What are the four elephants? What are the four great beasts?

Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu are collectively called the four elephants (four beasts), and the positions represented by the four elephants are as follows:

1, Seven Nights in the East Palace: Like a dragon flying in the night sky in early spring and early summer, it is called the "Black Dragon in the East Palace";

2. Seven Nights in the South: It looks like a rosefinch spreading its wings and flying. In the night sky in summer and early autumn, it is called "Nangong Suzaku";

3. Seven nights in the West: In late autumn and early winter, the tiger jumps out of the night sky, so it is called "West Palace White Tiger";

4. Seven Nights in the North: It looks like snakes and turtles. In the night sky in winter and early spring, it is called "Gong Bei Xuan Wu".

In addition, the ancients matched it with yin and yang, five elements, five parties and five colors, and the four elephants were also integrated into the five elements and directions, which were expressed in different colors: oriental cyan was wood, western white was gold, southern red was fire, and northern black was water, and applied to military ranks, becoming the patron saint of marching and fighting. For example, in the Book of Rites, Qu Li Shangyin said, "OK, the former Zhu bird (sparrow).

Extended data:

In ancient China, in order to observe the movements of the sun, the moon and the five stars, the region near the ecliptic and equator was divided into 28 stars, commonly known as 28 constellations. Twenty-eight lodging houses are divided into four groups, with four squares and four groups of animal images, named after Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu respectively. Known as the four elephants of Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu. According to the orientation, season and four images, it is divided into four palaces: East, South, West and North, with seven nights in each palace.

These 28 stars are:

1 Seven Hostels of Oriental Black Dragon: Jiao, Kang, Bian, Fang, Xin, Wei and Ji.

Seven nights in North Xuanwu: fighting, cattle, women, air, danger, houses and walls.

The three great white tigers in the west have seven nights: Kui, Lou, Wei, Chang, Bi, Gou and Shen.

4 South Suzaku Seven Nights: Well, Ghost, Willow, Star, Zhang, Wing and Bird.

There are several stars every night. As an important part of China's traditional culture, it has been widely used in ancient astronomy, religion, literature and astrology, astrology, geomantic omen, lucky choice and so on.

Baidu encyclopedia-four elephants

Baidu Encyclopedia-Four Great Beasts

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