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The Black Tortoise (Chinese: 玄武; pinyin: Xuán Wǔ, literally "Black Warrior") is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations. It is sometimes called the Black Warrior of the North (北方玄武), and it represents the north and the winter season. Although its name in Chinese, Xuánwǔ, is often translated as Black Tortoise in English, it is usually depicted as both a tortoise and a snake, specifically with the snake coiling around the tortoise. It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
The Four Symbols (Chinese: ; pinyin: Sì Xià ng) are four guardian beasts from Chinese mythology, also known as the Shishin (四神) or Shijin in the Japanese tradition of onmyodo. ...
Chinese constellations are different from the western constellations, due to the independent development of ancient Chinese astronomy. ...
Compass rose with north highlighted and at top Look up North in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ...
The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...
This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...
For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ...
The Chinese constellations were not only used by Chinese cartographers, they were also used by Korean and Japanese cartographers as well. In Japanese, the Black Tortoise is called Genbu, and it has been depicted in numerous Japanese comic books and animations. In Korean it is called Hyeon-mu (현무). Cartography or mapmaking (in Greek chartis = map and graphein = write) is the study, practice, science and art of making maps or globes. ...
Manga ) is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons. ...
The main cast of the anime Cowboy Bebop (1998) (L to R: Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Ed Tivrusky, Faye Valentine, and Ein the dog) For the oleo-resin, see Animé (oleo-resin). ...
The Seven Mansions of the Black Tortoise
Like the other Four Symbols, the Black Tortoise corresponds to seven "mansions", or positions, of the moon. Apparent magnitude: up to -12. ...
South Dipper map The Dipper mansion (斗宿, pinyin: Dǒu Xiù) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. ...
It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
The Ox mansion (牛宿, pinyin: Niú Xiù) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. ...
It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
The Girl mansion (女宿, pinyin: Nǚ Xiù) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. ...
It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
The Emptiness mansion (虛宿, pinyin: Xū Xiù) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. ...
It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
The Rooftop mansion (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. ...
It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
The Encampment mansion (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. ...
It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
The Wall mansion (Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is one of the Twenty-eight mansions of the Chinese constellations. ...
It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ...
Origin In ancient China, the tortoise and the snake were thought to be spiritual creatures symbolising longevity. During the Han Dynasty, people often wore jade pendants that were in the shape of tortoises. Because of ancient Chinese influence on Japan, honorific titles and badges in Japan often referred to the tortoise or images of tortoises. The Han Dynasty (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Han Chau; 206 BC–AD 220) followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. ...
Then a legend arose that told of female tortoises being unable to mate with male tortoises, but only with male snakes. This made the male tortoise angry, but the female tortoise kept the male tortoise at a distance by urinating around herself. From then on, men whose wives were having extramarital affairs were often referred to as "tortoises," and so people stopped using the tortoise as a fortuitous symbolism. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...
An affair is a euphemism for a situation where two people are involved in an illicit sexual, romantic and/or passionate attachment, usually for a limited duration. ...
The depiction of the Xuánwǔ as a tortoise-snake creature may have came into existence because of this legend of female tortoises and male snakes mating. However, this explanation is uncertain, because the depiction could have came into existence as early as the Zhou Dynasty. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...
Historic Reference In the classic novel, Journey to the West, Xuánwǔ was a king of the north who had two generals serving under him, a "Tortoise General" and a "Snake General." This king had a temple at Wudang Mountains in Hubei, thus there is a "Tortoise Mountain" and a "Snake Mountain" on the opposite sides of a river in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei. The four heroes of the story, left to right: Sun Wukong, Xuánzà ng, Zhu Wuneng, and Sha Wujing. ...
It has been suggested that Wangdangshan be merged into this article or section. ...
Hubei (Chinese: 湖北; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Hu-pei; Postal System Pinyin: Hupeh) is a central province of the Peoples Republic of China. ...
Location within China Modern and ancient (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Wǔhà n) is the capital of Hubei province, and is the most populous city in central China. ...
In Taoist legend it was said that Xuánwǔ was the prince of a Chinese Emperor. However, he was not interested in taking the throne, but decided to study in Tao's way. At age 15, he left his parents to search for enlightment in Tao's way. It was said that he eventually achieved god status and was worshipped as a god of northern sky. Taoism (pronounced and often written as Daoism (dow-ism)) is the English name for a religious and philosophical tradition in China. ...
The king or wang (王 wang2) was the Chinese head of state from the Zhou to Qin dynasties. ...
Other Chinese legends also speak of how the "Tortoise General" and a "Snake General" came to be. During Xuánwǔ's study to achieve enlightment and god status he was told that in order to fully achieve god status, he must purge all humanly flesh from his body. Since he was born he had been eating the food of the world, humanly food, therefore his stomach and intestines were still human. Legend told of an event that a god came and changed out his human stomach and intestines for a godly body so he could fully achieve god status. (It was also said that the stomach and intestines that were tossed out became the "Tortoise Mountain" and "Snake Mountain".) The stomach and intestines taken out by the god whom did the surgery on Xuánwǔ were said to have taken on the shape of a tortoise(stomach) and a snake(intestines). As many Chinese legends speak of certain animals becoming demons over time as they gain knowledge, that's what the tortoise and snake became, and terrorized people. As Xuánwǔ, now in his god status, heard of this, he came and slayed the demons from his past. However, he did not kill them, as the snake and tortoise demons showed remorse. He let them train under him and atone for their wrong doings, and they became the "Tortoise General" and "Snake General", and they assisted Xuánwǔ with his quests.
See also References to the Four Symbols are extremely common in anime and manga, as well as in video games. ...
External links - "Star Charts and Moon Stations"
- The Black Tortoise of the North
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