Excuse me, what are Qinglong, Baihu, Xuanwu and Suzaku?

China Ancient Four Spirit Beast+Kirin (Ancient and Modern)

The four most terrifying and powerful beasts in ancient China were Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu. Tsing lung and white tiger palm in all directions, Suzaku Xuanwu meets Yin and Yang, and the four-spirit beast is the black dragon and white tiger, Suzaku Xuanwu Tiansi spirit. Qinglong is the God of the East; White tiger is the god of the west; Zhu is known as the god of the south; Xuanwu is the god of the north, and the tortoise and snake are one. Therefore, there is a "three auxiliary maps" saying: "Qinglong, White Tiger, Suzaku, Xuanwu, Tiansi Spirit, taking the square as the square, the king makes the palace pavilion and takes the method." 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.

In ancient times, the dragon was a symbol of imperial power and an auspicious thing. "Ruiying Map" says: "Shun Dong patrol hunting, Huanglong negative map, placed in front of Shun." Some of the blue dragons in Han paintings represent auspiciousness, and some are sacred objects for ascending immortals to ride. Especially in the Han Dynasty, dragons were not only auspicious things, but also immortals. In ancient times, many gods and people traveled in Lapras. For example, Zhu Rong rode two dragons, Zhuan Xu and Lapras traveled around the world, and the Yellow Emperor Lapras ascended to heaven. Dragon is regarded as a god beast representing the east in the concept of five elements in Han Dynasty.

Qinglong, also known as "Black Dragon", is the God of the East in ancient mythology. Dragon is the totem of the Chinese nation. Since the Yellow Emperor entrusted it to Tianhe and weiser, it has been a symbol of the Chinese nation and even the whole of China, and its stereotype was in the Han Dynasty. Since the Great Han Dynasty, it has been identified as the symbol and representative of the emperor. In oriental legend, the dragon looks like a long snake, the head of a unicorn, the tail of a carp, a long beard, horns like deer and five claws, which is frightening. In western mythology, the dragon is more like a lizard with wings.

White tiger, the god of the west in ancient mythology. The figure is like a tiger and the white tiger is fierce, so it becomes a symbol of dignity. At the same time, the white tiger also symbolizes power and the army, so many places named after the white tiger in ancient times are related to the military, such as the white tiger flag in the ancient army and the white tiger statue on the military symbol. White tiger usually appears on the stone tomb door of Han dynasty, or is carved separately on both sides of the tomb lintel with Qinglong as a portrait to ward off evil spirits. "Yi Tong Customs" said: "The tiger, penis, the length of all animals, can beat the sharp, ghost-eating." In the concept of five elements in Han dynasty, the white tiger was regarded as a western god beast.

Suzaku, Phoenix, was honored as the king of birds in ancient times, which is a symbol of good luck. Totem, originally worshipped by eastern tribes, is like golden pheasant with colorful feathers. It is noble in nature, and it is necessary to choose food when drinking and branches when living. According to legend, the phoenix sees that the world is peaceful, so Suzaku's influence in ancient times is comparable to that of dragons, and it has become an important content of divination metaphysics. It is regarded as a god beast representing the south.

Suzaku, also known as "Suzaku", looks like a phoenix, the god of the South in ancient mythology. Because it looks like a bird, it is located in the south and has the property of fire, so it often appears in the form of a phoenix in the game. But in fact, Suzaku and Phoenix are two different creatures. Phoenix is the king of birds, but Suzaku is a spirit beast in the sky, which is rarer, nobler and more destructive than Phoenix. In Japanese comics and games, Suzaku appears as a powerful summoner or monster beast, such as the comic book A Tour of Bai Shu and the game of the same name adapted from the comic book.

Xuanwu, also called "Zhenwu", commonly known as "Zhenwu Emperor", is the god worshipped by Taoism. According to legend, the prince of Gu Jing Le Wang was born fierce and traveled in the East China Sea. When he met the immortal, he gave him a sword and went to Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province to practice. After 42 years of success, it rose during the day and became the Northern Xuanwu Army of Weizhen. But in the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Zhenwu because it was forbidden to use mysterious figures. Xuanwu is also said to be a big turtle in the North Sea. This turtle was once used as a pillar to support the whole Penglai Fairy Mountain. Because of its profound spiritual awareness, after years of hearing and seeing, it finally came to fruition. Therefore, there are many tortoise-borne tablets in the imperial mausoleum, which is the secret of Xuanwu. In addition, Xuanwu is also called Xuanming, so it is also called Beiming. Hearing this name, it is estimated that many readers will associate it with Bei Ming's return to the sea and Jin Yong's "The Legend of the North Ghost" written by Xiaoyao.

