20230630 final exam culture 01

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Zeng Jingquan 曾锦泉 - The Four Mythological Symbols of China

The Four Mythological Symbols of China

In ancient China, people divided the sky into four parts, which are represented by the four Mythological symbols: the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise. As Chinese people, we have been familiar with these four angel beasts since we were a child. For my part, I heard these four creatures so many times in the games with my classmates, in the chats of adults around, and in cartoons on TV. They are four animals I think holy in my ignorant eyes. There is no doubt that these four mythological symbols play an important part in Chinese culture and people’s daily life. 在中国古代，人们将天域分为四个部分，分别对应四只神兽：青龙、白虎、朱雀、神武。作为中国人，我们自小就对着四只神兽再熟悉不过了。对我而言，无论是从玩伴口中，在身边大人的交谈中，还是在电视上的动画节目上，我都听闻了这四只神兽无数次。在我懵懂的眼中，它们是如此神圣。毫无疑问，这四只神兽在中国的文化和人们的日常生活中有着举足轻重的地位。 According to the records of Classic of Mountains and Rivers (a famous encyclopedia of ancient Chinese social life), each one of the four symbols represents a direction and a season, and they all have their own extraordinary prowess. 据山海经记载，每只神兽都代表着一个方位和季节，并具备非凡的能力。 The Azure Dragon, Qinglong in Chinese, is the head of the four symbols. Its appearance was described in an ancient book of Han Dynasty: the shape of the Azure Dragon is just like snakes, with an imperatorial crown on its head, like the Kylin (Chinese unicorn), and a tail like a carp. It has long whiskers and claws of five fingers, which all show the super power and extraordinary strength. Because of its holy power to suppress evil spirits, the Azure Dragon always appears in palaces and tombs. In graves, its role and duty are to ensure the peace of the occupant of the tomb. Besides, the Azure Dragon represents the spring. Just as the saying in Chinese folklore: “On February 2nd is the Dragon Heads-raising Day.” The existence of the Azure Dragon portends nature wakes in spring. Moreover, the Azure Dragon represents and protects the east, but is different from Chinese traditional dragons. The Azure Dragon is the god beast of remote antiquity. It is unique in the world, with no gender and reproductive capacity. 青龙，是四兽之首。它的外形在汉代有所记载：青龙外形如蛇，头戴麒麟般尊严皇冠，尾呈鲤鱼状。青龙代表着东方。它有着长长的胡须，爪分五指，这一切都展示出它的非凡能力。由于它能够镇压邪灵的神力，青龙总出现在宫殿墓穴当中。在墓穴中，它的职责便是确保墓主的安宁。此外青龙对应着春天。正如中国民间的一句俗语所道：“二月二龙抬头。”青龙预示着春天万物复苏。青龙还代表东方并保护着东方，但却不同于中国传统的龙。青龙是中国远古时期的神兽。它世间仅有一只，无雌雄之分，也无繁殖能力。 The White Tiger, Baihu in Chinese, is the same holy beast good at fighting. Just from the name, white tiger, we can know this mythological symbol’s fierceness. A commonplace saying “The Azure Dragon is on the left, and the White Tiger right”, tells us these two beasts’ special duty and ability different from the remaining two. Just like the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger is also the god beast of fighting, with the prowess to surpass evilness. As a result, its totems are in many catacombs as well, on the right side of the Azure Dragon. In addition to this, the White Tiger is also the god beast of army and victory, the reason of which is obvious. The legend of the White Tiger is closely connected with Chinese ancient history. We call many gallant generals “Tiger Generals” to praise their courage and outstanding achievement. Besides, it also represents autumn and the west, showing its importance in the southwest and the harvest in autumn. The image of the White Tiger enriches Chinese legend stories and at the same time, becomes people’s motivation to pursue a better life. 白虎，一只同样擅于作战的神兽。但从这个名字，白虎，我们便足以知晓这只神兽的凶猛。一句老生常谈的话“左青龙，右白虎。”就足以向我们说明这两只神兽与剩下两只神兽不同的职责和能力。与青龙一样，白虎同为战斗神兽，有着镇压邪灵的神力。因此，它的图腾也同样出现在许多的墓穴当中，位于青龙的右侧。此外，白虎也象征着军队和胜利，原因显而易见。