The Four Perils (Chinese: 四凶; pinyin: Sì Xiōng) are four malevolent beings that existed in Chinese mythology and the antagonistic counterparts of the Four Benevolent Animals.
Si Xiong | |||||||
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Chinese name | |||||||
Chinese | 四凶 | ||||||
Literal meaning | Four Perils | ||||||
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Japanese name | |||||||
Kanji | 四凶 | ||||||
Hiragana | しきょう | ||||||
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Si Zui | |||||||
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Chinese name | |||||||
Chinese | 四罪 | ||||||
Literal meaning | Four Evildoers Four Criminals | ||||||
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Japanese name | |||||||
Kanji | 四罪 | ||||||
Hiragana | しざい | ||||||
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In the Book of Documents, they are defined as the "Four Criminals" (四罪; Sì Zuì):[1][2]
In Zuo Zhuan,[8][9] Shanhaijing, and Shenyijing, the Four Perils (Hanzi: 四凶; pinyin: Sì Xiōng) are defined as:
Zhang Shoujie's Correct Meanings of the Record of the Grand Historian (史記正義; Shǐjì Zhèngyì) identifies Huandou (讙兠) with Hundun (渾沌), Gonggong with Qiongqi (窮竒), Gun with Taowu (檮杌), and the Sanmiao "Three Miao" (三苗) with Taotie (饕餮).[16]