Xuanwu, shaped like a turtle and snake scale, is a combination of turtle and snake. Turtles have the spirit of ascending immortals. Hong Xingzu's Addendum to Chu Ci said: "Xuanwu is a tortoise and snake, so it is called Xuan because it is located in the north, and it is called Wu because it has scales." The name of Xuanwu comes from this, corresponding to the southern god Suzaku.

Kirin, a spirit beast symbolizing benevolence and auspiciousness in ancient legends of China, is shaped like a deer, a dragon's head, a unicorn, a lion's tail and a cow's hoof, covered with scales and with flames. "Kirin" takes "deer" as the radical. When the ancients coined the word, they clearly told people that Kirin evolved from deer, but it was by no means a deer, with more parts and equipment than deer. It is said that its body is like a raccoon, and it can also be written as an owl, which is called roe for short in ancient books; There is an ox tail, a round head, but only one horn. Some say that Qi is a man and Lin is a woman, and their shapes are slightly different. But it is said that the beginning of Qijia is roughly like a deer. It was regarded as a god beast and a benevolent beast by the ancients. Its life span is very long, it can live for two thousand years. Can spit fire, sound like thunder. Caterpillar 360, unicorn long.

Kirin is an auspicious animal. It is peaceful and long-lived. Deer itself is an animal trainer, strong and good at running, which is of great benefit to people. The legendary special god of Bailuyuan. There is a folk saying that Kirin sends children. Kirin is mainly deer, which has the characteristics of cattle, sheep and horses. Its comprehensive aspects are not as extensive as those of Longfeng, but its reputation is not small. The study of Kirin is not as popular as that of Longfeng culture. It is not clear who its original author is and where it came from. Some scholars speculate that it may be the ancestor of Zhou people, because Zhou people originally lived in the northwest, when the northwest was rich in aquatic plants and suitable for the growth of deer.

In slave society and feudal society, the dragon and phoenix were seized by the supreme ruler, losing the original meaning of totem synthesis and becoming the symbol of the emperor and queen of the supreme ruler. Kirin, with good nature, has been squeezed into the people in the power competition, and the people expect it to bring good years, good fortune, long life and beauty.

"The hunting party ... found a blue monster passing through the camp in high spirits. This monster is too fast. People can only see that it has curved horns on its head, bright blue feathers and regular bright patterns on its feathers. Everyone present admitted that they had never seen such a strange and beautiful beast ... "

Among the Taoist guardians, Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu specialize in guarding the gates, which are called "Four Elephants" and "Four Spirits".

Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu originated from the belief in the stars in ancient China. In ancient China, the sky was divided into four regions: east, north, west and south, which were called "four elephants", namely, the black dragon in the east, the Xuanwu (tortoise and snake) in the north, the white tiger in the west and the suzaku in the south. This "four elephants" is the image of four animals imagined by the ancients by connecting seven nights in each direction. For example, in the Oriental Black Dragon, the horns are like dragon horns, the rafters are like dragons, and the tails are like dragon tails. The southern rosefinch is like a bird of hibiscus, with a beak, a star for its neck, a piece of zinc and a feather purlin for its wings. Later, the ancients matched it with yin and yang, five elements, five parties and five colors, so there were Oriental Dragon, Western White Tiger, Southern Suzaku and Northern Xuanwu. Later, it was applied to military pits and ranks and became the patron saint of marching and fighting. For example, in the Book of Rites Quli, "OK, the former Zhu bird (sparrow) and then Xuanwu, the left Qinglong and the right white tiger, shaking in the building." Hao Chen wrote, "Yes, the army will leave. Suzaku, Xuanwu, Qinglong, Tiger, the name of the Quartet. " Then he said, "Liu, the flags are flying, all of them are flying, dragon flag nine, sparrow seven, tiger six, tortoise and snake four." In other words, its manifestation is to draw "four elephants" on the standard to show the front, back, left and right military formations, boost morale and achieve invincible goals. On its function, The Thirteen Classics, Book of Rites, Quli and Shang Notes says: "It is like a bird flying, like the poison of a tortoise and a snake, and the prosperity of a dragon and a tiger is incomparable with these four things." It can be seen that its role is great.

