The White Tiger is one of the four emblems of the stars in China, like the Suzaku. It is sometimes called the White Tiger of the West, and is known as Bai Hu in Chinese, Byakko in Japanese, Baekho in Korean, and Bạch Ho in Vietnam. It represents the west in terms of direction and the season of autumn.
1. Origin
In Chinese culture, the tiger is the king of beasts and has been depicted with a 王 on its forehead for centuries. According to legend, the tiger’s tail would turn white when it reached the age of 500. In this way, the white tiger became a variation of mythological beasts throughout China. It was said that this white tiger would only appear when the emperor took the throne with unconditional virtue, or if the whole world was at peace.
Because the color white in Wu Xing theory also represents the west, the white tiger became a mythological guardian of the west. Byakko and the other shijin were brought to Japan from China in the 7th century CE. They are strongly associated with Taoism, feng shui, astrology, the theory of the five elements, and other forms of Chinese mysticism.
The ancient capitals of Japan were built in accordance with these beliefs, with each of the city’s quadrants dedicated to one of the Four Symbols. Excavations of ancient burial mounds in Nara revealed paintings of Byakko and the other shijin on the walls of the tomb.
In later centuries, belief in astrology faded, and worship of the Four Symbols was gradually supplanted by worship of the Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism. Their use as symbols, however, continued.
2. Appearance
Byakko is a celestial white tiger. His home is in the western sky. He encompasses seven of the twenty-eight Chinese constellations, occupying a quarter of the entire sky. The constellation that forms the tiger’s back is found in Andromeda and Pisces. The constellations that form half of the tiger are found in Aries and Taurus. The constellations that make up its front legs and head are located in Orion.
3. Interactions
Byakko is one of the shijin, or four symbols, which are important mythological figures in Taoism. Byakko is the guardian of the west. He is associated with the Chinese element of metal, the season of autumn, the planet Venus, and the color white. He represents the virtue of justice. He controls the wind.
4. In fiction
Today, this mythological creature has taken on great importance in novels and television series.
- In the Beyblade series, Ray Kon Driger’s black beast is based on Byakko.
- In the novel Tales of the Tang Dynasty, it is said that the reincarnation of the White Tiger star was General Luo Cheng, who served in the Wagang Army and later Li Shimin, and that the reincarnation of the Celestial Dragon star was the rebel General Shan Xiongxin, who served Wang Shichong. The two are sworn brothers of Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin. It is said that after death, their souls possess the bodies of the new heroes of the Tang and Goguryeo dynasties, Xue Rengui and Yeon Gaesomun.
- In Gosei Sentai Dairanger, Kibaranger (who later became the White Ranger of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) has a Byakko motif. His suit has a white tiger theme, his sword is called Byakkoshinken (a combination of the Japanese word for white tiger and shinken), and his mecha (Won Tiger) is a white tiger.
- In B-Daman Fireblast, Bakuga Shira owns Kreis Raydra, a B-daman with the White Tiger of West B-Animal.
- In Digimon, Baihumon is based on the white tiger.
- In Puzzle & Dragons, the White Tiger is embodied as a little girl named Haku. She is part of the Chinese Pantheon, which features the other Four Symbols: Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and Azure Dragon.
- In Yu Yu Hakusho, Byakko is depicted as a member of the Underworld group, The Four Beasts.
- In Kylie Chan’s Xuan Wu series, he is depicted as a womanizing tiger who is otherwise affectionate and loyal.
- In the Fushigi Yuugi series, the story Fushigi Yugi Byakko Senki is dedicated to Suzuno Osugi’s quest to become the priestess of Byakko.
- In Overwatch’s Chinese New Year event (Year of the Dog), Genji has a skin inspired by the White Tiger.
- In the video game Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, Byakko appears as the final boss of the Four Lords trial series. He appears as a white tiger that transforms into a giant humanoid tiger with his right arm guard in the form of his tiger self.
