What does Xuanwu stand for?

Xuanwu represents the god of the north, symbolizing winter, water, life and longevity.

One of the four heavenly spirits in China's ancient mythology, originated from the worship of ancient stars, which means that twenty-eight lodges in the four elephants are divided into seven lodges in North Xuanwu according to the southeast and northwest. In the traditional culture of China, the four elephants refer to Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu, representing the east, west, north and south directions respectively. Xuanwu in the north is based on gossip, and the five elements dominate the water, symbolizing the old yin in the four elephants and the winter in the four seasons.

Xuanwu is a spiritual thing composed of turtles and snakes. Xuanwu originally meant Xuanming, and the ancient sounds of Wu and Ming are interlinked. Wu means black; Ghost means yin. Xuanwu, also called Xuanming, is a combination of tortoise and snake. It is the water god, living in Beihai, and the tortoise lives long. Xuan Ming has become a symbol of immortality, and the underworld is also in the north, so it is the god of the north.

Xuanwu is not only known as the northern water god, but also symbolizes the god of reproduction and life. Because the snake itself is a symbol of reproduction, Xuanwu appeared in the form of tortoise and snake, which was regarded by the ancients as a symbol of male and female mating and reproduction. In ancient times, the tortoise was a symbol of immortality and could guide qi, so Xuanwu was also called the God of Life.

Extended data

Xuanwu is one of the four heavenly spirits in ancient China, and also one of the five beasts in Huainanzi, namely, Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku, Xuanwu and Huanglong, also known as the Five Beasts of Heaven.

Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu respectively represent 28 stars in four directions. For example, the dragon is the seven stars in the east: horn, sound, phase, room, heart, tail and dustpan. The shapes of these seven stars are very similar to those of dragons. As can be seen from their meanings, the horn is the horn of the dragon, the sound is the neck, and the root of the neck is each other. ?

Therefore, it is called: East Qinglong, West White Tiger, South Suzaku, North Xuanwu and Middle Huanglong.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Xuanwu