Four Symbols

Short description: Mythological creatures in Chinese constellations

Four Symbols

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Four Gods

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Neidan Illustration of Bringing Together the Four Symbols Template:Langn, 1615 Xingming guizhi

The Four Symbols are mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic, and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. These four creatures are also referred to by a variety of other names, including "Four Guardians", "Four Gods", and "Four Auspicious Beasts". They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Turtle-Snake (also called "Black Warrior") of the North. Each of the creatures is most closely associated with a cardinal direction and a color, but also additionally represents other aspects, including a season of the year, an emotion, virtue, and one of the Chinese "five elements" (wood, fire, metal, and water; earth is excluded, instead being represented by the Yellow Dragon). Each has been given its own individual traits, origin story and a reason for being. Symbolically, and as part of spiritual and religious belief and meaning, these creatures have been culturally important across countries in the Sinosphere.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 In I Ching
* 3 Correspondence with the Five Phases
* 4 In popular culture
* 5 See also
* 6 References

## History

Depictions of mythological creatures clearly ancestral to the modern set of four creatures have been found throughout China. Currently, the oldest known depiction was found in 1987 in a tomb in Xishuipo in Puyang, Henan, which has been dated to approximately 5300 BC. In the tomb, labeled M45, immediately adjacent to the remains of the main occupant to the east and west were found mosaics made of clam shells and bones forming images closely resembling the Azure Dragon and White Tiger, respectively.[1]

The modern standard configuration was settled much later, with variations appearing throughout Chinese history. For example, the Rong Cheng Shi manuscript recovered in 1994, which dates to the Warring States period (c. 453–221 BCE), gives five directions rather than four and places the animals differently. According to that document, Yu the Great gave directional banners to his people, marked with the following insignia: the north with a bird, the south with a snake, the east with the sun, the west with the moon, and the center with a bear.[2] The Chinese classic Book of Rites mentions the Vermillion Bird, Black Turtle-Snake (Dark Warrior), Azure Dragon, and White Tiger as heraldic animals on war flags;[3] they were the names of asterisms associated with the four cardinal directions: South, North, East, and West, respectively.[4]

In Taoism, the Four Symbols have been assigned human identities and names. The Azure Dragon is named Meng Zhang (孟章), the Vermilion Bird is called Ling Guang (陵光), the White Tiger Jian Bing (監兵), and the Black Turtle-Snake Zhi Ming (執明). Its Japanese equivalent, in corresponding order: Seiryū (east), Suzaku (south), Byakko (west), Genbu (north).

The colours associated with the four creatures can be said to match the colours of soil in the corresponding areas of China: the bluish-grey water-logged soils of the east, the reddish iron-rich soils of the south, the whitish saline soils of the western deserts, the black organic-rich soils of the north, and the yellow soils from the central loess plateau.[5]

## In I Ching

The chapter The Great Treatise I (系辞上; 繫辭上; Xì cí shàng) in the I Ching (易经; 易經; 'Classics of Changes') describes the origins of the Four Symbols thus:[6][7]

> 易有太極，
>  是生兩儀，
>  兩儀生四象，
>  四象生八卦，

> |

> Yì yǒu tàijí，
>  shì shēng liǎngyí，
>  liǎngyí shēng sìxiàng
>  sìxiàng shēng bāguà，

> |

> In Change there is the Supreme Polarity (太极; 太極; tàijí; Taiji),
>  which generates the Two Modes (两仪; 兩儀; liǎngyí; Liangyi).
>  The Two Modes generate the Four Images (四象; sìxiàng; Sixiang),
>  and the Four Images generate the Eight Trigrams (八卦; bāguà; Bagua).

> 
|
|

## Correspondence with the Five Phases

Bronze mirror with cosmological decoration from the Belitung shipwreck, including Bagua and the Four Auspicious Beasts

These mythological creatures have also been syncretized into the Five Phases system (wuxing). The Azure Dragon of the East represents Wood, the Vermilion Bird of the South represents Fire, the White Tiger of the West represents Metal, and the Black Tortoise (or Black Warrior) of the North represents Water. In this system, the fifth principle Earth is represented by the Yellow Dragon of the Center.[8]

Four Auspicious Beasts | Five directions | Four seasons | Times of day[9] | Five colors | Wuxing | Four Symbols | Yao | Five Gods[10]

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Azure Dragon | East | Spring | Dawn | Blue-green | Wood | Young yang | 少陽 ⚎ | Goumang (句芒) / Chong (重)
Vermilion Bird | South | Summer | Midday | Red | Fire | Old yang | 老陽 ⚌ | Zhurong (祝融) / Li (犁)
White Tiger | West | Autumn | Dusk | White | Metal | Young yin | 少陰 ⚍ | Rushou (蓐收) / Gai (該)
Black Turtle-Snake | North | Winter | Midnight | Black | Water | Old yin | 老陰 ⚏ | Xuanming (玄冥) / Xiu & Xi (修 & 熙)
Yellow Dragon or Qilin | Central |  |  | Yellow | Earth |  |  | Houtu (后土) / Goulong (句龍)

