Search Results - Huyen Vu

Black Turtle-Snake

| y = yun4 mou5 | poj = gôan-bú | kanji = 玄武 | hiragana = げんぶ | revhep = Genbu | kunrei = Genbu | hangul = 현무 | rr = Hyeon-mu | hanja = 玄武 | qn = Huyền Vũ | chuhan = 玄武 | p = Xuánwǔ }}

| p = Běifāng Xuánwǔ }}

The Black Tortoise is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is usually depicted as a tortoise intertwined with a snake.

According to Eastern Han philologist Xu Shen, the character () meant ( "knight") in the Jianghuai dialect. So the English translation Black ~ Dark ~ Mysterious Warrior is a more faithful translation.

It represents the north, thus it is sometimes called Black Warrior of the North ().

While neither character or literally means tortoise or snake; but tortoises and snakes are known to hibernate during winter, so as a whole represents the season of winter.

The image of intertwined tortoise and snake likely symbolizes a state of inner struggle.

In Japan, the characters are pronounced as Genbu. It is said to protect Kyoto on the north side, being one of the four guardian spirits that protect the city. It is represented by the Kenkun Shrine, which is located on top of Mount Funaoka in Kyoto.

An important Taoist priest also has Xuanwu as his clergy name. He is sometimes (as in ''Journey to the West'') portrayed in the company of a turtle and a snake. Provided by Wikipedia