方位名词的特殊用法及其文化本源 East, South, West and North, these four compass directions have been used as metaphors in various cultures since ancient times. East and West usually symbolize the beginning and the end of life. While the East stands for the birth, the West stands for the dying or the end. In Ancient Greece, the dodecahedron, a 12-sided figure is used to explicitly recognized the number 4 in referring to the 4 cardinal directions – North, South, East, and West. In Chinese culture, east, south, west and north are known as the Four Celestial Beasts, each one embodying different characteristics, representing the four cardinal directions. East is the bear, South is the bird, West is the tiger, and North is the dragon. In the ancient worldview, East is a place of hope and renewal, South symbolizes expansion and energy, West denotes the place of ending, while North is the place of darkness and secrets. The four compass directions have also been used to figure prominently in divination practices. In Chinese feng shui, the opposite sides of the compass are yin and yang, which are believed to have a balancing effect on the relationship between people and the environment. The East is also believed to carry sacred power in many cultures. In Hinduism for example, it was believed that the great god Vishnu entered the world from the East. In Christianity, the East is seen as the source of the “Life-Giving Light”, represented by the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, which has been viewed as the East ever since. In the ancient Chinese belief system, east, south, west and north are also important spiritual signs. The five elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water, are said to be associated with the four directions. For example, fire is associated with South, metal is associated with West, and water is associated with North. Overall, East, South, West, and North have always been used in many cultures as symbols of beginnings, endings, development, destruction, yin and yang, among many other metaphors. Their uses and meanings remain rich in various cultures and continue to carry the same significance in the present day.。 本文来源：https://www.wddqw.com/doc/4baad88787254b35eefdc8d376eeaeaad1f316ab.html