After the rise of Taoism, following the old saying, Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu were brought into the spiritual system, and as the guardian gods, they were extremely majestic. Bao Puzi Miscellaneous English quoted the Immortal Classic to describe the image of the old gentleman in Taishang, saying that there were twelve green dragons on the left, twenty-six white tigers on the right, twenty-four suzaku in front and seventy-two Xuanwu in the back. Very imposing, really imposing. Later, the four elephants were gradually personified and had their titles. According to the Secret of the Seven Yuan Purple Extension in the Arctic, the name of Qinglong is Meng Zhang Shen Jun, the name of White Tiger is Shen Jun, the name of Suzaku is Ling Shen Guang Jun, and the name of Xuanwu is Meiji Shen Jun. Soon, the belief in Xuanwu (Zhenwu) gradually expanded, and it stood out from the four elephants and became the "Great Emperor". Qinglong and Baihu are included in the list of door gods, specifically guarding the Taoist temple gate. Fan Zhineng's "Yueyang Geography" in the Song Dynasty said: "There are two gods in Laozi Temple, called Qinglong and Baihu." Yao Ming's "Shu Guan, a Private Record of Changshu" said: "The two great gods who came to the entrance of the Taoist Temple, on the left, were the gods of Qinglong, and on the right, were the gods of White Tiger.

Qinglong-the patron saint of the East in Taoism

Qinglong was originally the God of the East in ancient mythology, and one of the Seven Hosts and Four Elephants in the East in Taoism. Twenty-eight lodging houses, and seven lodging houses in the East (Jiao, Kang, Bian, Fang, Xin, Wei and Fan) have the image of dragons, which are located in the East, belong to wood and are blue in color, collectively called Qinglong, also known as Black Dragon. The forty-four volumes of Taizhi call Qinglong Dongdou as follows: "Jiao Su Tianmen, Kang Su Ting, Chang Su Tianfu, Su Fang Tian Yi Xing Jun, Xin Su Uranus Jun, Wei Su Tian Ji Xing Jun, Ji Su Tian Lu Xing Jun." As for its image, there are seven clouds in The Collection of Doors and Tongjiao: "Oriental Dragon Horn, full of pride, spits clouds and glows, thunders, flies to octupole, walks around the four ghosts and stands on my left. In addition, Taoism also uses it in alchemy. For example, Volume 72 of "Seven Chapters of Clouds" quotes the Dan of the four ancient gods, saying: The dragon is a dragon, and the oriental wood is also mercury. It is clear and unwilling, not turbid, not desirable, far away, and infinitely hidden, so it is called dragon.

White Tiger

The white tiger was originally the western god in ancient mythology, and it was one of the four images of the seven Pleiades in Taoism. The seven western lodgings (Kui, Lou, Stomach, Ang, Bi, tapir and Shen) in the twenty-eight lodgings are elephant tigers, located in the west, belonging to gold and white in color, which are collectively called white tigers. The emperor's father is like a vegetarian. Volume 44 says that the White Tiger Xi fights Xing Jun: "Xing Jun, a heavenly general in Su Kui, Xing Jun, a heavenly prison in Lousu, Xing Jun, Xing Jun, a star gentleman in Bi Su Tian, a star gentleman in Li Su Tianping, and a star gentleman in Shen Su Tianshui." As for its image, there are seven clouds in the book "The Collection of Daomen's General Education": "The West should be a tiger, with the quality of Yingying, and the tone should be fixed. At the same time, Taoism also uses it in alchemy. For example, Volume 72 of Yun Qi Tanabata quoted the Dan of the Four Gods in ancient books and said: "White tiger, western gold, also get a real position." "Jing" says: if a son succeeds, his wife's synonym and five elements are born together, which is also caused by essence. It can't move, so it's called a tiger.

