Four Gods

Japanese: 四神 - しじん

〘Noun〙① The four constellations in the sky. Also, the gods who govern those directions. Refers to the Azure Dragon in the east , the White Tiger in the west, the Vermilion Bird in the south, and the Black Tortoise in the north. Also, in reference to the appearance of each of their residences, they indicate that in terms of geographical features, there is flowing water in the east, a great road in the west, dirty land in the south, and hills in the north. The four beasts. ※Untitled poem of Honcho (around 1162-64) 9th Summer day Toko-ji Sokuji (Nakahara Hirotoshi) "Searching for a _temple east of the castle, I hesitated, and found that the place was equipped with _two four _gods ."② In China, a god who governs the four seasons. Refers to the spring Kubo , the summer Shukuyu , the autumn Joukushu , and the winter Genmei . [Glossary] ① is an idea that was introduced from ancient China, and because of its role as a guardian, it was also painted on the walls of tombs and mirrors (four gods mirrors), and the murals on the Takamatsuzuka Tomb are particularly famous. The idea of the four gods was also adopted in places where tombs and capitals were built. → Shijin Souou (four gods in harmony)

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 天の四方の星宿。また、その方角をつかさどる神。東の青龍(せいりょう)、西の白虎(びゃっこ)、南の朱雀(しゅじゃく)、北の玄武(げんぶ)をいう。また、それぞれの居所の様相になぞらえて、地相上で、東方に流水、西方に大道、南方に汚地(おち)、北方に丘陵があることを示す。四獣。※本朝無題詩（1162‐64頃）九・夏日東光寺即事〈中原広俊〉「城東尋_レ寺一逡巡、其地勝形備_二四神_一」② 中国で、四季をつかさどる神。春の句芒(こうぼう)、夏の祝融(しゅくゆう)、秋の蓐収(じょくしゅう)、冬の玄冥(げんめい)をいう。[語誌]①は古く中国から入ってきた思想で、守護の役割から墳墓の壁面や鏡（四神鏡）にも描かれており、なかでも高松塚古墳の壁画は有名。墳墓や都を築く場所にも四神思想がとりいれられた。→四神相応(しじんそうおう)

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