Chinese Birdcages

Most Chinese cities have a bird market where every morning you can see old man taking their birds out to "air".  They cover the cage with a cloth until they reach either the market or a park. Perhaps the birds enjoy talking together?  In Hong Kong there’s a large market at Mong Konk - selling cages and live crickets in plastic bags, as well as birds and accessories.  

Chinese everywhere enjoy the chirping of birdsong – it’s said to lift the spirit.   However, birds as pets go back a long in other cultures too.  Doves and parrots were caged for their beauty and mystery in ancient Egypt, where you can still see them depicted in hieroglyphics. Romans kept birds, and it was considered the duty of a slave to care for domesticated beasts.  And in India, the Mynah has been considered a sacred bird for over 2,000 years.

The wealthy treasured the elegance of caged birds to be a symbol of style and sophistication. A few hundred years ago, Western traders in the Far East brought exotic birds as pets back home along with their spices.  Bamboo and wooden birdcages were hung near open windows in many kitchens in the American Colonies.  By the Victorian era, decorative cages became important ornamentation within the parlor.

Its’ likely today’s Chinese birdcages were made the same way thousands of years ago - weaving bamboo, cane, wooden twigs, rope mesh, or reeds.  Much more elegant than Western-style wire mesh cages which are believed by many bird owners to be uncomfortable for their pets - cold and unnatural.

Chinese birdcages are often designed in polygonal shapes with three or four sides, as well as round.  This makes them look interesting, as well as being further enhanced by elaborate decoration like pagoda roofs or ornate carvings.

A bird cage needs to be large enough to accommodate the motion and daily activities of its inhabitant.  However, for practicality, smaller cages are usually preferred.  It’s important to choose a cage where the bottom can be removed for cleaning and has seed and water catches attached.  For those who have neither the time nor patience to look after a pet, an oriental birdcage makes an elegant decorative addition to every home.