Four Orientation Gods of Ancient Chinese Architecture

East blue dragon, west white tiger, south phoenix and north tortoise were four orientation gods of ancient Chinese architecture. Four orientations derived from the astronomical phenomena about Big Dipper in the sky. Four gods were ancient totem symbols. Chinese ancients had the idea of “harmony between nature and man”. Many buildings were organic arranged and isomorphic with the sky. Buildings usually sit north and faced south, and their sides were toward to four directions named----east blue dragon, west white tiger, south red phoenix and north black tortoise. The applying of orientation gods to some extent caused the stylized mode in architecture.