The meaning of white tiger

As a symbolic cultural symbol, the White Tiger bears rich historical, literary and religious connotations.

In the traditional culture of China, the white tiger is usually regarded as one of the four elephants, representing the west, autumn and gold, and also a symbol of illness and death. This image originated from ancient myths, Taoist and Buddhist traditions, and penetrated into people's beliefs and literary works, becoming a profound cultural symbol.

First of all, the symbolic significance of the white tiger in China traditional culture mainly comes from its status as one of the four elephants. The four elephants are Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu, representing the east, west, south and north directions respectively. White tiger lives in the west, representing autumn. In the ancient five elements theory, the white tiger corresponds to gold, so it is also related to gold.

Secondly, the white tiger plays an important role in Taoism and Buddhism. In Taoism, the white tiger is regarded as one of the gods of the underworld, leading the west and in charge of the cycle of life and death. The white tiger is often depicted as the existence with mysterious power in "Tai Shang Lao Jun said Chang Jing Qing Jing".

At the same time, the white tiger also appears in some Buddhist stories, which is related to the Buddhist concept of life and death. This religious symbol endows the White Tiger with deeper connotation, making it not only an astronomical symbol, but also a spiritual symbol.

In addition, the white tiger often appeared in China literature and became the image written by many ancient literati. When describing natural scenery and expressing emotions, poets often use the white tiger as a symbol to express their feelings about natural forces, the passage of time and the cycle of life. The existence of the White Tiger endows literary works with mysterious and profound colors, making them rich and colorful literary images.

Generally speaking, the White Tiger, as a symbol of China traditional culture, not only carries the knowledge of astronomy, geography and meteorology, but also places people's thoughts on life and death, reincarnation and religious belief. In literary works, the white tiger provides rich images for poets with its mysterious image, which has become a unique landscape in ancient literature.