How much do you know about the origin and prototype of the four great beasts in ancient China?

Qinglong is one of the four elephants in China traditional culture. According to the theory of five elements, Qinglong represents the oriental beast, also known as the "black dragon", and is the head of the four spirits. "Huainanzi Astronomical Training" records in detail that "the most expensive god is Qinglong." Dragons, whether ancient or modern, are symbols of the Chinese nation. It is said that the dragon is shaped like a long snake, the unicorn has a long beard on its head, the carp's tail, deer-like horns, five claws, a majestic appearance, a powerful and arrogant spirit. There are many legends about dragons. Some say that the stars in China have become stars, others say that they were introduced from India. The status of dragons in India is not high, and there are also physical objects, that is, pythons.

2. White tiger

The Western White Tiger is a spirit beast in ancient myths and legends of China, representing the south. Commonly known as white tiger star among the people. It is the general name of Western Tanabata, including Kui, Hai, Wei, Ang, Bi, Zhu and Shen. Also a god of war, he belongs to gold and is in charge of war. It is just and dignified in justice, and has the divine power of avoiding evil, praying and punishing evil, promoting good, getting rich and getting married. Shan Hai Jing Xi Ci Si Jing pointed out the existence of the white tiger: "It is 220 miles to the west, and it is called the same cave mountain for birds and mice. There are many white tigers and white jade on it. Weihe River flows out and Donghe River flows in. " The White Tiger is one of the Four Spirits, with boundless magic power, so it is also changed from the stars. It is also a symbol of power and dignity.

3. Suzaku

Suzaku is one of the four elephants and one of the four great beasts in China traditional culture, which originated from the worship of stars in ancient times. According to the book Yao Dian Sun Moon and Stars, Sun Xingyan in Qing Dynasty said: "The bird's name is Suzaku, and the bird is the night in the south ... Zheng Kangcheng means that the seven nights in the south will always be a bird star." Suzaku comes from the stars and is the general name of the seven nights in the south. Suzaku often appears in the game in the shape of a phoenix because it looks like a bird and is located in the south. Suzaku is a phoenix bird belonging to fire in the south, which is a subspecies of phoenix. In China, the phoenix is a god representing happiness, and its prototype includes chicken, peacock, eagle, swallow and so on. Qu Yuan's description in Chu Ci is that Suzaku was deified as the guardian of Emperor Taiyi, with extraordinary power.

4. Xuanwu

Xuanwu, also known as Xuan Ming, is a spirit beast in ancient myths and legends of China, which belongs to one of the four elephants in traditional culture. It is a combination of tortoise and snake. It is a water god. It lives in the North Sea. The tortoise has a long life, so it has a symbol of immortality. The underworld is also in the north, so it is the god of the north. According to the "Selected Works", it is recorded in detail: "Tortoise and snake enter Xuanwu." Hong Xingzu's travel note: "Xuanwu is called tortoise and snake, which is located in the north, so the sun is mysterious;" I have scales, so I am martial. " Moreover, the turtle's back is black. The tortoise divination first invites the turtle to the underworld to ask questions, and then brings back the answers and shows them to the world in the form of divination. It is worth mentioning that the earliest Xuanwu is the tortoise, which is not only immortal, but also good at divination and understanding the nether world.