What are the four images in the astronomical calendar?

In the traditional culture of China, the four elephants refer to Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu, representing the east, west, north and south directions respectively. In Twenty-eight Nights, these four images are used to divide the stars in the sky, which are also called four stars, four spirits and Four Holy Beasts. The traditional orientation of China is that the south is above, which is different from the modern north. Therefore, when describing the orientation of the four elephants, they will be represented by Zuo Qinglong (east), You Baihu (west), Qianzu Sanzang (south) and Houxuanwu (north). In the theory of astronomical yin and yang in the Spring and Autumn Period, the four images refer to the natural weather of the four seasons. The concept of "Four Elephants" was highly valued in ancient Japan and Korea, which were often called "Four Saints" and "Four Holy Beasts".

The four images (or four phases) in China's mythology first refer to fire, water and wind. Tai Chi gives birth to two instruments, and two instruments give birth to four images. Tai Chi is one, which means chaos. The two instruments refer to Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang derive fire, water and wind. In the traditional culture of China, Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu are the representatives of the four elephants. Qinglong represents wood, white tiger represents wind, Suzaku represents fire, and Xuanwu represents water. They also represent the east, west, north and south directions respectively. In "Twenty-eight Nights", four images are used to divide the stars in the sky, also known as four gods and four spirits. In the theory of astronomical yin and yang in the Spring and Autumn Period, it refers to the natural weather in four seasons, which are called Shaoyang, Sun, Shaoyin and Taiyin respectively. The traditional orientation of China is that the south is above, which is different from the modern north. Therefore, when describing the orientation of the four elephants, they will also be represented by Zuo Qinglong (east), You Baihu (west), Qianzuzha (south) and Houxuanwu (north), which echoes the orientation of the five elements (East Muxijin, North Shuinanhuo). The concept of "Four Elephants" was highly valued in ancient Japan and Korea, which were often called "Four Saints" and "Four Holy Beasts". It is worth noting that although influenced by Japanese pop culture, I began to get used to this statement, but in fact, China never said that there are four saints in the four elephants. Generally speaking, the four saints are Fuxi, King Wen, Duke Zhou and Confucius. The four images also refer to wind, rain, thunder and electricity, four natural weather and meteorology.

The ancients imagined the seven nights in the east, west, north and south as four animal images, called "four elephants".

Seven nights in the East Palace: Like a dragon flying in the night sky in early spring and early summer, it is called the "East Palace Black Dragon";

Seven Nights in the North: Like snakes and turtles, it appears in the night sky in summer and early autumn, so it is called "Gong Bei Xuan Wu".

Seven nights in the Western Heaven: The tiger jumps out of the night sky in late autumn and early winter, so it is called "West Palace White Tiger".

Seven Nights in the South: Like a Suzaku spreading its wings and flying, it appears in the night sky in winter and early spring, so it is called "Nangong Suzaku".

In ancient China, astrology refers to the black dragon in the east, the white tiger in the west, Suzaku in the south and Xuanwu in the north.

(Details: Introduction to Taoism, Baidu Encyclopedia, Sogou Encyclopedia)