The White Tiger

The White Tiger of the Four Divine Beasts 

The four great mythical beasts in ancient China are the green dragon, the white tiger, the vermillion bird, and the tortoise. In ancient times, the four beasts were also called the four images and the four spirits, and they belonged to the worship of the ancient stars. 

In ancient Chinese astronomy, the many stars of the sky were divided into twenty-eight constellations, formed by connecting the seven main constellations in each part, and named after their shapes. The seven constellations in the West, Kui, Lou, Wei, Ang, Bi, Gou, and Shen, are shaped like tigers, while in the West they belong to the Five Elements, and the color is white, so the West Palace is called the White Tiger. 

Image 

The tiger is white, the body is like snow, and there is no stray hair. 

Implied meanings 

The white tiger is also called the god of war and the god of slaughter. It guards the west and rules the autumn. The white tiger has a variety of divine powers, such as warding off evil spirits, catching disasters, praying for prosperity, making a fortune, and tying a good knot. 

In China, the tiger is the leader of all beasts. With its majestic appearance and powerful ability to subdue ghosts, it is known as the two yang divine beasts to exorcise and ward off evil spirits together with the dragon. 

The white tiger symbolizes majesty and the army, so many places named after the white tiger in ancient times were related to military affairs. For example, the white tiger flag in the ancient army and the white tiger image on the soldier's talisman, as well as the ancient generals who were good at leading troops in battle were called the reincarnation of the white tiger star.