## In popular culture

The Four Symbols are represented in an inspired line of skins for characters of the first-person-shooter Overwatch. In the game's 2018 Chinese New Year (Year of the Dog) event, playable characters Zarya, Mercy, Pharah, and Genji received cosmetic skins based on the Black Turtle-Snake (Xuanwu), the Vermillion Bird (Zhuque), the Azure Dragon (Qinglong), and the White Tiger (Baihu), respectively.[non-primary source needed]

In the Nintendo DS game Pokémon Black and White, Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus have forms that are inspired by the Vermillion Bird, the Azure Dragon, and the White Tiger respectively. Later, Software:Pokémon Legends: Arceus completed the set with Enamorus, which is inspired by the Black Turtle-Snake.[non-primary source needed]

In the Webtoon The God of High School, Daewi Han's "Secret Art of the Four Guardian Gods" technique consists of four stances named after the Four Symbols: The Fist of the Black Turtle, the Kick of The Red Phoenix, the Dance of The White Tiger, and the Wave of the Blue Dragon.[non-primary source needed]

In the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online, by Square Enix, the expansion Stormblood features a quest-line and trial series inspired by The Four Symbols called "The Four Lords". The Four Lords all bear a resemblance to each of the Four Symbols along with their Japanese names: Genbu (Black Turtle-Snake), Byakko (White Tiger), Suzaku (Vermilion Bird), and Seiryu (Azure Dragon).[non-primary source needed]

In the turn-based strategy game series Dominions, by Illwinter Game Design, the White Tiger of the West, Vermillion Bird of the South, Azure Dragon of the East and Black Turtle-Snake of the North are available as Pretender Gods.[non-primary source needed]

In the Beyblade manga and anime, characters use Beyblades that are inspired by the Four Symbols: Dragoon for the Azure Dragon, Dranzer for the Vermillion Bird, Driger for the White Tiger, and Draciel for the Black Turtle-Snake. A fifth such Beyblade was added in the first movie and made a few subsequent appearances, Strata Dragoon for the Yellow Dragon.[non-primary source needed]

In the Digimon franchise, the Four Holy Beasts are a group of Digimon designed after the Four Symbols. Qinglongmon debuted in the anime Digimon Adventure 02. In Digimon Tamers, it reappeared along with Zhuqiaomon, Xuanwumon and Baihumon. The names are based on Chinese words for Blue Dragon, Red Sparrow, Black Warrior and White Tiger, respectively.

In the young adult science fantasy novel Iron Widow by Canadian writer Xiran Jay Zhao, several characters pilot mechas inspired by three of the Four Symbols: The Vermilion Bird, The Black Turtle-Snake, and The White Tiger.[11][non-primary source needed]

The Four Symbols frequently appear in the Megami Tensei franchise as difficult combat encounters who can be summoned by the player after they are defeated, and in Devil Survivor 2: The Animation, Baihu is the personal demon of the protagonist Hibiki.[12] The Four Symbols also appear as Personas in the Persona spin-off series, where they are referred to by their Japanese names.

In Fushigi Yûgi the Four Symbols are gods within the book "The Universe of the Four Gods" that grants three wishes to the summoned priestess from another world.

## See also

A Han-dynasty pottery tile emblematically representing the five cardinal directions

* Four Heavenly Kings
* Wudaxian
* Guardians of the directions
* Philosophy:Chinese astrology - Astrology based on Chinese astronomy
* Astronomy:Chinese constellations - Celestial groupings used in Chinese astrology
* Four Living Creatures - Class of heavenly beings
* Religion:Four Mountains - Four deities, heroes or legendary mountains in Chinese mythology
* Religion:Four Perils - Four malevolent beings in Chinese mythology
* Four Seas - Metaphorical boundaries of ancient China
* Astronomy:Purple Forbidden enclosure - Chinese historical constellation
* Astronomy:Royal stars - Persian definition in astronomy
* Unsolved:Tetramorph
* Religion:Wufang Shangdi - Traditional Chinese fivefold deity

