least honest and heroic native United States birds.
Although Franklin's proposal was not adopted, the debate over the national bird reflected thoughtful consideration of the nation's image and values in the early days of United States. In the end, the image of the bald eagle was deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and became a symbol of the spirit of United States.
Reborn from the ashes: the bald eagle's path to conservation
However, being the national bird doesn't mean that the bald eagle is at ease. In the middle of the 20th century, a crisis struck. Due to human factors such as the misuse of the pesticide DDT, the population of bald eagles has declined sharply, and at one time it was on the verge of extinction, with only a few hundred remaining.
This astonishing fact shocked United States society. It was realized that if urgent measures were not taken, the national bird, which symbolizes the spirit of United States, could disappear forever. In 1940, the United States government finally took action and introduced the Endangered Species Protection Act, which strictly banned the use of DDT and went all out to protect the habitat of bald eagles.
This conservation action is not just about saving a species, but also about saving the symbols and spirits of a nation. The people of United States have worked together to create favorable conditions for the survival of bald eagles through legislation, scientific research, public education and other means. After decades of unremitting efforts, the population of bald eagles has gradually recovered and has now reached tens of thousands.
The lesson of this history is that the protection of national symbols is not only the responsibility of the government, but also requires the joint efforts of the whole society. The story of the bald eagle shows the unity and resilience of the people of United States in the face of challenges.
The Gallic rooster: a unique embodiment of the national soul of France
Turning from United States to Europe, we see another unique story of the national bird. The choice of the France is a brainstorm: they chose a chicken, and it was a rooster that crows every morning as the national bird. This chicken is no ordinary poultry, but a national symbol known as the "Gallic rooster".
The origin of the Gallic rooster can be traced back to the ancient Roman period. At that time, the Romans discovered that the French pronunciation of "Gallus" and "Gallus" was identical. The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar found this coincidence very interesting and nicknamed the Gauls "Roosters". Surprisingly, instead of being offended by this, the France found the nickname cool and embraced it.
From the 14th century, the France gradually began to represent themselves with roosters. In the eyes of the France, the Gallic rooster symbolizes vigilance and courage. Isn't the rooster the first one to get up and croak every morning? And the rooster fights with extreme ferocity, which is exactly the spirit of the French nation.
However, not all France embraced this symbol. Napoleon complained about this, believing that it was a bit hasty for a chicken to represent the mighty French Empire. Napoleon personally preferred the eagle, believing that it was domineering enough. However, the Gallic rooster had already taken root in the hearts of ordinary people, and even a strongman like Napoleon could only reluctantly accept it.
Between the Void and the Real: The Cultural Legacy of the Gallic Rooster
Interestingly, the Gallic rooster is not a real species, but a fictitious image. In people's imagination, it has a bright red cockscomb on its head, a ring of glittering golden feathers around its neck, colorful feathers on its body, and a gorgeous tail, which looks like a creature that has come out of a mythical story.
This fictionality did not affect the place of the Gallic rooster in France culture. On the contrary, it became the perfect embodiment of the spirit of France Romanticism. Through this fictional image, the France express their pursuit of ideals and beauty, as well as the spirit of continuous struggle in reality.
Today, the image of the Gallic rooster is ubiquitous in France. Not only did it appear on official occasions, it also became the mascot of France's sports scene. The France national football team has a majestic Gallic rooster printed on its jersey.
Whenever France scored, the commentator excitedly shouted: "The Gallic rooster crows again!" "This scene vividly shows how the Gallic rooster penetrated into the daily life of France and became an important symbol of national emotion.
In Search of the Soul of China: The Battle of the National Bird
When we turn our attention to China, an interesting phenomenon emerges: this large country with a long history and rich culture does not yet have an official national bird. This is not because of the lack of representative birds in China, on the contrary, it is precisely because there are so many candidates that it is difficult to choose.
In 2003, the China Forestry Administration and the Animal Protection Association launched a national bird selection campaign, which received a large number of proposals. Among them, the red-crowned crane has the highest voice. From ancient times to the present, the red-crowned crane has occupied an important place in Chinese culture and is regarded as a crane, symbolizing longevity and nobility. However, the red-crowned crane is also known internationally as the "Japan crane", an embarrassing designation that makes it difficult to become China's national bird.
In addition to red-crowned cranes, there are many other candidates. The red-bellied pheasant is considered to be the prototype of the ancient Chinese phoenix, a second-class protected animal in China, and the source of the emblem of the Chinese Ornithological Society. Its bright plumage and mythological colors have led many to believe that it is best to represent China.
In 2008, in an online poll, Sparrow topped the list with 35.8% support, becoming the most popular choice among the people. Proponents believe that sparrows are tenacious and able to adapt to various environments, just like the spirit of the Chinese nation.
In addition, the endangered species crested ibis, the thrush loved by the literati, and the lark, which represents the farming culture, all have their own supporters. To a certain extent, this situation of a hundred schools of thought contending with each other reflects the diversity and inclusiveness of Chinese culture.
Although there is still no definitive conclusion, this ongoing discussion is a cultural phenomenon in itself. It reflects Chinese's thinking about the national image, the inheritance of traditional culture, and the importance of ecological protection. Regardless of which bird eventually becomes China's national bird, the process demonstrates the thoughtfulness and democratic participation of the Chinese people in their national symbols.
——[· Conclusion ·] ——"
The national bird is not just a simple symbol, but also a microcosm of a country's spirit and culture.
The bald eagle in the United States shows freedom and strength, the Gallic rooster in France embodies romance and courage, and China's choice of its national bird reflects cultural diversity and a cherishing of tradition.
These stories tell us that the selection and protection of national symbols is a dynamic process that requires the participation and efforts of the whole society. Whether it is an established national bird or a candidate under discussion, they all carry the memory and expectations of a nation, and are an important carrier of cultural inheritance and national identity.
【Disclaimer】The process and pictures described in the article are all from the Internet, and this article aims to advocate positive social energy and no vulgar and other bad guidance. If it involves copyright or character infringement issues, please contact us in time, and we will delete the content as soon as possible! If there is any doubt about the incident, it will be deleted or changed immediately after contact.
Information sources:
[1] National birds of all countries in the world
[2] Jinan Times 2008-09-19 : China's national bird selection sparked controversy