White Tiger (mythology)

White Tiger
	Bái Hǔ sculpture on the eaves tile
Chinese name
Chinese	白虎
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Báihǔ
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Baahk fú
Jyutping	Baak6 fu2
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Pe̍h-hó͘
Korean name
Hangul	백호
Hanja	白虎
Transcriptions
Revised Romanization	Baek-ho
Japanese name
Kanji	白虎
Hiragana	びゃっこ
Transcriptions
Revised Hepburn	Byakko
Kunrei-shiki	Byakko

The White Tiger (Chinese: 白虎 Báihǔ) is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West (Chinese: 西方白虎; pinyin: Xīfāng Báihǔ), and is known as Baihu in Chinese, Byakko in Japanese, and Baekho in Korean. It represents the west in terms of direction and the autumn season.

Seven Mansions of the White Tiger[edit]

As with the other three Symbols, there are seven astrological "Mansions" (positions of the Moon) within the White Tiger. The names and determinative stars are:^[1]^[2]

Mansion no.	Name (pinyin)	Translation	Determinative star
15	奎 (Kuí)	Legs	Eta Andromedae
16	婁 (Lóu)	Bond	Beta Arietis
17	胃 (Wèi)	Stomach	35 Arietis
18	昴 (Mǎo)	Hairy Head	Alcyone
19	畢 (Bì)	Net	Ain
20	觜 (Zī)	Turtle Beak	Meissa
21	參 (Shēn)	Three Stars	Alnitak

Origin[edit]

In Chinese culture, the tiger is the king of the beasts and has been presented with a 王 (pinyin: wáng; lit.: 'king') on his forehead for centuries. According to legend, the tiger's tail would turn white when it reached the age of 500 years. 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 Wu Xing theory also represents the west, the White Tiger became a mythological guardian of the west.^{[citation needed]}

The White Tiger as interpreted by contemporary Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, from his 2011 series Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads (shown here on exhibit in Prague, 2016)

In fiction[edit]

Hattara Sonja with the White Tiger.

In the Beyblade series, Ray Kon's bitbeast Driger is based on this.
In the novel Tales of the Tang Dynasty (Chinese: 隋唐演義), the reincarnation of the White Tiger's star is said to be General Luo Cheng (simplified Chinese: 罗成; traditional Chinese: 羅成), who served the Wagang Army (Chinese: 瓦岗军) and later Li Shimin, and the reincarnation of the Azure Dragon's star is said to be the rebellious General Shan Xiongxin (simplified Chinese: 单雄信; traditional Chinese: 單雄信), who served Wang Shichong. The two are sworn brothers of Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin. Their souls after death are said to possess the body of the new heroes of the Tang and Goguryeo dynasties, Xue Rengui (simplified Chinese: 薛仁贵; traditional Chinese: 薛仁貴) and Yeon Gaesomun (淵蓋蘇文).^{[citation needed]}
In Gosei Sentai Dairanger, the character named Kibaranger has a Byakko theme, with his sword called Byakkoshinken (白虎真剣, a combination of the Japanese word for the White Tiger and shinken), and his giant robot Won Tiger. The character is later repurposed in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers as the White Ranger.^{[citation needed]}
In B-Daman Fireblast, Bakuga Shira owns Kreis Raydra, a B-daman with the White Tiger of the West as its B-Animal.^{[citation needed]}
In Digimon, Baihumon is based on the White Tiger.^{[citation needed]}
In Puzzle & Dragons, the White Tiger is incarnated as a little girl named Haku. She is part of the Chinese Pantheon, which features the other Four Symbols; the Vermilion Bird, the Black Tortoise, and the Azure Dragon.^{[citation needed]}
In Yu Yu Hakusho, Byakko is portrayed as a member of the Underworld group, The Four Beasts.^{[citation needed]}
In Kylie Chan's Xuan Wu series, he is depicted as a womanising tiger who is otherwise loving and loyal.^{[citation needed]}
In the Fushigi Yuugi series, the story Fushigi Yûgi Byakko Senki is dedicated to Suzuno Osugi's quest to become the Priestess of Byakko.^{[citation needed]}
In Overwatch's Chinese New Year 2018 event (Year of the Dog), Genji has a skin inspired by the White Tiger.^{[citation needed]}
In the video game Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, Byakko appears as a boss in the Four Lords trial subquest, appearing as a white tiger that transforms into a giant humanoid with his right arm retaining elements of his tiger form.
In Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, he is one of the Four Constellations, being the healer of the group. His chi is used by the trigger-happy and violent Jing, allowing her to heal and pacify others.
In MapleStory, the class Hoyoung is based on the White Tiger.

References[edit]

^ "The Chinese Sky". International Dunhuang Project. Archived from the original on 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2011-06-25.
^ Sun, Xiaochun (1997). Helaine Selin (ed.). Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 517. ISBN 0-7923-4066-3. Retrieved 2011-06-25.

[1] "The Chinese Sky". International Dunhuang Project. Archived from the original on 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2011-06-25.

[2] Sun, Xiaochun (1997). Helaine Selin (ed.). Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures. Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 517. ISBN 0-7923-4066-3. Retrieved 2011-06-25.

[1]

[2]

v t e Chinese mythology
Overview topics	Creation myth Godly world concepts Astrology Dragons Shenmo fiction Gods and immortals Tian Pangu Ghosts
Major personages	Deities Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Eight Immortals Shennong Yellow Emperor Yan Emperor Chiyou Hou Yi Kua Fu
Creatures	Four Symbols Black Tortoise Azure Dragon White Tiger Vermilion Bird Yellow Dragon Four Benevolent Animals Qilin Fenghuang Yinglong Spirit turtle Huli jing Chinese guardian lions Pixiu (Bixie) Nian Wuzhiqi Yeren Fox spirit Four Perils (Four Evildoers)
Places	Fusang Penglai Diyu Kunlun Mountain Youdu
Popular literary works	Classic of Mountains and Seas Shi Yi Ji The Peach Blossom Spring The Four Journeys Investiture of the Gods Legend of the White Snake The Sorcerer's Revolt Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio Journey to the West In Search of the Supernatural Tian Xian Pei What the Master Would Not Discuss Heavenly Questions (Chu Ci) Huainanzi Records of the Grand Historian

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Monday, July 27, 2020