## References

1. ↑ "西水坡遺址里的圖案擺放，預示著古代某種神秘的星象" (in zh-tw). 2018-04-30. https://kknews.cc/history/op8934p.html.
2. ↑ Pines, Yuri. "Political Mythology and Dynastic Legitimacy in the Rong Cheng Shi Manuscript ". Bulletin of SOAS, Vol. 73, No. 3 (2010), p. 515.
3. ↑ Liji, "Qu Li Shang (Summary of the Rules of Propriety Part 1)", 69 quote: "行：前朱鳥而後玄武，左青龍而右白虎。" James Legge's translation: "On the march the (banner with the) Red Bird should be in front; that with the Dark Warrior behind; that with the Azure Dragon on the left; and that with the White Tiger on the right".
4. ↑ Zheng Xuan (annotator) & Kong Yingda (clarifier), Book of Rites: Annotated and Clarified, "Vol 3. Qu Li 1". Siku Quanshu version. p. 27 of 158. quote: "前南後北，左東右西。朱鳥、玄武、青龍、白虎，四方宿名也。"
5. ↑ Brady, N.; Weil, R. (2014). Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soil. p. 89.
6. ↑ Book of Changes "繫辭上 - Xi Ci I (The Great Treatise) 11.3" with James Legge's translation
7. ↑ Zhu Xi (2020). The Original Meaning of the Yijing: Commentary on the Scripture of Change.. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 46.
8. ↑ Schirokauer, Conrad; Brown, Miranda (2005). A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations (3rd ed.). Thomson/Wadsworth. ISBN 0-534-64307-8.
9. ↑ Ashkenazy, Gary (16 November 2016). "The Hidden or Implied Meaning of Chinese Charm Symbols – 諧音寓意 – Differences between Chinese Coins and Chinese Charms" (in en). http://primaltrek.com/impliedmeaning.html.
10. ↑ Zuozhuan "Duke Zhao's 29th year - zhuan". quote:「夫物，物有其官，官修其方，朝夕思之。……故有五行之官，是謂五官，……木正曰句芒，火正曰祝融，金正曰蓐收，水正曰玄冥，土正曰后土。……少皞氏有四叔，曰重、曰該、曰修、曰熙，實能金、木及水。使重為句芒，該為蓐收，修及熙為玄冥，……此其三祀也。顓頊氏有子曰犁，為祝融；共工氏有子曰句龍，為后土，……」. Translation by Durrant, Li, & Schberg (2016) "Every kind of thing has its official, who is charged with perfecting the methods for it and keeping these in mind day and night. [...] Thus, there were the officials of the Five Resources(/ Agents / Phases), known as the Five Officials. [...] The Director for Wood was known as Goumang, the Director for Fire was known as Zhurong, the Director for Metal was known as Rushou, the Director for Water was known as Xuanming, and the Director for Earth was known as Houtu.[...] Shaohao had four younger brothers named Chong, Gai, Xiu, and Xi, who were talented with metal, wood, and water. He made Chong the Goumang, or Director for Wood; Gai the Rushou, or Director for Metal; and Xiu and Xi the Xuanming, or Director for Water.[...] Zhuanxu had a son named Li, who was the Zhurong, or Director for Fire. Gonggong had a son named Goulong, who was the Houtu, or Director for Earth. [...]"
11. ↑ "Iron Widow Mechas – Xiran Jay Zhao". https://xiranjayzhao.com/index.php/iron-widow-mechas/.
12. ↑ Devil Survivor 2: The Animation. Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2026-02-12.

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Chinese mythology

Overview topics|

* Creation myth
* Godly world concepts
* Astrology
* Dragons
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* Tian
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Major personages|

* Deities
* Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
* Eight Immortals
* Shennong
* Yellow Emperor
* Yan Emperor
* Chiyou
* Hou Yi
* Kua Fu

Creatures|

* Four Symbols
* Black Tortoise
* Azure Dragon
* White Tiger
* Vermilion Bird
* Yellow Dragon
* Four Benevolent Animals
* Qilin
* Fenghuang
* Yinglong
* Spirit turtle
* Huli jing
* Chinese guardian lions
* Pixiu (Bixie)
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Places|

* Fusang
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Popular literary works|

* Classic of Mountains and Seas
* Shi Yi Ji
* The Peach Blossom Spring
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* Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio
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* Tian Xian Pei
* What the Master Would Not Discuss
* Heavenly Questions (Chu Ci)
* Huainanzi
* Records of the Grand Historian

* v
* t
* e

Chinese constellations

Three Enclosures (三垣)|

* Purple Forbidden enclosure (紫微垣)
* Supreme Palace enclosure (太微垣)
* Heavenly Market enclosure (天市垣)

Four Symbols (四象) and
Twenty-Eight Mansions (二十八宿)|

East – Azure Dragon (青龍)
Horn (角)
Neck (亢)
Root (氐)
Room (房)
Heart (心)
Tail (尾)
Winnowing Basket (箕)

South – Vermilion Bird (朱雀)
Well (井)
Ghost (鬼)
Willow (柳)
Star (星)
Extended Net (張)
Wings (翼)
Chariot (軫)

West – White Tiger (白虎)
Legs (奎)
Bond (婁)
Stomach (胃)
Hairy Head (昴)
Net (畢)
Turtle Beak (觜)
Three Stars (參)

North – Black Tortoise (玄武)
Dipper (斗)
Ox (牛)
Girl (女)
Emptiness (虛)
Rooftop (危)
Encampment (室)
Wall (壁)

Center – Yellow Dragon (黃龍)
Earth

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