The Four Gods: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m update links |
Looney Toons (talk | contribs) rearranged paragraphs to read a bit clearer |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{trope}} |
{{trope}} |
||
The Four Gods are the central figures of an ancient Chinese system of astrology and geomancy which was imported to Japan and absorbed into [[Onmyodo]] mysticism, among other beliefs. In this system, there were 28 'star houses' (constellations) which ran the circumference of the sky. The Heavenly Emperor divided the sky into the northern, southern, eastern, and western quadrants, each with 7 star houses; each quadrant was ruled by a divine beast. |
The Four Gods are the central figures of an ancient Chinese system of astrology and geomancy which was imported to Japan and absorbed into [[Onmyodo]] mysticism, among other beliefs. In this system, there were 28 'star houses' (constellations) which ran the circumference of the sky. The Heavenly Emperor divided the sky into the northern, southern, eastern, and western quadrants, each with 7 star houses; each quadrant was ruled by a divine beast. |
||
These gods were (Chinese, then Japanese names): |
These gods were (Chinese, then Japanese names): |
||
| Line 12: | Line 12: | ||
Also of note is the fact that many people confuse [[The Phoenix]] with Zhūquè. While they seem similar, they are entirely different entities; in fact the [[wikipedia:Fenghuang|Fènghuáng]] (Hōō) is a closer representation of [[The Phoenix]] in comparison. |
Also of note is the fact that many people confuse [[The Phoenix]] with Zhūquè. While they seem similar, they are entirely different entities; in fact the [[wikipedia:Fenghuang|Fènghuáng]] (Hōō) is a closer representation of [[The Phoenix]] in comparison. |
||
In the original Chinese version, there was one more divine beast, Huánglóng, the Yellow Dragon of the Center, embodying the element of Earth. He is very notably missing from the Japanese version, where the center represents void. Void, being nothingness, has no divine beast associated with it. The closest Japanese version of him would be Ouryu. This is probably the biggest reason why you will not see him in Japanese culture. |
|||
The remains of this belief system can be found in temples and shrines all over Japan, and even in the architecture of places like the city of Nara. It is part of the Japanese cultural heritage, although not always a prominent or even well-remembered part. |
The remains of this belief system can be found in temples and shrines all over Japan, and even in the architecture of places like the city of Nara. It is part of the Japanese cultural heritage, although not always a prominent or even well-remembered part. |
||
| Line 18: | Line 20: | ||
The Four Gods are apparently exempt from [[Four Is Death]], [[Subverted Trope|except when they aren't]]. Note: The subversion may be caused by the fact that while the Japanese version has only four gods, the cultural memory of there being five dragons in the Chinese version makes the four get treated as if it was five, except when the four is treated as four. |
The Four Gods are apparently exempt from [[Four Is Death]], [[Subverted Trope|except when they aren't]]. Note: The subversion may be caused by the fact that while the Japanese version has only four gods, the cultural memory of there being five dragons in the Chinese version makes the four get treated as if it was five, except when the four is treated as four. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
== Anime and Manga == |
== Anime and Manga == |
||
* ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'', as noted above, is one of the most well-known examples. |
* ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'', as noted above, is one of the most well-known examples. |
||