According to another theory, the depicted shape of the creature is a composite of the twelve zodiac animals which represent compass directions: the tiger representing the northeast, the snake representing the southeast, the monkey representing the southwest and the dog and wild boar representing the northwest. |
描写される姿形は北東の寅(虎)、南東の巳(蛇)、南西の申(猿)、北西の戌亥(犬とイノシシ)といった干支を表わす獣の合成という考えもある。 |