白虎的传说与中国的古代历史紧密相连。我们称呼许多英勇的将领为“猛虎将领”正是赞扬他们的英勇和佳绩。同时，白虎还对应着秋天，代表着西方，展示出其在西南地区和秋日丰收的重要地位。白虎的形象丰富了中国的传说故事，是人们追求美好生活的动力。 The Vermilion Bird, Zhuque in Chinese, is the god beast usually endowed with feminine color, and I love this symbol the most because I think it is beautiful, florid, and gorgeous. It is the southern god in Taoism, representing summer, and fire attribute. People get Yandi’s blessing by admiring the Vermilion Bird. Here’s a point we should pay attention to, that the Vermilion Bird is not a phoenix. According to Chinese ancient legend, phoenix is a divine bird reborn in the fire. By contrast, the Vermillion Bird is only one in the world, with no gender. It is immortal and more respectable than phoenixes. The Vermilion Bird symbolizes enthusiasm and strength, just like the summer and fire, carrying people’s yearn for south, hope and passion. Besides, according to the Book of Songs, the Vermillion Bird is the ancestor of Shang people (an early dynasty in China). 朱雀，一只总被赋予女性色彩的神兽。我也最为喜欢这是神兽，因为我认为其美丽，光彩而华丽。它是道经中的南方神，对应着夏天和火属性，人们通过信仰朱雀来获得炎帝的祝福，有一点我们需要注意，朱雀并非凤凰。根据中国古代传说，凤凰是浴火重生的神圣之鸟。相反，朱雀世间仅有一只，无性别之分。它是不死的，并且比凤凰更尊贵。朱雀象征着热情和力量，正如同似火的夏天，承载着人们对南方，希望和热情的渴求。此外，据圣经记载，朱雀还是商朝人民的祖先。 The Black Tortoise, Xuanwu in Chinese, is the last mythological symbol. It is combined by the tortoise and the snake, regarded as the god of water, living in the North Sea, so there is no doubt that it is the symbol of the north. The Black Tortoise has the ability to divine and telepathize, which are distinct from the other three beasts. Besides, it has super defense, so it is also regarded as Guardian god. The Black Tortoise represents winter with its water attribute. It protects the peace of the world and the balance of the universe. People searches wisdom and peace by admiring the Black Tortoise. As a result, the Black Tortoise, different from the Azure Dragon and the White Tiger, who are adept in fighting, is the god of protection, with philosophical connotation, leading Chinese people to think about philosophy, morality and the balance of everything in the world. 神武，最后一只神兽。相传它是龟与蛇的结合体，被视作为水神，生活在南海。因此毋庸置疑，它代表着北方。神武有着占卜和通灵的能力，这尤为能与另外三只神兽区分开。同时，它还有着超强的防御力，故被称为守护神。神武对应着冬天和水属性。它保护着世间的安宁和宇宙的平衡。人们通过信仰神武来获取智慧和安宁。因此，与青龙和白虎不同，神武并不善于战斗，而是保护之神，有着哲学内涵，领导人们思索哲学、道德和世间万物的平衡。 The Four Mythological Symbols make so profound influence to people that we can almost see them everywhere. In ancient time, we can see these four beasts in many areas such as architecture, martial arts, dress, and even medicine. As mentioned above, the four holy beasts represent four directions, so it is natural that the rich would pay attention to it when they build a house. Meanwhile, we can see many costumes with the element of four holy beasts not only in ancient but also in modern times. They are beautiful and have a strong Chinese style. Besides, many traditional Chinese medicine were named in terms of four holy beasts’ various characters, such as: “Baihu Soup”, “Qinglong Soup” “ Zhenwu Soup” and so on. 四只神兽对人们有着如此之深的影响以至于我们几乎对其处处可见。在古代，我们能在许多领域看到四神兽的影子，诸如建筑、武术、服饰甚至医学等领域。上文已提到，四只神兽对应着四个方位，故而自然而然富人在建房子时会将四神兽考虑其中。同时，无论在古代还是现代，我们也能在许多服装上看到四只神兽的元素，它们精美无比，是浓郁的中国风。此外，许多的中药也依据这四只神兽各自的特性来取名，如“白虎汤”、“青龙”汤和“真武汤”等等。 As we can see, these Four Mythological Symbols have a profound influence on Chinese people. With the development of eras, we could surely know that they don’t exist totally, but the faith to them, especially when we didn’t really understand the nature clearly, the Four Mythological Symbols made us face the nature reverentially and improve our nature and moral character. To some extent, they became one part of ourselves. 正如我们所能看到的，这四只神兽对中国人民有着深远的影响。伴随着时代的发展，我们能够知晓四只神兽并不存在，但对它们的信仰，尤其是在我们还对大自然懵懂的时候，这四只神兽令我们虔诚地看待大自然，并提升我们的品性。在一定程度上，四只神兽成为了我们的一部分。