Culture Smart: Wrap a Gift and Don’t Forget the Feather
China’s swan feather legend is a gift to the world.
© Denis Zaporozhtsev / Hemera
In Chinese tradition, the legend of the swan feather dates to the Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE) and is still relevant today, especially during this gift-giving season.
According to legend, a local official in a far-away vassal state asked Mian Bogao to take two swans to the emperor as a gift. Such gift-giving was customary to show respect to the emperor, and swans (rarely found in China) were the most precious of gifts.
A single swan feather sends a significant message.
© Lendy 16 / iStock
Mian set out on the long journey. As he neared his destination, he stopped by a lake to wash the swans. Freed from their cage, however, the two swans escaped and left only a feather behind.
Though Mian had now lost the precious gift for the emperor, he knew he had to complete his mission. He wrapped the...
