The Four Symbols myth has been told since 6,000 years ago. One of each creature represents a symbol, a season, a direction.  In Chinese culture, all four mythological creatures guard the world.

 The Azure Dragon of the East represents the season spring. The Vermillion Bird of the South represents the season of summer. The White Tiger of the West representing the season fall.  Finally, The Black Tortoise of the North represents the season winter. 

The dragon brings luck, the tortoise is the defender, the tiger brings wealth, and the bird brings health.

The first tale is about the mysterious Azure dragon.  

Long ago there was a small village. The village was extremely poor and lacked many essential supplies. One day a woman started to read about the legend of the Azure dragon. She found out that this dragon brought luck wherever it went. She learned that there is  dragon dance people once did in order to get luck and strength for the new year. 

This woman told the villagers about this dance and on New Years’ day they performed the dance. They decorated the entire village with vibrant pictures of the mystical Azure dragon. This gave everyone a sense of hope, knowing that luck might come their way. The next day people started to work hard to take care of their village, and months later the village was doing better than ever.

During New Years they made it a tradition to decorate their village with the Azure dragon and perform the dragon dance every year.

The second tale is about the ferocious Vermillion bird. Long ago there was a doctor who was very talented, and he strongly believed in the myth of the Vermillion bird. He carries a picture of it as his good luck charm to help him cure patients.

One day, one of his patients asked him; “Why does everything you own have a bird on it? Is there any story behind it?” He said, “ My father is a doctor. One day he and I went camping and we found a sick bird. We decided to help the bird survive.  

Since then the bird stayed with my dad and after that, he became the best doctor all over China. He was able to cure anybody. My father now passed away, and the bird disappeared as well.”

The third tale is about the fierce White Tiger. There was a very poor man named Adam. He was trying to buy some food for his wife and children. This family had no money and was homeless. Adam knew he had to do something so his children wouldn’t have to live like this. He marched to the richest man living in his town and told him.

“I am very poor and need help. Anything you ask of me I shall do.” The rich man offered him to look the fiercest White Tiger right in the eyes. The rich man knew Adam wouldn’t agree but to his surprise, Adam actually said “Yes”.

The man was intrigued by how far he would go to save his family. The next day Adam was ready to face his challenge. The entire town heard about this and came to see it for themselves. With fire and determination in his eyes, he looked at the tiger right in its bright blue eyes. The tiger looked right into the eyes of the man.