Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu were originally called "Four Elephants" or "Four Spirits". Yi copula says, "Tai Chi gives birth to two instruments, and two instruments give birth to four images." "Four Spirits" originated from ancient astronomical observation and ancestor's worship of stars. The stars in the east are like a dragon, called Qinglong; Western astrology is like a tiger, named white tiger; The southern astrology is like a bird spreading its wings and flying, called Suzaku; The star of the north, like a tortoise and snake, is called Xuanwu. The so-called "four spirits of heaven, with the square", the four spirits become the god of the square.
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. Qinglong, the five elements belong to wood, which is cyan; Suzaku, the five elements belong to fire, red; White tiger, the five elements belong to gold and are white; Xuanwu, the five elements belong to water and are black. The four great beasts are also the general name of the seven stars in the southeast and northwest, with 28 stars.
It is called "Zuo Qinglong, Right White Tiger, Former Suzaku, Later Xuanwu" because of the orientation of geomantic omen. The dragon on the left is because it is higher than the white tiger. In ancient times, the left was respected, and the dragon, tiger and white tiger took the left and right, meaning escort. The dragon must be higher than the white tiger. The so-called "dragon strong tiger weak". Xuanwu is a spiritual thing, which consists of snakes and turtles. Xuanwu is thicker than the back. Suzaku is a bit like an immortal bird reborn from the fire, representing red, auspicious and full of vitality ahead.
The origin of the four great beasts is also a combination of myth, astrology and geomantic orientation, and people place their hopes on good luck.