The Four Guardian Animals 5-The Black Turtle+End

Now, today's the last time to learn about the Four Guardian Animals. Today, I'll explain you about the Black Turtle, which we also call it as Hyeonmu. And after that, we'll end the class(?) about the Four Guardian Animals.

 The Black Turtle is on Sinmumun, the North gate, because it guards the North. Sinmu means, 'Numinous Black Turtle'.

 The Black Turtle symbolizes water and winter. It also symbolizes war among the Four Guardian Animals. And normally, it has the name 'Hyeon' because it is the god of death, and has the name 'Mu' because of its hard and thick shell of the turtle and the sharp canines of the snake(It forms the shape of a snake and a turtle) which are really good for defending.

 And, while the Red Phoenix has Yang because it rules fire, the Black Turtle has Yin because it rules water. So, they didn't open this gate, except when there were special occasions like the Ritual for Rain.

 There are not much informations about the Black Turtle-_-;;

 I hope you learned a lot about the Four Guardian Animals this time. And if I recommend a drama which is related to the Four Guardian Animals, I'll recommend you 'Tawangsasingi'. I really liked this drama.

The Four Guardian Animals 4-The White Tiger

Why does time go so fast? Now, today is the third time we learn about the Four Guardian Animals. And today, we're gonna learn about the White Tiger which is among the Four Guardian Animals.

 The White Tiger is drawn on the ceiling of the West gate of Gyeongbok Palace which is called as Yeongchumun. It has a meaning of 'Welcoming Autumn'. The White Tiger symbolizes metal and autumn(fall). It is called Baekho, too.

 The White Tiger is not really an imaginary animal, but it is an animal you can also see in the zoo which our ancestors made it look really special. At first, its neck and its body were really long. But it began to have a mysterious look of an exaggerated mouth, big red eyes, and sharp canines. It looks simmilar with the Blue Dragon bout you can know who is who by looking at the pattern on the body of it.

 The White Tiger is the bravest of all among the Four Guardian Animals. Plus, it could run at the speed of light on the ground and the sky.

 From the past, we thought that tigers could chase the ghosts. So, people hung pictures of Tigers on each of the houses. Also, it is the opposite from the Blue Dragon so, they are called as Jacheongryong or Left- the Blue Dragon and Wubaekho or Right-the White Tiger. And people thought that the good place was formed when they were combined.

 Why don't you also try to find the good place where the Blue Dragon and the White Tiger are combined?

The Blue Dragon

Now, today is the third time.

 Today, why don't we learn about the Blue Dragon which is among the Four Guardian Animals.

 The Blue Dragon is painted on the ceiling of Geonchunmun, which is the East Gate of Gyeongbok Palace.

 The Blue Dragon symbolizes East, trees and Spring. So, the gate has the name meaning, 'Spring Comes'.

 It is also called as Cheongryong. The Blue Dragon is also an animal which has shapes of different kinds of animals, just like the Red Phoenix. Its horns are from the buck, the head is a camel, the eyes are the ghost's, the forehead is a snake, the ears are the cow's the scales of the blue fish, the stomach of a clam, the feet of the tiger and the claws are from the hawk. At first, it looked really strange, however, it turned into a mysterious shape as time went.

 The Blue Dragon is an imaginary animal which is the head of the animals and has a magical power. It was thought as a god from the past, and people prayed for the farming to go well and life to be rich.

 Also, it ruled weather. These days, the weather is really cold, isn't it? Maybe it could be good for us to ask the Blue Dragon to change the weather.

 And it is famous for being the rival of the Red Phoenix.

 Next time, let's learn about the White Tiger~

Today, let's learn about the Red Phoenix which I really like personally.

Now, today is the second time we learn about the Four Guardian Animals. Were you tired because of the long and brief information last time? So, starting from today, I'm gonna tell you an interesting and a little short information about one animal for one day.

Today, let's learn about the Red Phoenix which I really like personally.

The Red Phoenix is a guardian on the South. So, it is painted on the center of the ceiling of Gwanghwamun, the Main and the South Gate of Gyeongbok Palace. You can still see the Red Phoenix if you go and visit Gwanghwamun.

The Red Phoenix is an imaginary bird, which was born from a dragon and a crane. We also call it as Jujak and Firebird. It symbolizes fire and summer.

At first, it really looked like a chicken. However, as the time went, it became a mysterious, dignified and a graceful bird. It has a shape which the front body is Kirin(an imaginary animal from China), the hind body is a deer, the neck is a snake, the tail is a fish, chin is a swallow, the back is a turtle and its beak is a chicken. Isn't it strange?

Also, it eats the fruit of the bamboo which only grows centennially. Plus, it possesses the five virtues, benevolent, righteous, civil, intelligent, and belief which our ancestors valued. So maybe that's why it only flies around when the world is full of peace.

It likes people with talent, and it is also a judge among the Four Guardian Animals.

And we still use it as the symbol of the president, because it is elegant and graceful.

Did you learn a lot about the Red Phoenix? Next time, I'll tell you about the Blue Dragon. See you then^^