What were the sacred animals in ancient China?

The four ancient beasts refer to Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu.

Qinglong is the God of the East; White tiger is the god of the west; Suzaku is the god of the south; Xuanwu is the god of the north, and the tortoise and snake are one. So there are "Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku, Xuanwu, Tiansiling, Tongfang and Wangzhi temples." Statement.

The ancient ancients divided the sky into four palaces, east, west, north and south, named after Qinglong (black dragon), white tiger, Suzaku and Xuanwu (a turtle-shaped god). In fact, the sky is divided into four parts, which are connected by seven main stars in each part and named after their shapes.

The horn, horn, room, heart, tail and dustpan of the East Palace are shaped like dragons, so it is called Qinglong or Black Dragon.

The seven western stars, Kui, Lou, Stomach, Ang, Bi, Horn and Shen, are shaped like tigers, calling the West Palace the White Tiger.

The well, ghost, willow, star, Zhang, wing and net in the south are bird-shaped, called suzaku;

The northern seven-star bucket, cow, female, empty, dangerous, houses and walls are shaped like turtles and called Xuanwu.

As a result, Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu have become the four gods who guard the heavenly officials, create evil and regulate Yin and Yang. Among the four gods, Qinglong and Baihu are mainly regarded as spirits to ward off evil spirits, and their images mostly appear in palaces, temples, gates or tombs and their artifacts. On the last occasion, the dragon is not helping the tomb owner ascend to heaven, but deterring evil spirits and defending the soul peace of the tomb owner.

There are dragons and white tigers in all directions, Suzaku Xuanwu is in harmony with Yin and Yang, and the four spirits, black dragon and white tiger, Suzaku Xuanwu Heaven, rarely appear in European and American fantasy, but in Chinese and Japanese myths and legends, they appear as incomparable Four Holy Beasts.