MovieChat Forums > White of the Eye (1987) Discussion > A hiccup in the 'Four Directions'?

A hiccup in the 'Four Directions'?

posted 19 years ago by codebreaker2001
2 replies | jump to latest

I decided to look up information on the "Four Directions" indian compass that is made reference to in the film, because I wanted to know what the blue was meant to represent. I've found a page that has information on the four directions, however, there is a problem... South isn't suppose to be blue. According to the side, it has the information on what color each direction is and what it means:

Directions-
Black for the west
Red for the north
Yellow for the east
White for the south

Now, the meanings of each direction and color-
White for north, for wisdom gained through winter stories
Red for east, and enlightenment
Yellow for south, and innocence
Black for the west, and its power

So, my question is this: Did the "Four Directions" compass in the film have a hiccup with the blue south? Or is there multiple "Four Direction" compasses that I am unaware of? What DOES the blue sound suppose to me, if indeed there are multiple "Four Direction" compasses?

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Tchoutoye 17 years ago

According to Buddhism (IIRC, the film doesn't state American Indians specifically, so it could be Asian Indians) the Guardians of the Four Cardinal Directions are:

The white Dhritarastra - Guardian of the East
The blue Virudhaka - Guardian of the South
The red Virupaksha - Guardian of the West
The yellow Vaisravana - Guardian of the North

Sometimes blue and black are interchangeable, but I don't think they are used at the same time like in the movie. The would always be a red one.