Скачать или смотреть Chinese Astronomy: The Four Symbols (part 2) 四象与四季、五行之说

Ancient Chinese Astronomers used the night sky to determine the four seasons. They would observe the position of stars over fixed locations to ascertain the beginning and end of each quarter.

The Azure Dragon is the constellation that marks spring. It is important to know when spring begins. There are crops to be planted and rituals to be performed.

When part of the Vermilion Bird becomes visible in the evening just as the sun sets, the Chinese know that Summer has arrived.

The White Tiger is the constellation that represents autumn, and the Black Warrior/Tortoise marks Winter.

The five elements theory evolved from the study of various processes, functions, and phenomena of nature.

The theory explains that substances can be divided into one of five basic elements: water, wood, fire, metal, and earth. Each element contains its own specific characteristics and properties.

“Wood is the bending and the straightening,” having the characteristics of growth, up-bearing, and effusion. Wood represents springtime, such as plants pushing through the soil.

“Fire is the flaming upward,” having the quality of heat and upward motion. Fire represents summer and ascending energy, such as flames reaching toward the sky.

“Metal is the working of change,” having the qualities of purification, elimination, and reformation. Metal represents autumn/fall and contracting energy, such as when trees lose their leaves to conserve.

“Water is the moistening and descending to low places,” having the qualities of moistening, downward movement, and coldness. Water represents winter and descending energy, such as falling rain, snow, sleet, hail or water seeking it's the lowest level.

“Earth is the sowing and reaping,” representing stabilizing, grounding energy.

The azure dragon represents wood; the vermilion bird represents fire; the white tiger represents metal; the black warrior represents water.