Qinglong originates from ancient star worship. Qinglong was originally the God of the East in ancient Chinese mythology and one of the four images of the Taoist Oriental Seven Constellations.
The white tiger is also the god of war and killing. The white tiger has many magical powers such as avoiding evil, warding off disasters, praying for good fortune, punishing evil and promoting good, making wealth, and getting married. And it is one of the four spirits, and of course it is also made of stars.
Suzaku does not belong to the Phoenix but is one of the Four Spirits and Four Symbols. Like the other three, it comes from the stars and is the general name of the seven stars in the south: Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Zhang, and Wing. , Zhen. When I think of it, it's Suzaku.
Xuanwu is a spiritual creature composed of a turtle and a snake. Xuanwu was promoted by later Taoist priests to become the great emperor of the north, "Emperor Zhenwu". It is different from the other three spirits. The other Qinglong and Baihu only became the door gods of the mountain temple, while Zhuniao became the Mysterious Girl of the Nine Heavens.
The four major mythical beasts are in charge of the four directions, among which the blue dragon is the most noble, the white tiger dominates the power, the red bird symbolizes happiness, and the basalt symbolizes immortality. At the same time, because of their brave appearance, the green dragon and the white tiger are mainly regarded as gods that suppress evil. Their images often appear on palaces, palace gates, city gates or tomb buildings and their utensils.
Extended information:
In the Shang Dynasty, the ancients divided the sky into four palaces, east, west, north and south, named after Qinglong, White Tiger, Suzaku and Xuanwu respectively. In fact, the sky is divided into four parts, and each part is named after the shape of the seven main stars.
The horns, Kang, Di, Fang, Heart, Tail and Kei in the East are shaped like dragons and are called Qinglong.
In the West, Kui, Lou, Wei, Pleiades, Bi, Gou, and Ginseng are shaped like tigers and are called white tigers.
The couplets of well, ghost, willow, star, Zhang, Yi and Zhen in the south are in the shape of birds and are called Suzaku.
The northern Dou, Niu, Nv, Xu, Danger, Chamber and Wall are shaped like turtles and are called Xuanwu.
Therefore, Qinglong, White Tiger, Suzaku, and Xuanwu respectively guard the four directions of the Heavenly Officials to ward off evil and adjust Yin and Yang. It is recorded in the "Sanfu Huangtu" that the four spirits of heaven, the Canglong, the White Tiger, the Suzaku, and the Xuanwu, rectify the four directions. The four great spiritual beasts, Qinglong on the left, White tiger on the right, Suzaku in the front, and Xuanwu in the back, guard the four palaces of east, west, north, and south. They are the gods of the four directions, warding off evil and regulating yin and yang.
Later, due to being absorbed by Taoism, the four elephants were gradually personified with the evolution of Taoism, and had their titles. The green dragon was named "Mengzhang Shenjun", and the white tiger was named "Supervisor Shenjun". The Suzaku number is "Lingguang Shenjun"; the Xuanwu number is "Zhiming Shenjun". In "Tao Zang", there is a "Secret of the Seven-Yuan Purple Garden of the Big Dipper to Prolong Life", which states that there is a green dragon on the left named Meng Zhang, a white tiger on the right named Supervisor, a Suzaku in front named Lingguang, and a Xuanwu named Zhi Ming in the back. , carrying bells and drums on my back, in front of me, around me.
Baidu Encyclopedia: Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Suzaku Xuanwu