Four Symbols

Four Symbols
Clockwise from top left: Black Tortoise of the North, Azure Dragon of the East, Vermilion Bird of the South and White Tiger of the West
Chinese name
Chinese四象
Literal meaningFour Images
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSì xiàng
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSeijeuhng
JyutpingSei3-zoeng6
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabetTứ tượng
Chữ Hán四象
Korean name
Hangul사상
Hanja四象
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationSasang
Japanese name
Kanji四象
Hiraganaししょう
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnShishō
Kunrei-shikiShishō
Four Gods
Chinese name
Chinese四神
Transcriptions
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabetTứ Thánh Thú
Chữ Hán四聖獣
Korean name
Hangul사신
Hanja四神
Transcriptions
Revised RomanizationSashin
Japanese name
Kanji四神
Hiraganaしじん
Transcriptions
Revised HepburnShijin
Kunrei-shikiShijin
Neidan Illustration of Bringing Together the Four Symbols 和合四象圖, 1615 Xingming guizhi

The Four Symbols are mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic, and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. These four creatures are also referred to by a variety of other names, including "Four Guardians", "Four Gods", and "Four Auspicious Beasts". They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise (also called "Black Warrior") of the North. Each of the creatures is most closely associated with a cardinal direction and a color, but also additionally represents other aspects, including a season of the year, an emotion, virtue, and one of the Chinese "five elements" (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). Each has been given its own individual traits, origin story and a reason for being. Symbolically, and as part of spiritual and religious belief and meaning, these creatures have been culturally important across countries in the Sinosphere.