FOUR MYTHOLOGICAL CREATURES OF THE TAO & VERSE FROM THE TAO TE CHING & THE I CHING

AZURE DRAGON, VERMILION BIRD, WHITE TIGER, BLACK TORTOISE

From 'Wikipedia'

The Four Symbols (Chinese: 四象; pinyin: Sì Xiàng, literally meaning "four images"), are four mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations along the ecliptic, and viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions. These four creatures are also referred to by a variety of other names, including "Four Guardians", "Four Gods", and "Four Auspicious Beasts". They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise (also called "Black Warrior") of the North. Each of the creatures is most closely associated with a cardinal direction and a color, but also additionally represents other aspects, including a season of the year, an emotion, virtue, and one of the Chinese "five elements" (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water). Each has been given its own individual traits, origin story and a reason for being. Symbolically, and as part of spiritual and religious belief and meaning, these creatures have been culturally important across countries in the East Asian cultural sphere.

ATTRIBUTES INCLUDE

Tortoise (Black Warrior)

North. Winter. Black. Water. Faith

White Tiger (Kirin)

West. Fall. White. Metal. Righteousness

Vermilion Bird (Phoenix)

South. Summer. Red. Fire. Knowledge

Azure Dragon

East. Spring. Blue/Green. Wood. Propriety

Each is associated with seven star constellations (the 28 lunar mansions)*

CORRESPONDING CONSTELLATION (MANSION)

Tortoise - Dipper, Ox, Girl, Emptiness, Rooftop, Encampment and Wall

Tiger - Legs, Bond, Stomach, Hairy Head, Net, Turtle Beak and Three Stars

Phoenix - Well, Ghosts, Willow, Star, Extended Net, Wings and Chariot

Dragon - Horn, Neck, Root, Room, Heart, Tail, and Winnowing Basket

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TAO TE CHING - Lao Tzu

Chapter 1

The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao.

The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.

(Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a name, it is the Mother of all things.

Always without desire we must be found,

If its deep mystery we would sound;

But if desire always within us be,

Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.

Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development

takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them

the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that

is subtle and wonderful.

TRANSLATION 2

Chapter 1

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.

The name that can be named is not the eternal name.

The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth.

The named is the mother of ten thousand things.

Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.

Ever desiring, one can see the manifestations.

These two spring from the same source but differ in name;

this appears as darkness.

Darkness within darkness.

The gate to all mystery.

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INTERPRETATION

Light replaces darkness, even the darkest darkness does not escape. No matter how much light springs forth darkness still exists.

We envisage the unseen yet only in paradise are all desires fulfilled. Leaving no stone unturned, though the mystery will always remain, named and unnamed.

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HEAVEN, EARTH AND THE TAO

I CHING - Book of Changes

“Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven. Heaven follows the Tao. Yet the Tao follows Nature. Tao produced one. One produced two. Two produced Three. Three produced ten thousand beings. Ten thousand beings carry yin and embrace yang; By blending their energies they achieve harmony. Therefore existence and nonexistence produce each other. Difficulty and ease complement each other. Long and short contrast with each other. High and low rely on each other. Sound and voice harmonize with each other. Front and back follow each other. The Tao fulfills its purpose quietly and makes no claim. When success is achieved, withdrawing. The highest good is like water. Water benefits ten thousand beings, Yet it does not contend. Nothing under Heaven is as soft and yielding as water. Yet in attacking the firm and strong, Nothing is better than water.”

― quote from The I Ching or Book of Changes

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Good doesn't come without the bad, or success without trying. Positive and negative complement each other and cancel each other out, toward balance. Every action has an equal and opposite. As above, so below. All attending to the Tao.