White Tiger (白虎)

White Tiger (白虎)

Alternative Names (異名):
白虎, 백호(Korean), Baek-ho, Bái Hǔ(Standard Mandarin), White Tiger, Byakko(Japanese)

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The White Tiger (Chinese: 白虎; pinyin: Bái Hǔ) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ), and it represents the west and the autumn season.

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The Seven Mansions of the White Tiger

Like the other Four Symbols, the White Tiger corresponds to seven "mansions", or positions, of the moon.

Legs (Chinese: 奎; pinyin: Kuí)
Bond (Chinese: 婁; pinyin: Lóu)
Stomach (Chinese: 胃; pinyin: Wèi)
Hairy Head (Chinese: 昴; pinyin: Mǎo)
Net (Chinese: 畢; pinyin: Bì)
Turtle Beak (Chinese: 觜; pinyin: Zī)
Three Stars (Chinese: 參; pinyin: Shēn)

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Origin

During the Han Dynasty, people believed the tiger to be the king of all beasts. Legend had it that when a tiger reached 500 years old, its tail would turn white. In this way, the white tiger became a kind of mythological creature. It was said that the white tiger would only appear when the emperor ruled with absolute virtue, or if there was peace throughout the world. Because the color white of the Chinese five elements also represents the west, the white tiger thus became a mythological guardian of the west.

In Book of Tang, the reincarnation of White Tiger 's Star is said to be Li Shimin's general Luo Cheng (羅 成) and the reincarnation of Azure Dragon 's Star is said to be the rebellious general Dan Xiongxin (單 雄信). They two are sworn brothers of Qin Shubao (秦 叔寶), Cheng Zhijie (程 知節) and Yuchi Jingde (尉遲 敬德). Their souls after death are said to possess the body of the new heroes of Tang Dynasty and Liao Dynasty, Xue Rengui (薛 仁貴) and He Suwen (郃 苏文).

In some legends of the Tang Dynasty's general Xue Rengui, he's said the reincarnation of the White Tiger's Star. And his archenemy, Liao Dynasty's prince He Suwen is the reincarnation of the Azure Dragon's Star.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology

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Chinese constellations | Chinese astronomy | Chinese mythology | Legendary mammals | Chinese legendary creatures | Chinese mythology stubs

White Soft-shelled Turtle

White Soft-shelled Turtle

Alternative Names (異名):
White Soft-shelled Turtle

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White Soft-shelled Turtle a character featured within the famed ancient Chinese novel Journey to the West. This ancient white turtle is an entity from Heaven that had performed ill deeds on accident and is now forced to roam around the eastern River of Heaven. After Sun Wukong and the others retrieve two children from the hands of a sinister demon, they are thanked greatly by the Chen family and continue on their way through the River of Heaven. This is at the point in which the ancient white turtle is seen for the first time. After the large turtle leads Sanzang and his disciples across the river, he pleads for Sanzang to ask the lord Tathagata Buddha when he is to be converted and how long he is to live. Unfortunately however after meeting with the Tathagata, Sanzang never remembered to ask about the turtle. After Sanzang and the others were returning to China atop this white turtle once again – at the point in which they were dropped half way to China to complete their 81st ordeal – the large white turtle asks Sanzang as like many years before about his future. The ashamed Sanzang does not say anything, leading for the white turtle to submerge himself in rage which would have normally drowned the Tang priest. After Sanzang and the others reached shore and dried off their ancient scriptures, this ancient white turtle would never truly be shown again in it's dismay.

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References

Journey to the West Chapter 99 - Wu Chung-en

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Chinese_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Mythology

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Journey to the West | Chinese mythology | Chinese history stubs

Snorkelers swimming with a Green sea turtle

Snorkelers swimming with a Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) at Kahaluu Beach County Park in Kahaluʻu Bay — on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.
Date: 6 January 2007
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/butsky/357944052/, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snorkelers_with_sea_turtle_(Kahaluu_Bay).jpg
Author: Vlad & Marina Butsky

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Laniakea beach, Oahu, HI

Laniakea beach, Oahu, HI
Author: Jöshua Barnett
flickr / CC-BY-2.0

Patience, German proverb

Patience devours the devil.

- German proverb

Food·Dieting, Groucho Marx

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

- Groucho Marx (1890-1977)

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Time flies like an arrow.

- English Proverb

Life, Albert Einstein

Let us not forget that knowledge and skills alone cannot lead humanity to a happy and dignified life. ... I claim credit for nothing. Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, forces over which we have no control. It is determined for the insects as well as for the stars, Human beings, vegetables or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper.

- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Appearance, Polish proverb

A hippo does not have a sting in its tail, but a wise man would still rather be sat on by a bee.

- Polish proverb

Cats, John Weitz

Even overweight cats instinctively know the cardinal rule: when fat, arrange yourself in slim poses.

- John Weitz (1923-2002), American Designer

Money, Western proverb

Money is like an eel in the hand.

- Western proverb

Flies, Dutch proverb

A drop of honey catches more flies than a barrel of vinegar.

- Dutch proverb

The Rewards of Wisdom, Sirach 4,15

THE REWARDS OF WISDOM

Whoever obeys me will judge nations; whoever listens to me will dwell in my inmost chambers.

- Sirach

http://www.usccb.org/bible/sirach/4

Family, Czechish proverb

Don't be a lion in your house.

- Czechish proverb

God, Western Proverb

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

- Western Proverb

Animals, Prentiss

"Plenty sit still. Hunger is a wanderer." Zulu proverb.

- Emily Prentiss, Criminal Minds [4x05 Catching Out (2008)]

Animals, Zulu proverb

Plenty sit still. Hunger is a wanderer.

- Zulu proverb