What do the four ancient mythical beasts Qinglong, White Tiger, Suzaku and Xuanwu mean?
The four sacred beasts are the green dragon, white tiger, red bird, and Xuanwu. The blue dragon and white tiger have palms in all directions, the red bird and the black tiger follow the yin and yang. The four holy beasts refer to the four spirits of the sky: blue dragon, white tiger, red bird and black tiger. Qinglong is the god of the east; white tiger is the god of the west; Zhu Yu is the god of the south; Xuanwu is the god of the north, a combination of turtle and snake.
Therefore, the "Three Auxiliary Pictures" says: "The green dragon, the white tiger, the red bird, and the Xuanwu, the four spirits of the sky, are used to rectify the four directions, and the king makes the palaces and pavilions according to the method." In ancient times, the ancients used the sky to rectify the four directions. It is divided into four palaces: East, West, South, North, and they are named after Qinglong (Canglong), White Tiger, Suzaku, and Xuanwu (a turtle-shaped god).
In fact, the sky is divided into four parts, which are formed by connecting the seven main constellations in each part, and are named after their shapes.
Extended information
Origin
In the Shang Dynasty, the ancients divided heaven into four palaces: east, west, north and south, namely Qinglong (Canglong), White Tiger, Suzaku, It is named after Xuanwu (a turtle-shaped god). In fact, the sky is divided into four parts, and each part is named after the shape of the seven main stars.
The eastern shapes of horn (wooden dragon), Kang (golden dragon), Di (earth raccoon dog), Fang (sun rabbit), heart (moon fox), tail (fire tiger), and Ji (water leopard) Like a dragon, so the East Palace is called Qinglong or Canglong.
Western seven stars Kui (Wood Wolf), Lou (Golden Dog), Wei (Pheasant), Pleiades (Sun Rooster), Bi (Moon Crow), Gou (Fire Monkey), Shen (Water Monkey) The shape is like a tiger, so the West Palace is called White Tiger.
The well in the south (wooden deer), ghost (golden sheep), willow (earth deer), star (sun horse), Zhang (moon deer), wing (fire snake), Zhen (water worm) The couplet is in the shape of a bird, which is called Zhuque.
The seven stars in the north are Dou (Wooden Xie), Ox (Taurus), Female (Earth Bat), Xu (Sun Rat), Wei (Moon Swallow), Shi (Fire Pig), and Bi (Shui Yu). It is shaped like a turtle and is called Xuanwu. As a result, Qinglong, White Tiger, Suzaku, and Xuanwu became the four gods guarding the Heavenly Palace, warding off evil and regulating yin and yang.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Four Divine Beasts