Bi'an

Bi'an's image was traditionally placed on the gates of prisons (监狱门) and the doors of government offices and courtrooms (衙门). His tiger-like figure stood watch over the entrances where the accused were brought in and the judged were led out, ensuring that proceedings remained fair and that no injustice passed through his gate.

He also appeared on the wooden boards and banners used in legal proceedings, sometimes bearing the name of the court or the law being enforced. In this capacity Bi'an was not merely a guardian but an active witness — a divine presence that presided over every trial and reminded officials that they, too, were judged.

Bi'an symbolizes justice, integrity, and the impartial enforcement of the law. In imperial China, where local magistrates held enormous power and corruption was a constant concern, Bi'an served as a divine check — a reminder that even the highest official answered to a higher standard of right and wrong.

His presence at prison gates also carried a dual meaning: he deterred the innocent from false conviction and the guilty from escaping punishment. Bi'an did not favor either side; he favored truth. This made him the patron of honest magistrates, advocates, and all who sought a fair hearing in an imperfect system.

Bi'an is the seventh of the Nine Sons of the Dragon (龙生九子), the legendary offspring of the Chinese dragon, each with a distinct form and calling. The proverb 'the dragon has nine sons, and each is different' (龙生九子，各有不同) became a common expression for the surprising variety among siblings.

Among the nine, Bi'an is the magistrate — the son whose passion is not music or war but the fair administration of law. Ming dynasty sources record his tiger form and his love of justice, placing him at the gates of courts and prisons where his watchful presence upheld the integrity of the legal system.