Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu, also known as the Four Elephants, are the four gods in China mythology, representing the east, west, south and north respectively. They originated from the belief in the stars in ancient China, not Taoism, and were not absorbed by Taoism until the Han Dynasty.
In China after ancient times, the male dragon had horns on his head; Double horns are called dragons, and single horns are called dumplings; Those with horns are poisonous snakes. In ancient times, there were often large and small Ssangyong in Yu Pei, and it was still called mother and son poisonous snakes. Because it is sacred and supreme in the dragon, it is also a symbol of the emperor. It is also the representative of the east, and the five elements belong to wood. Because cyan belongs to wood, there is the saying of Zuo Qinglong and you Bai Hu.
Extended data
The ancients said: "black dragon, White Tiger, Suzaku, Xuanwu, the Four Spirits of Heaven, Fang Ye."
Therefore, the "Four Spirits" have become the "Gods of the Four Sides", that is, the "Four Elephants" in space: the Oriental Dragon, the Western White Tiger, the Southern Suzaku and the Northern Xuanwu.
The "four spirits" change with the seasons: at dusk at the turn of winter and spring, Qinglong appears; At the turn of spring and summer, Suzaku rises; At the turn of summer and autumn, white tigers emerge; At the turn of autumn and winter, Xuanwu rises.
Therefore, the "four spirits" also correspond to the "four seasons" in time:
Qinglong, spring, five elements belong to wood, which is cyan;
Suzaku, summer, five elements belong to fire, red;
White tiger, autumn and five elements belong to gold and white;
Xuanwu, winter, five elements belong to water, black.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Qinglong White Tiger Suzaku Xuanwu