Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Four Symbols : Azure Dragon of the East



It represents the east and the spring season. It should not be confused with the mythological yellow dragon that is associated with the Emperor of China . It is also referred to in media,feng shui, other cultures, etc., as the Green Dragon and the Avalon Dragon. As the other three symbols , there are seven "mansions" , or position , of the moon within Azure Dragon . The names and determinative stars are :
Mansion no.Name (pinyin)TranslationDeterminative star
1角 (Jiăo)Hornα Vir
2亢 (Kàng)Neckκ Vir
3氐 (Dĭ)Rootα Lib
4房 (Fáng)Roomπ Sco
5心 (Xīn)Heartσ Sco
6尾 (Wěi)Tailμ Sco
7箕 (Jī)Winnowing Basketγ Sgr

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In Japan, the Azure Dragon (Seiryuu) is one of the four guardian spirits of cities and is said to protect the city of Kyoto on the east. In Kyoto there are temples dedicated to each of these guardian spirits. The Azure Dragon is represented in the Kiyozumi in eastern Kyoto. Before the entrance of the temple there is a statue of the dragon which is said to drink from the waterfall within the temple complex at nighttime. Therefore each year a ceremony is held to worship the dragon of the east.

In 1983, the Kitora Tomb was found in the village of Asuka. All four guardians were painted on the walls (in the corresponding directions) and a system of the constellations was painted on the ceiling. This is one of the few ancient records of the four guardians. The Azure Dragon represents the element , wood .

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