Bai Ze: The Wise and Auspicious Divine Beast

In the vast tapestry of Chinese Mythology, few creatures embody both wisdom and benevolence as perfectly as Bai Ze (白泽).

A sacred beast of immense intelligence and auspicious power, Bai Ze can speak the language of humans and comprehend the essence of all beings across heaven and earth.

Endowed with deep insight into spirits, ghosts, and living creatures, it is said to guide humans away from misfortune and toward harmony and blessing.

Multiple Visions of a Divine Form

Descriptions of Bai Ze’s appearance vary throughout ancient texts and legends.

Some portray it as pure white from head to tail, shaped like a lion, with two elegant horns, a goat’s beard, and feathered wings.

Others describe it with a tiger’s head and crimson mane, a dragon’s body, and shining horns.

Still other accounts speak of a dragon’s head with green hair and antlers, its four legs bent as though ready to spring into flight.

Each version, though distinct, conveys a sense of majesty and transcendence beyond the mortal realm.

The Encounter with the Yellow Emperor

According to legend, after the Yellow Emperor (about 2717 BC — 2599 BC) unified the human world, he traveled eastward to the shores of the Eastern Sea.

There, beneath the vast shimmer of the Eastern Sea, a radiant divine creature emerged from the mist and light—its eyes gleaming with ancient wisdom.

Then, to the emperor’s astonishment, it spoke in a clear and human voice.

Thus revealed itself Bai Ze, the celestial guardian of wisdom and virtue.

The emperor, curious about the unseen forces that govern the world, asked Bai Ze about the nature of spirits and demons.

Bai Ze revealed to him the secrets of 11,520 supernatural beings, describing their names, appearances, and the means to repel them.

The emperor commanded his attendants to record everything, and thus was born the legendary text known as the Book of Bai Ze (白泽图 or Bai Ze Tu).

The Legendary “Book of Bai Ze”

The Book of Bai Ze once circulated widely throughout ancient China.

It contained detailed drawings and descriptions of countless spirits, demons, and strange creatures, along with methods to defend against them.

Whenever people encountered something uncanny or unexplained, they would turn to this book for answers.

Because of its connection to Bai Ze, the book became a treasured tool of wisdom and protection.

In some stories, Taoist priests carried a copy of it while traveling through mountains, believing it could ward off evil and make malevolent spirits retreat on their own.

Symbol of Virtue and Divine Protection

Bai Ze’s unmatched wisdom made it a revered symbol of purity and righteousness.

In Taoism, Bai Ze is regarded as the celestial beast who serves beside the Heavenly Emperor.

In Buddhism, it is honored as the mount of a compassionate Bodhisattva.

Legends tell that Bai Ze dwells upon the sacred Mount Kunlun and appears only when a ruler of great virtue governs the world.

Its presence is said to dispel all evil influences and symbolize an era of moral clarity and just leadership.

From Imperial Banners to Daily Blessings

Because of this association with virtue and divine order, emperors from the Tang Dynasty (618 — 907) to the Qing Dynasty (1636 — 1912) adopted Bai Ze’s image in their ceremonial processions.

The Bai Ze Flag, adorned with its likeness, symbolized the emperor’s moral greatness—an echo of the Yellow Emperor’s own wisdom and virtue.

Bai Ze’s image was also embroidered onto royal garments and ritual items, signifying heavenly favor and protection.

Beyond the palace, ordinary people embraced Bai Ze as a guardian spirit.

Its image appeared on household objects—embroidered on pillows, painted on doorways, and cast onto incense burners—believed to bring peace, good fortune, and protection from evil.

A Timeless Guardian of Wisdom

To this day, Bai Ze remains one of the most admired mythical beasts in Chinese tradition.

It represents not only divine wisdom and protection, but also the harmony between virtue, knowledge, and humanity’s spiritual world.

Through centuries of legend and devotion, the name Bai Ze continues to shine as a timeless symbol of enlightenment and good fortune.