The Four Elephants (or Four Phases) refer to the green dragon, white tiger, red bird, and Xuanwu in traditional Chinese culture, which represent the four directions of east, west, south, and north respectively. In the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the four images are used to divide the stars in the sky, also known as the four gods and four spirits. In the astronomical Yin-Yang theory of the Spring and Autumn Annals, it refers to the natural phenomena of the four seasons, which are called Shaoyang, Sun, Shaoyin and Taiyin respectively. The traditional Chinese orientation is with the south at the top, which is different from the modern orientation with the north at the top. Therefore, when describing the directions of the four images, we would say left Qinglong (east), right white tiger (west), front Zhuque (south), and back Xuanwu (north). It expresses and echoes the Five Elements in terms of orientation (East Wood, West Metal, North Water, South Fire). The concept of the Four Symbols was extremely valued in ancient Japan and Korea. These countries were often called the Four Saints and the Four Sacred Beasts. It is worth noting that although people have become accustomed to this saying due to the influence of Japanese pop culture recently, in fact, China has never had a term for these four sages. The four sages generally referred to are Fuxi, King Wen, Duke Zhou, and Confucius and other four saints. The four phenomena also refer to wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, the four natural weather conditions. For more exciting videos, go to the HD 1916 Film and Television Network www.hd1916.com for high definition and high speed. Invite you to enjoy the best movies together.

Four Symbols [1]: It belongs to the category of traditional culture in my country.

The ancients imagined the seven constellations in each of the four directions of east, south, west and north as four animal images, called "four images".

The Eastern Qisu resembles a giant dragon flying in the night sky in spring and early summer, so it is called the "East Palace Canglong";

The Northern Qisu resembles snakes and turtles appearing in the night sky in summer and early autumn. Therefore, it is called "Xuanwu in the North Palace";

The Qisu in the west is like a tiger leaping out of the night sky in late autumn and early winter, so it is called the "White Tiger in the West Palace";

The Qisu in the south is like a bird spreading its wings The flying Suzaku appears in the night sky in the cold winter and early spring, so it is called "Nangong Suzaku".

In ancient Chinese astrology, it refers to the Eastern Canglong (Green Dragon), the Western White Tiger, the Southern Suzaku, and the Northern Xuanwu.

Among the Taoist guardian gods, there is one specifically used to guard Taoist temples. The gods of the mountain gate are Qinglong, White Tiger, Suzaku, and Xuanwu. They are called the "Four Symbols" or the "Four Spirits." For example, in the Tianshi Cave (ancient Taoist temple) in Qingcheng Mountain, a Taoist resort, there is a temple on the left and right in front of the majestic mountain gate. The left hall has a mighty green dragon statue, named Meng Zhang, and the right hall has a brave white tiger statue, named Supervisor. God Lord. Qinglong

Qinglong was originally the God of the East in ancient mythology and one of the four images of the Taoist Eastern Seven Constellations. It is the eastern seven constellations of the twenty-eight constellations (Jiao, Kang, Di, Fang, Xin, Wei, Ji). It looks like a dragon, is located in the east, belongs to wood, and is green in color. It is generally called Qinglong, also known as Canglong. Volume 44 of "Tai Shang Huang Lu Zhai Yi" calls Qinglong Dongdou Xingjun as: "Spica as the star of Tianmen, Kang as the star of Tingting, Di as the star of Tianfu, Fang as the star of Tiansi, and heart as the star of Uranus. Osu Tianjixingjun, Jisu Tianluxingjun. "As for its image, Volume 7 of "The Must-Use Collection of Taoist Tongjiao" says: "The spirit of an Eastern dragon with horns exhales clouds and gloomy energy, shouts thunder and makes a sound, flies to the eight extremes, travels around the four underworlds, and comes to stand on my left. In addition, Taoism also uses it in alchemy terms. For example, Volume 72 of "Yunji Qixuan" quotes the names of the four gods of elixirs in the "Ancient Classics": Qinglong is the mercury of the eastern Jiayi wood. It can be clear and unclear, and it cannot be disturbed. Turbidity means that you can't get close to it, and you can't leave it if you are far away. It is hidden and changes endlessly, so it is called dragon.

