The Four Great Beasts (四象) are ancient guardians depicting the four cardinal directions.
 
They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the White Tiger of the West, the Vermilion Bird of the South, and the Black Tortoise of the North.
 
Their origins are recognized as far back as 4,000 years ago, but the oldest known depiction resides in a tomb in Xishuipo in Puyang, dated to approximately 5300 BC (over 7,000 years ago!) 
 
This particular hoodie depicts the Japanese Genbu (げんぶ), a tortoise-snake creature. The hybrid symbolizes the north and winter season.
 
The flowers also have symbolic meaning. On the back of the hoodie is a red spider lily, representing death. The pink cherry blossoms mean renewal and optimism.
 
The art is a composite of interconnected, mutually perpetuating forces, known in ancient Chinese philosophy as yin-yang.