Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year. I know, for Christmas I'm a bit late, but my PC was to the doctor, and at
least for the new year I still have time! After holidays spent in lunches and
dinners with friends, it is time to get back in motion, but keep calm ... tai
chi style. So before I will read a bit. For Christmas I got a book by Margherita
Hack on the myths and legends with which humanity has tried to explain the
universe in the past millennia. Needless to say, a nice chapter is also
dedicated to the Celestial Empire, and I've seen some of that things in my
travel to china ... and now I'll tell you!
The Chinese cosmology had a
political role and was closely linked to the regent dynasty. "The sky was
divided in 5 buildings. The central building was located in the area
surrounding the North Pole, a symbol of the imperial court and therefore had
the highest position in Chinese cosmology. The circumpolar area was therefore
built in the image and likeness of the imperial palace. The other 4 buildings
were placed around the four cardinal stars along the ecliptic and were called
the Palace of the East, South, West and North. Each palace representing one of
the 4 seasons and, depending on the season, a temporary residence of the court."
Each building also represented one
of the five elements that make up nature in Chinese mythology and is protected
by one of the five mythological beasts, said Si Ling.
Qing Long, the blue dragon
guardian of the East. It is associated with the spring, the colors blue and
green, and the element wood, supports and defends the country (controls rain,
symbol of imperial power). It is often coupled with Zhuque, the red phoenix,
because both represent both the conflict is the joy of marriage. In both China
and Japan, the dragon is a symbol of the emperor as the phoenix is symbol of
the empress.
Zhuque, the Vermilion Phoenix,
Guardian of the South is associated with summer, the color red, the element of
fire. It is a symbol of knowledge, and luxuriant nature, occurs only in times
of prosperity.
Báihǔla, the white tiger (or
" Jade " ) Guardian of the West. It is associated with autumn, the
color white, and the metal element. When you put some metal over a tomb, is a
ceremonial connection with the tiger of jade, according to the Chinese Annals
of Wu and Yue , three days after the burial of the king, the essence of the element
metal took the form of a tiger jade and crouched down on the grave , becoming
the protector. The white jade was often used to worship the god of the West, and
took the name ' Jade Tiger ', for the Chinese the tiger was the king of all
animals and lady of the mountains, so the jade tiger was an ornament reserved
for commanders of armies. In particular, the male tiger was the god of war, and
protected the Emperor's armies into battle, as well as from the demons in his
grave.
Xuánwǔ the black turtle Guardian
of the North. It is associated with winter, the color black, and the element of
water, it is also a symbol of piety. It is often represented as a turtle with a
snake coiled on its back. The turtle is a symbol of long life and happiness,
and when a thousand years old, is able to speak the language of humans. The
turtle is one of the Celestial Emblems, the symbol of wisdom and longevity, it is
said that its shell is a strongbox for the universe. In particular, turtle and
snake together are a symbol of longevity, it is said that their union put in
danger the universe itself. It is interesting to note that in the beginning of
all things Greek mythology the serpent of time (Chrono , not to be confused
with the Titan Kronos, father of Zeus) revolved around the cosmic egg and breaking
its shell gave birth to the Universe.
Finally Huanglong, the yellow
dragon (or "golden") Guardian of the Center, and then the Imperial
Palace, is more like a snake than the blue dragon. It is associated with the
change of seasons, the color yellow, and the earth element.
Finally, going back to the theme
of similarity with the West, it is interesting to note how two cultures distant
and not connected have developed the same concept of nature based on
fundamentals elements. Furthermore, the final solutions were extremely similar on
to another. Four Elements in Greek culture and five in the Chinese and, moreover,
three of these are common to both cultures. Indeed, we have Air, Water, Earth
and Fire identified by Hippocrates in Greek culture and Water, Earth, Fire,
Wood and Metal in Chinese culture.
I would say that as a beginning of
the year that's enough.
Talk soon and may the Force be
with us.