White Tiger

The White Tiger was originally the God of the West in ancient mythology and one of the four images of the Western Seven Constellations in Taoism. It is the seven western constellations of the twenty-eight constellations (Kui, Lou, Wei, Ang, Bi, Xi, and Shen). Its image is a tiger, located in the west, belonging to gold and white in color, and is generally called the white tiger. Volume 44 of "Tai Shang Huang Lu Zhai Yi" calls the White Tiger West Dou Xingjun as: "Kuisu Tianjiang Xingjun, Lousu Tianyou Xingjun, Weisu Tiancang Xingjun, Angsu Tianmu Xingjun, Bisu Tianerxing" Lord, Lord of Heavenly Ping Star, Lord of Ritel and Heavenly Water Star." As for his image, Volume 7 of "Taoist Tongjiao Yiji" says: "In the West, the Lord of Heavenly Ping Xing is born with heroic qualities, quiet and clear voice, intimidating beasts, and roaring. Move the mountains and forests, come and establish me." At the same time, Taoism also uses it in alchemy terms. For example, Volume 72 of "Yunji Qixi" quotes the elixir of the four gods from the "Ancient Sutra": "White Tiger, Western Geng Xin Gold." Platinum is also the position of true one. "The Sutra" says: If you get the name of "lady", it will be influenced by the five elements and it will not move, so it is called tiger. p>

Suzaku

Suzaku was originally the god of the south in ancient mythology. It is one of the seven stars and four elephants in the south of Taoism. , Zhang, Yi, Zhen), its image is a bird, located in the south, belongs to fire, and is red in color. It is generally called Zhuque, also known as "Zhunia". Volume 44 of "Tai Shang Huang Lu Zhai Yi" calls the Southern Suzaku Star Lord: "Well." The star of Tianjing is the star of Tianjing, the star of Gui is of Tiankui, the star of Liu is of Tianchu, the star of Xingsu is of Tianku, the star of Zhang is of Libra, the star of Yi is of Tiandu, and the star of Zhen is of Tianjie. "As for its image, Volume 7 of "Music Collection of Taoist Tongjiao" says: "The Southern Suzaku, the leader of all birds, is born from the elixir hole, with the sound of blue thunder, the five colors of strange colors, and the six sacred images, come to guide me. "At the same time, Taoism also uses it in the terminology of alchemy. For example, Volume 72 of "Yunji Qixuan" quotes the "Elixir of the Four Gods" from the "Ancient Classics" and says: Suzaku is the Bingding fire cinnabar in the south. When the liquid is scraped, it becomes a dragon. The Qi becomes a bird, its rising Qi becomes the sky, and its mass formation becomes the earth, so it is the foundation of the great elixir. It flies when it sees fire, so it is called the Vermilion Bird.

Xuanwu

Xuanwu was originally the God of the North in ancient mythology and one of the seven stars and four elephants in the north of Taoism. It is the northern seven constellations of the twenty-eight constellations (Dou, Nu, Xu, Danger, Room, Wall). Its image is a turtle, also known as the Turtle and Snake Platform. It is located in the north, belongs to water, and is black in color. It is generally called "Xuanwu". Volume 44 of "Tai Shang Huang Lu Zhai Yi" calls the northern Xuanwu star king as: "Dou Xing Temple Xing Jun, Niu Xing Tian Ji Xing Jun, Female Xing Tian Nu Xing Jun, Xu Xing Tian Qing Xing Jun, Wei Xing Tian Qian Xing Jun "The room is the star king of Tianlin, and the wall is the star king of Tianshi." As for its image, Volume 7 of "Taomen Tongjiao Must Use Collection" says: "Northern Xuanwu, born from Taiyin, is in the shape of a tortoise and snake platform, wandering around nine. The earth governs all spirits and comes from my right." At the same time, Taoism also uses it in alchemy terms. For example, Volume 72 of "Yunji Qizhu" quotes the elixir of the four gods in the "Ancient Sutra" as: "Xuanwu, the north." Rengui water is black and mercury, it can be both soft and hard. "The Sutra says: The Supreme Bodhisattva is like water. It is not lead, tin, or stones. The water is the sacred water from the east of the river. It was born before the heaven and the earth. It is the best medicine that cannot be left behind for a while. It can nourish all things, so it is called Xuanwu.