IX.-ANIMAL SYMBOLISM IN CHINESE ART
"Exposer les animaux, c'etait reallement passer en revue l'art Chinois entier."1
CHINA has symbolised by animals the cosmological beliefs that for countless ages have impressed themselves upon her intellectual, moral and social life.
Her art has been called "symbolical narration." This primitive symbolism which dominates Chinese art is based largely upon the zodiacal position of certain animals. Upon this juxtaposition has been woven an intricate network of fanciful ideas. The four cardinal points and the four seasons were thus represented:
East, Spring,
Blue, Dragon,
South, Summer, Red, Bird.
West, Autumn, White, Tiger,
North, Winter, Black, Tortoise.
1Les Animaux dans l'Art Chinois, H. d'Ardennede Ti
