Four Celestial Beast
FOUR CELESTIAL BEASTS
The four celestial beasts are originated from China, to be precise it is from Chinese constellation. It is already date back to at least the second century BC. In Chinese constellation, the sky is divided into 5 regions: East, South, West, North and Center. Each cardinal region is associated with one celestial beast, while the center is associated with the Emperor. The East direction is associated with the Azure Dragon. South is associated with the Vermillion Bird. West is associated with the White Tiger. North is associated with the Black Tortoise.
SEIRYUU
In Japan, the Azure Dragon of the East is called Seiryuu (called Qīng Lóng in China). Seiryuu is associated with the season spring, the color blue or green, and the element wood. Seiryu is powerful and arrogant.1
In Kyoto there are temples dedicated to each of these guardian spirits. There are several temples dedicated to Seiryuu, one of them is Kiyomizu Temple in Eastern Kyoto. Before the entrance of the Kiyomizu Temple there is a statue of the dragon which is said to drink from the waterfall within the temple complex at nighttime. Hence each year a ceremony to worship Seiryuu is held.2
SUZAKU
In Japan, the Vermilion Bird of the South is called Suzaku (called Zhū Què in China). Suzaku is associated with the season summer, the color red, and the element fire. Suzaku can make small seeds grow into giant trees.1
The Vermilion bird is an elegant and noble bird in both appearance and behavior, it is very selective in what it eats and where it perches. Suzaku is portrayed with radiant feathers with many different hues of vermilion.
Suzaku is often mistaken for Fenghuang, the Chinese Phoenix, due to similarities in appearance. Fenghuang is legendary ruler of birds associated with the Chinese Empress in the same way the dragon is associated with the Emperor, while the Vermilion Bird is a mythological spirit creature of the Chinese constellations.3
Fenghuang is said to be made up of
The four celestial beasts are originated from China, to be precise it is from Chinese constellation. It is already date back to at least the second century BC. In Chinese constellation, the sky is divided into 5 regions: East, South, West, North and Center. Each cardinal region is associated with one celestial beast, while the center is associated with the Emperor. The East direction is associated with the Azure Dragon. South is associated with the Vermillion Bird. West is associated with the White Tiger. North is associated with the Black Tortoise.
SEIRYUU
In Japan, the Azure Dragon of the East is called Seiryuu (called Qīng Lóng in China). Seiryuu is associated with the season spring, the color blue or green, and the element wood. Seiryu is powerful and arrogant.1
In Kyoto there are temples dedicated to each of these guardian spirits. There are several temples dedicated to Seiryuu, one of them is Kiyomizu Temple in Eastern Kyoto. Before the entrance of the Kiyomizu Temple there is a statue of the dragon which is said to drink from the waterfall within the temple complex at nighttime. Hence each year a ceremony to worship Seiryuu is held.2
SUZAKU
In Japan, the Vermilion Bird of the South is called Suzaku (called Zhū Què in China). Suzaku is associated with the season summer, the color red, and the element fire. Suzaku can make small seeds grow into giant trees.1
The Vermilion bird is an elegant and noble bird in both appearance and behavior, it is very selective in what it eats and where it perches. Suzaku is portrayed with radiant feathers with many different hues of vermilion.
Suzaku is often mistaken for Fenghuang, the Chinese Phoenix, due to similarities in appearance. Fenghuang is legendary ruler of birds associated with the Chinese Empress in the same way the dragon is associated with the Emperor, while the Vermilion Bird is a mythological spirit creature of the Chinese constellations.3
Fenghuang is said to be made up of