(1) four divinities
(2) four divine emperors
(3) four mythical creatures symbolic of propsperity and longevity, namely phoenix
鳳|
凤[feng4], turtle
龜|
龟[gui1], dragon
龍|
龙[long2], Chinese unicorn
麒麟[qi2 lin2]
(4) also
四象[si4 xiang4], the four division of the sky
