divine beast; mythical sacred animal
Refers to a sacred or mythical creature in East Asian mythology, often a guardian or auspicious being. Commonly appears in contexts such as the Four Symbols (四神獣).
See also: 四神獣
The Four Divine Beasts consist of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise.
A statue of a divine beast is placed in this shrine.
four divine beasts; guardian deities of the four cardinal points
ancient mirror decorated with gods and animals
Compound of 神 (shin, 'god, divine') and 獣 (jū, 'beast, animal'). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the term is used in East Asian mythological contexts.