Chinese constellations and sky  

Gods in the Stars

The four gods of Ru'Aun Gardens -- Byakko, Genbu, Suzaku and Seiryu -- are all rooted in Chinese mythology and the mapping of ancient star constellations. The names are taken from Japanese translations of the constellation names.

At the heart of Chinese mythology, the four spiritual creatures each guard a direction on the compass. In addition to direction, the creatures each represent different seasons, colors, virtues and elements. References to the four creatures in Chinese mythology date back to second-century BC.

In mapping the stars, ancient Chinese astronomers assigned each of the spiritual creatures to their corresponding directional quadrant of the sky. These symbols, complete with their meanings of season and direction, are clearly seen in FFXI.

The Four Symbols of the Constellations

• The White Tiger, which symbolizes the direction "west" and the autumn season.
• The Black Tortoise, which symbolizes the direction "north" and the winter season.
• The Vermilion Bird, which symbolizes the direction "south" and the summer season.
• The Azure Dragon, which symbolizes the direction "east" and the spring season.

The Japanese name given to each constellation matches the names of the four gods of Ru'Ann Gardens:

• Byakko = The White Tiger (spawned using Gem of the West and Autumnstone)
• Genbu = The Black Tortoise (spawned using Gem of the North and Winterstone)
• Suzaku = The Vermilion Bird (spawned using Gem of the South and Summerstone)
• Seiryu = The Azure Dragon (spawned using Gem of the East and Springstone)

Source: Japanese Buddhist Statuary