In Chinese mythology, Joseph Campbell identifies four benevolent animals (simplified Chinese: 四灵; traditional Chinese: 四靈; pinyin: sì líng) that took abodes in the gardens of the palace of the Chinese Empire during the legendary period of the Yellow Emperor.
- The qilin (麒麟), lord of furred quadrupeds.
- The dragon (龍), lord of scaly animals.
- The tortoise (龜), lord of shelled animals.
- The Fenghuang (鳳凰), lord of birds.
The image might be an opposite of the "Four Perils" Si Xiong zh:四凶, ambiguously described in the classics as the monsters of the early age, barbarians, or assistants and progenitors.
Animal imagery was related to the four cardinal directions (Four animal symbols), however, the relationship was not stable until canonization in Han period. Thus, Rong cheng shi, a 4 c. BCE excavated text, refers to the snake as a symbol of the South, bird, of the North; and bear, of the center. East and west were symbolized by the sun and the moon. All the symbols appeared on the banners created by Yu the Great .
Famous quotes containing the words benevolent and/or animals:
“In our interactions with people, a benevolent hypocrisy is frequently required—acting as though we do not see through the motives of their actions.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“There is no instant of time when one creature is not being devoured by another. Over all these numerous races of animals man is placed, and his destructive hand spares nothing that lives. He kills to obtain food and he kills to clothe himself; he kills to adorn himself; he kills in order to attack and he kills to defend himself; he kills to instruct himself and he kills to amuse himself; he kills to kill. Proud and terrible king, he wants everything and nothing resists him.”
—Joseph De Maistre (1753–1821)