Bai Hu Tong

Bai Hu Tong (Chinese: 白虎通; pinyin: Báihǔ Tōng, also 白虎通義, 白虎通德論). The traditional view of this text is that it was compiled by Ban Gu (32–92) on the orders of the emperor Zhang of Han (57-88). The name is derived from the White Tiger pavilion in the north of Luoyang (the capital) where a series of discussions took place in 79, on the subject of the true meanings of the classics. Ban Gu is said to have edited the records of these discussions, and from them to have produced the book we have today. Some scholars have suggested that the book may in fact be made up of material produced as late as the third century, rather than being the product of Ban Gu's work in recording the discussions of 79.

References

External link

白虎通德論

White Tiger (China)

The White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West (西方白虎, Xī Fāng Bái Hǔ), and is known as Bai Hu in Chinese, Byakko in Japanese, Baekho in Korean and Bạch Hổ in Vietnamese. It represents the west and the autumn season.

Seven mansions of White Tiger

As the other three symbols, there are seven astrological mansions, or positions, of the moon within White Tiger. The names and determinative stars are:

Origin

In Chinese culture, the tiger is the king of the beasts and has been presented with a 王 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.