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sasuhina theory no 3
FOUR CELESTIAL EMBLEMS
The Chinese mythology introduced the Four Celestial Emblems, four special creatures representing a compass direction, color, season, an element and virtue among others.
* Byakko, the White Tiger
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guardian of the West
represents the season autumn/fall
element of Metal (heaven/sky in Japanese mythology; lightning in Naruto)
virtue of righteousness
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* Genbu, the Black Tortoise
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guardian of the North
represents the season winter
element of Water
long life and happiness
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* Seiryuu, the Blue Dragon
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guardian of the East
represents the season spring
element of Wood (wind in Japanese mythology and in Naruto)
virtue of appropriateness and conformity to tradition
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* Suzaku, the Red Bird
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guardian of the South
represents the season summer
element of Fire
knowledge
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images are from http://kaneko.yuudachi.net/
There are some ambiguities (White Tiger and Kirin, Tortoise and Serpent, Red Bird and Phoenix, etc.) which I shall attempt to explain.
There will be two parts of this theory:
Part One: The White Tiger and the Blue Dragon
Part Two: The Black Tortoise and the Red Bird
Each part will discuss how Sasuke and Hinata may portray these creatures in Naruto.
Note that the White Tiger and the Black Tortoise represent characteristics of yin; while the Blue Dragon and the Red Bird represent characteristics of yang.
1.
The first part of this theory deals with the possible portrayal of Byakko, the White Tiger by Hinata and Seiryuu, the Blue Dragon by Sasuke in Naruto.
The White Tiger and the Blue Dragon are the ancient symbols of yin yang. Although the metal White Tiger is yin, and the wood Blue Dragon is yang, note a reversal in elemental affinity:
Yin represents water, wood (wind) and earth;
Yang represents fire, metal (also sky/heaven or lightning)
However confusing, this type of reversal is common in I Ching.
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The White Tiger is believed to be the Lord of the Mountains and is King of all Animals. It crouches in the dark, keen and its true powers well hidden.
Tiger eyesight is one of the most accurate in its league. Generally, the eyes have two light-sensitive cells - the cones (enables one to see colour) and rods (enables vision in light or dark conditions). Having more rods than cones, tigers therefore have good vision even with little light; they also have the ability to bulge their eyes, allowing them to gain better view of their surroundings. For this very same reason, however, tigers can see very little colour. Few of which include glowing colours of blue, green, yellow and various hues of gray only.
The Hyuga byakugan share similar characetristics. Note that when this kekkei genkai is activated, the iris bulges, allowing the user to see far distances and depths as well as increase the ability of insight. The normal vision then shifts to hues of gray except for glowing colours of chakra (usually blue; Neji saw the bright orange chakra of the Kyuubi during his fight against Naruto).
Byakko, the White Tiger, is the ancient symbol of Yin (yin yang).
The White Tiger is also portrayed (not at all times) to have flames on certain parts of its body, usually the shoulders.
 Whether the Hyuga is indeed symbolized by the flame (the same symbol is very common throughout the Country of Fire), it is noticeable that only Hinata seems to wear it – on the sleeves of her former jacket.
More often, Hinata fits the description of Yin as well as other symbolisms.
? White Tiger and Kirin ?
The White Tiger replaced the Japanese Kirin in the original representation of the Celestial Emblems because of the astronomic significance of the White Tiger. Although the Kirin shares some characteristics as that of the White Tiger, it's appearance is closer to that of the unicorn.
The Kirin, which often appears tiger-like in artwork (see photos below), is a different creature entirely from the White Tiger. The Kirin is said to have the body of a deer, the tail of an ox, the hooves of a horse, a body covered with the scales of a fish, and a single horn. The Kirin appears only before the birth or death of a great and wise person. Said to live in paradise, the Kirin personifies all that is good, pure, and peaceful; can live to be 1,000 years old. *
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The Blue Dragon (may also be Green for the colour of spring), on the other hand, is believed to be a Deity of the Heavens and is a symbol of the Emperor's Power. In art, dragons are depicted with clouds or water, as they are said to be the harbingers of storm. The dragon is said to live in a palace (ryugi) located in the depths of the waters of Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa). Despite it's close relations to water, the Blue Dragon, however, does not have elemental affinity with water.
The metal elemental affinity of the Blue Dragon is likened to the white sheet of metal, often by a shield or sword. In Sasuke's case, this may be epitomized by the kusanagi.
