The Thousand-Year Phoenix: An Artisan Silk Scarf Woven with History
Folk FormQuick answer: The phoenix on our Phoenix Dance scarf comes from Ly and Tran period art, where it is linked to the empress and stands for prosperity, harmony and rebirth. It is hand-printed in Hanoi on 16 momme mulberry silk. A 26 inch square is $97 and a 36 inch square is $153.
What does the phoenix mean on a silk scarf?
In Vietnamese court art the phoenix is linked to the empress. It stands for prosperity, harmony, transformation and rebirth, which is why it is the motif people choose for a new beginning. Our Phoenix Dance design, Phung Vu Van Ca, is drawn from the Ly and Tran periods: a phoenix perched on a bodhi leaf, royal clouds and an old lotus.
It comes in pastel pink, pastel green and purple. The longer story is in the phoenix as a new beginning.
How is the scarf made?
It is 100% mulberry silk, 16 momme, hand-printed in Hanoi with one screen for each color, and the edge is rolled and stitched by hand. You can check the print by turning the scarf over: the color should go through almost as strongly as on the front. For the difference from digital printing, see Hand Screen-Printed vs Digital.
Two Phoenix Dance colorways, purple and pink, have independent thread-density reports from a laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, dated 12 May 2025. The reports cover only the 30 x 30 cm samples that were tested, so we cite them for those prints and no others.
If the shoulder drape appeals most, the 36 inch squares give the Phoenix room to open across a blazer, while the 26 inch size sits more neatly in a Parisian knot. You can see the motif in both within the Phoenix Dance collection (BLOG5 at checkout takes 5% off the total).
Which size should you choose?
A 26 in (65 cm) square at $97 sits neatly in a Parisian knot, and a 36 in (90 cm) square at $153 gives the phoenix room to open across a blazer. A twilly, 2.6 x 59 in (6.5 x 150 cm), is $57. See the Phoenix Dance collection, the 26 inch scarves, the 36 inch scarves and the full scarf collection.
How do you wear it?
As a neck knot, as a band on a bag, in the hair or folded over a shoulder. The simplest way to start is a loose knot at the collar. How to Wear a Silk Scarf and How to Tie a Silk Scarf on a Handbag show it step by step.
Is it a good gift for her?
For a woman beginning something, a new job, a graduation, a recovery or a move, it is. The phoenix gives you a sentence for the card without needing a speech. It arrives in a rigid gift box with a story card and, if you leave a message at checkout, a handwritten note. More choices are in the silk scarf gift guide. The honest limit is that she should be someone who wears accessories; otherwise choose a necklace.
Delivery and care
Orders leave Hanoi in 1 to 3 business days and reach a US address 9 to 15 business days later. Import duty is already paid, shipping is free from $90, and returns are open for 30 days. Dry cleaning is the safest care. See all our guides.
Answers for The Thousand-Year Phoenix
What does the phoenix symbolize on a silk scarf?
In Vietnamese court art the phoenix is linked to the empress. It stands for prosperity, harmony, transformation and rebirth, which is why it suits someone starting a new chapter.
How is the phoenix scarf printed?
It is hand-printed in Hanoi on 16 momme mulberry silk, with one screen for each color, and the edge is rolled and stitched by hand. Turn it over and the color should show almost as strongly on the back.
What size silk scarf is best for a Parisian knot?
The 26 inch (65 cm) square sits neatly in a Parisian knot, while the 36 inch (90 cm) square gives the phoenix room to open across a blazer. The 26 inch is $97 and the 36 inch is $153.
Is a silk scarf a good anniversary gift for her?
Yes, if she wears accessories. It gives her a story rather than a generic present, and the phoenix honors renewal and grace. Returns are accepted within 30 days if the gift is unworn.
