also: はっこ
White Tiger (Taoist god of the west)
One of the Four Symbols (四神) in Chinese mythology, associated with the western direction, autumn, and metal. Often paired with the Azure Dragon (青龍) of the east.
See also: 四神
seven mansions of the western heavens
In Chinese astronomy, the seven lunar mansions (二十八宿) that form the White Tiger constellation group in the western sky.
See also: 二十八宿
The White Tiger is one of the Four Symbols and guards the west.
The Byakkotai (White Tiger Corps) in Kyoto was named after this mythical beast.
The lunar mansions belonging to the White Tiger are Kui, Lou, Wei, Mao, Bi, Zi, and Shen.
Standard kanji form for the White Tiger deity and the associated Chinese constellations.
Alternate reading; less common than びゃっこ.
From Chinese 白虎 (báihǔ), literally 'white tiger'. The reading びゃっこ is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi; はっこ is a less common variant reading.