rosefinch

Suzaku was originally the god of the south in ancient mythology, and one of the seven stars and four elephants in southern Taoism. The seven hotels in the south (Jing, Gui, Liu, Xing, Zhang, Yi and Zhu) are 28 hotels, with a dark image, located in the south, belonging to fire and red in color. They are collectively called Suzaku, also known as "Suzaku". In Volume 44 of Emperor Taizong Zhai Yi, the southern Cui surnames are: "Su Jing Tianjing Xing Jun belongs to Su Tiankui Xing Jun, Liu Su Chutian Xing Jun, Su Xingtian Kuxing Army, Su Zhang Libra Xingjun, Yisu Tiandu Xingjun and Jisu Tianjie Xingjun." As for its image, there are seven clouds in "Jiao Tong's Must-Use Collection": "Nan Zhu Cui, guide me from the length of birds, the change of Dan's points, the sound of blue thunder, the colorful colors and the six images of artifacts." At the same time, Taoism also uses it in alchemy. For example, Volume 72 of "Seven Chapters and Yunzhi" quoted the "Dan of Four Gods" in ancient classics, saying that Zhu Cui was the founder of Zhu Cui, and Nanding Binghuo Cinnabar was also a dragon, and it became a bird. Its qi rises to heaven, and its mass array is the ground, so it is the foundation of the Great Dan, and it flies when it sees fire, so it is obtained.

turtle

Xuanwu was originally the God of the North in ancient mythology and one of the Seven Stars and Four Elephants of Northern Taoism. The seven northern lodgings (bucket, female, virtual, dangerous, house and wall) and the twenty-eight lodgings are located in the north, also known as Guishetai, which belongs to water and has a mysterious color, and is collectively called "Xuanwu". Volume 44 of Emperor Tai Shang Ru Zhai Yi calls North Xuanwu Star Jun: "Dou Su Tian Miao Xing Jun, Niu Su Tian Ji Xing Jun, Female Su Tian Nv Jun, Xu Su Tian Qing Xing Jun, Su Su Tian Qian Xing Jun, Su Su Su Tian Qi Xing Jun, Su Bi Shi Tianxing Jun". As for its image, Jiao Tong's Essentials of Daomen has seven clouds: "North Xuanwu, Taiyin Metaplasia, and Virtual Danger. At the same time, Taoism also uses it in alchemy. For example, Volume 72 of Yun Qi Tanabata quoted the Dan of the Four Gods in ancient books and said, "Xuanwu is the black mercury in northern China, which can be soft and firm." "Jing" says: Bodhisattva is like water. Non-lead, non-tin, non-stone and the like, water is Hedong Shenshui, born before heaven and earth, so medicine can't be abandoned temporarily, and it can support everything, so it is called Xuanwu.

kylin

Kirin is a spirit beast symbolizing benevolence and auspiciousness in ancient legends of China. It is shaped like a deer, a dragon's head, a unicorn, a lion's tail and a cow's hoof, covered with scales and flames.

"Kirin" takes "deer" as the radical. When the ancients coined the word, they clearly told people that Kirin evolved from deer, but it was by no means a deer, with more parts and equipment than deer. It is said that its body is like a raccoon, and it can also be written as an owl, which is called roe for short in ancient books; There is an ox tail, a round head, but only one horn. Some say that Qi is a man and Lin is a woman, and their shapes are slightly different. But it is said that the beginning of Qijia is roughly like a deer. It was regarded as a god beast and a benevolent beast by the ancients. Its life span is very long, it can live for two thousand years. Can spit fire, sound like thunder. Caterpillar 360, unicorn long.

Kirin is an auspicious animal. It is peaceful and long-lived. Deer itself is an animal trainer, strong and good at running, which is of great benefit to people. The legendary special god of Bailuyuan. There is a folk saying that Kirin sends children. Kirin is mainly deer, which has the characteristics of cattle, sheep and horses. Its comprehensive aspects are not as extensive as those of Longfeng, but its reputation is not small. The study of Kirin is not as popular as that of Longfeng culture. It is not clear who its original author is and where it came from. Some scholars speculate that it may be the ancestor of Zhou people, because Zhou people originally lived in the northwest, when the northwest was rich in aquatic plants and suitable for the growth of deer.

In slave society and feudal society, the dragon and phoenix were seized by the supreme ruler, losing the original meaning of totem synthesis and becoming the symbol of the emperor and queen of the supreme ruler. Kirin, with good nature, has been squeezed into the people in the power competition, and the people expect it to bring good years, good fortune, long life and beauty. "

The hunting party ... found a blue monster passing by the camp happily. This monster is too fast. People can only see that it has curved horns on its head, bright blue feathers and regular bright patterns on its feathers. Everyone present admitted that they had never seen such a strange and beautiful beast ... "