Sasuke's chidori and chidori nagashi, share strong resemblance with lightning, which is a natural atmospheric electric discharge accompanying storms.
In Ryukyuan history, the mitsu-domoe (three comma-like figures) of the Sharingan is a symbol of Ryukyuan flags. Today, it still stands as one of the symbols of the City of Okinawa.
Finally, it has been shown that Uchiha training with katon jutsus were performed near a body of water; however, they do not seem to have elemental affinity with the latter.
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* resource: Shijin
Random notes:
White Tiger - note the ivory color of Hinata and Neji's top outfits; the Hyuga banner outside their compound is white
Blue Dragon - anybody else who's bluer than Sasuke?; the Uchiha banner outside their compound is blue
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2.
The second part of this theory deals with the other possible portrayal of Genbu, the Black Tortoise by Hinata and Suzaku, the Red Bird by Sasuke in Naruto.
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The Hyugas are close combat fighters. When an opponent happens to be within the range of their divination, Hyuga attacks are most likely successful. The Hyuga divination field appear to be the ba-gua, or eight trigrams, with the taijitu symbol at the center. The flag of South Korea is quite similar, only having four trigrams instead of eight.
 
Literally, the divination field looks like the carapace of a tortoise; but in ancient China, the first ba-gua inscriptions were said to have been found on the back of a tortoise. Tortoise shells were then used for divination or foretelling the future - also called tortoise shell divination.
This is similar to the ability of the byakugan to predict an opponent's next move. Indirectly, Neji makes predictions of situational outcomes as well.
The Black Tortoise has elemental affinity with water. It is said to live underwaters but rises about every few hundred years to see the sun.
In the Naruto manga chapter 297, the Hinata cover says: "She sets out for the sun, its golden light her beacon."
The Black Tortoise is also known as the Black Warrior of the North. More often, some say that the Guardian of the North is actually a Tortoise and an intertwined Serpent; few say a Crane standing on a Tortoise.
? The Tortoise and the Serpent ?
Ancient China believed that there were no male tortoises. Thus female tortoises were left to pair with the Serpent.
The hand seals for activating the Byakugan shows that although long hand seal methods are different for Hinata and Neji, both end in the serpent seal; it's short method is simply the right index serpent seal.
Simply picture Hinata and her (tortoise shell) divination, simultaneously performing the (right index) serpent seal to activate her byakugan.
? The Tortoise and the Crane ?
A Japanese proverb says that the tortoise and the crane are symbols of long life. It is common in Buddhist art to see a crane standing on a tortoise, usually as decoration in temples.
When a Hyuga is standing, somewhat on top the (tortoise shell) divination, see how Hinata can represent a crane; Neji a caged crane.
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Suzaku, the Red Bird is more often confused with Feng Huang, the Phoenix; some say the Vermilion Bird. In this theory, however, it will be assumed that all these are synonymous, because phoenix or not, the Guardian of the South has elemental affinity with fire.
Feng Huang is actually a union of the male (feng) and the female phoenix (huang). Today, the phoenix is solely considered as female and is often paired with the male dragon. Although both may be rivals and enemies, the symbol of the phoenix and the dragon in Chinese weddings represent blissful marriage.
The Feng Huang is believed to have dominance over all birds. A possible reason for associating the name of Sasuke's technique, chidori, with birds.
A very common portrayal of the Feng Huang is that with outstretched wings, a snake in its talons. In chapter 344 of the manga, Sasuke told Orochimaru: "You'll have your chance to fly, Snake... in the talons of a hawk."*
A hawk is not a phoenix but the Red Bird has its ambiguities.
The Red Bird is also represented by Itachi's Akatsuki ring, scarlet.** Perhaps this symbol is just another common ground that the siblings share.
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* This may also be a representation of another Japanese mythological bird-like creature, the tengu.
**If you find this confusing, you might want to check the other rings of Akatsuki members. Five - Itachi included - would represent the Celestial Emblems.
Random notes:
Black Tortoise -- represents winter; Hinata was born in the same season. This may explain why she always wore a jacket.
Red Bird -- represents summer; Sasuke and Neji were born also in the same season. They wore turtle-neck, short-sleeved shirts and bermuda shorts. I'm not sure if these may be considered summer outfits; just pointing out similarities.
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