The Four Directions (Durvun Zug)
Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia is now 14 years old
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Awareness of the 4 directions is fundamental to the Mongolian view of the world. A few Mongolian friends have told me that if they are not aware of their orientation to the 4 directions at all times they feel ill at ease. The names for the 4 directions corresponds to the words for “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right.” In ancient times the “front” orientation of the Mongols’ world was to the east, but for some unknown reason it shifted to the south, as it is today. The Mongolian world view looks from north to south. For this reason south is called the “front” direction. Correspondingly, north is called by the same word as “behind” in Mongolian. The right (western) side of the world is regarded as being male in essence, and the home of the benevolent sky spirits (tenger). The eastern, left, side of the world is regarded as female, and the sky spirits of that direction are believed to bring disease and discord.