![]() ![]() As there was no identifying star at the centre of the Black Tortoise, the appropriate place (the eleventh mansion) was called Void.” The Dragon's Heart, the Pleiades, and the Bird Star are the names of three of the lunar mansions which marked the central position of the Dragon, Tiger and Bird. The four celestial animals, which have no connection with the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, are also the names of the four divisions of the sky. Each animal has its own color: the Dragon is the Green of Spring, the Bird the red of Fire, the Tiger of Autumn the glittering white of metal (of ploughshares or swords), and the Tortoise Black, for night, or water. The Four Directions have been represented at least since the second century BC by four celestial animals, the Dragon for the East, the Bird for the South, the Tiger for the West, and the Tortoise for the North. Together with the Center, which in Chinese is synonymous with China itself, they form the five cardinal points. Writes Walters: “The four directions, east, south, west and north, represent the four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. In Japan notable examples of the shishin are found on the walls of the tomb chamber in the tumulus Takamatsuzuka 高松塚 of the Asuka period, and on the base of the Yakushi Triad, Yakushi Sansonzō 薬師三尊像 at Yakushiji Temple 薬師寺, both in Nara. Frequently painted on the walls of early Chinese and Korean tombs, the animals served primarily an apotropaic function warding off evil spirits. The pictorial theme developed around the Warring States to Early Han period in China. They are also found on the base of the Yakushi Triad 薬師三尊像 at Yakushi-ji Temple 薬師寺, also in Nara.Īncient Chinese mythical animals associated with the four cardinal directions: green/blue dragon (Chn: Qinglong 青龍, Jp: Seiryuu) of the east white tiger (Chn: Baihu 白虎, Jp: Byakko) of the west red phoenix (Ch: Zhuque 朱雀, Jp: Suzaku) of the south and black warrior (Chn: Xuan Wu 玄武, Jp: Genbu) of the north, a tortoise-like chimera with the head and tail of a serpent. The four were probably introduced to Japan from China sometime in the 7th century AD, for their images are found on the tomb walls at Takamatsuzuka 高松塚 in Nara, which was built sometime in the Asuka period (600 - 710 AD). In any case, the four animals are much more prevalent in artwork in China than in Japan, although in Japan one can still find groupings of the four creatures. ![]() The latter four are the Buddhist guardians of the four directions who serve Lord Taishakuten (who represents the center), and are closely associated with China’s Theory of Five Elements. In Japan, the symbolism of the four creatures appears to have merged with and been supplanted by the Shitennō (Four Heavenly Kings). There was a fifth direction - the center, representing China itself - which carried its own seishuku. ![]() Each of the four groups of seven is associated with one of the four celestial creatures. Further, each corresponds to a quadrant in the sky, with each quadrant containing seven seishuku, or star constellations (also called the 28 lunar mansions or lodges for charts, see this outside site). Each creature has a corresponding season, color, element, virtue, and other traits. In China, the four date back to at least the 2nd century BC. See 28 Constellations.įour Guardians of the Four Compass Directions.Īssociated closely with China’s Five Element Theory.Īt the heart of Chinese mythology are four spiritual creatures (Sì Shòu 四獸) - four celestial emblems - each guarding a direction on the compass. Red Bird (Phoenix) = South, Summer, Red, FireĮach is associated with seven constellations. White Tiger (Kirin) = West, Fall, White, Metal Tortoise (Black Warrior) = North, Winter, Black, Water Also known in JapanĪs the Shijū 四獣, Shishō 四象, or Shirei 四霊.Ĭlick images to jump to specific creatures. Four Guardians of the Four Compass Directions
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