The main god of Wudang Mountain is Tian Xuan God, that is, Xuanwu Emperor. What is his position in the Taoist immortal system?

Zhenwu Emperor, also known as Tian Xuan God and Tian Xuan God, is the famous Jade Emperor among Taoist immortals. At present, the main god of Wudang Mountain belief is Zhenwu Emperor, which is called "Zhenwu Emperor" in Taoist scriptures, or "Zhenwu Emperor" for short. Folks call it "demon Buddha, founder, founder". After the Ming dynasty, it had a great influence throughout the country, especially in modern folk beliefs.

Zhenwu Emperor, also known as Xuanwu and Long Xuan, son of Pangu, sister of Mazu, wife of Queen Mother of the West, Jiutian Xuan Nv, etc., the Jade Emperor abdicated and became the third emperor, giving birth to the Yellow Emperor. He once fell to Fuxi and learned the Buddha. For the dragon body, the ancestor of China.

Characteristics of Zhenwu Emperor

First, it is the god of the north. "Songs of the South" notes: "Xuanwu is the name of the North God." The Book of Historical Records and Tianguan said: "Gong Bei preached martial arts, and the danger was to build a house." "Rebuilding the Integration of Weft Books" Volume 6 "River Map": "North Hei Di, the name of God is Ye Guangji, and the essence is Xuanwu." However, people in the Han Dynasty believed that there was not only one god in the north, but three gods. Huainanzi Astronomical Training called them Zhuan Xu, Chen Xing and Xuanwu. Because of its complexity, people are not easy to grasp, so Xuanwu is still regarded as the god of the north.

Second, it is the water god. According to the five elements of yin and yang, the north belongs to water, so the god of the north is the water god. Wuyi's "Nine Chapters Attached Sentences" says: "Turtles are water gods." Wang Liangchuan, the Book of the Later Han Dynasty, said: "Xuanwu, the name of the water god, is also an official of water and soil." "Rebuilding the Integration of Weft Books" Volume 6 "River Map": "The residence of the seven gods in the north actually began with fighting, and the town in the north dominated the storm." Because rain is necessary for the survival of all things, Xuanwu's water god attribute is deeply believed by people.

Third, it is a symbol of the sympathetic evolution of Yin and Yang. Wei Boyang's Book of Changes in the Eastern Han Dynasty said: "In Jiangzhou, a gentle and graceful lady, a good gentleman, a man who is not an orphan and a woman who is not alone, a Xuanwu tortoise and a snake, correct the situation and help each other, and finally get married." It is to use the example of tortoise and snake to illustrate the view that yin and yang must be harmonious.

Fourth, he is the host of Ge affairs, the important reliance of Emperor Gou Chen, the patron saint of the way of sword play and the patron saint of Wulin people. Gui Ling is the shield, the mysterious snake is the sword, and it is up to the guardian to cultivate the heavenly sword. Wudang Mountain is the highest deity of Taoism. Because the seven nights in the north (fighting, cattle, emptiness, danger, houses and walls) form a turtle shape, and there are snake stars under it, so the burning snakes are combined into one; Located in the north, it belongs to water and its color is mysterious, so it is called Xuanwu. Xinjun often kills demons and hoes the magic capital, and travels with the imperial sword, just because the imperial sword escapes faster than walking around.

Fifth, it is the god of life. Turtles are a symbol of longevity and immortality because of their long life. Biography of Qiuci in Historical Records claims that it can guide the breath. "Bao Puzi" also said that it can lead the way, and said: "Chengyang hunted when he was young, fell into an empty tomb, and was hungry. When I saw a chinemys reevesii in the tomb, I counted and turned around, and the direction was uncertain. I swallowed, or I was in a daze, or I was upturned. I try to do what turtles do, so I'm not hungry anymore. " In addition, the first night of Xuanwu in the north was fighting against the Soviet Union, commonly known as fighting in the south. "Star Classic" said: "Nan Dou Yun Xing, the life of the main emperor, is also the position of the prime minister." The Jin Dynasty's Gan Bao quoted Guan Ju as saying: "Nan Dou is reborn, and Beidou is dead again." Then people believe that worshipping Nan Dou can prolong life.

These characteristics of Xuanwu not only won the universal belief of all social strata, but also laid the foundation for Xuanwu to evolve into a Taoist god after the Tang and Song Dynasties.

Relevant records of Zhenwu emperor

Twenty-eight Xuanwu schools and seven northern schools are collectively called. Ancient books of the Warring States Period have been recorded.

There is a saying in The Songs of the South. Hong Xingzu's Addendum to Songs of the South said: "Xuanwu is called tortoise and snake, which is located in the north, so it is called Xuan, and it has scales, so it is called Wu."

"The Book of Rites Quli" says: "Before the trip, the Zhu bird was followed by Xuanwu, and the left dragon was right." Note: "Yes, the army will come out. Zhu Bird, Xuanwu, Qinglong and Baihu are also named in four directions. " ..... The military should act in accordance with the law, rectify the square, and purge the Rong array. "

"Huainanzi Astronomy" paired the four gods with the four emperors, calling Xuanwu Zhuan Xu's assistant, saying, "The water in the north, its emperor Zhuan Xu, its assistant Xuanming, ... its god is Chen Xing, and its beast is Xuanwu."

Weft book River Map regards Xuanwu as the essence of Hei Di, saying, "North Hei Di is named Ye Guangji, and the essence is Xuanwu." He also said: "Hei Di in the north is Xuanwu, and its people are all-encompassing, with deep eyes and thick ears."

Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty said that the old gentleman Li Yong "has twelve dragons on the left, twenty-six white tigers on the right, twenty-four suzaku in front and seventy-two basalts behind" as a guard.

The image of Xuanwu in Youyang Miscellanies in the Tang Dynasty is still the image of tortoise and snake. The book continues with three clouds: "Taoist Zhu lived in Taihe for eight years and often visited Lushan Mountain and rested on rocks. Suddenly, he saw a flat snake like a pile of brocade, and Russia became a huge turtle. The mountain he visited was covered with mountains and the clouds were Xuanwu. "

In the Five Dynasties, Ling Ying Lu recorded the story of a man who killed a tortoise and snake. It is said that this tortoise snake is the "Xuanwu God".

The origin of Zhenwu emperor

According to "The Great Sage Zhenwu in Tian Xuan is a vivid mantra", Zhenwu Emperor is the eighty-second change of the Great Sage Laojun. He was born in Rhoda, and the son of King Jingle is better than the queen. The queen dreamed of swallowing Japan, and was born in the palace in October for more than 400 years. When he grew up, he left his family, resigned from his parents and went to Wudang Mountain to practice. After 42 years of success, he ascended to heaven in the daytime. The jade emperor has an imperial edict, and his name is Taixuan. The town is located in the north. The word Xuanwu was originally a general term for seven of the twenty-eight inns in the north. There is a saying in Qu Yuan's "Farewell" in The Songs of Chu, "Call Xuanwu and run to the genus". Xuanwu Seven Nights is shaped like a tortoise snake, so it is noted that "Xuanwu is called tortoise snake, which is located in the north, so it is called Xuan, and it has scales, so it is called Wu". During the Kaibao period of the Northern Song Dynasty, Xuanwu God came to Zhong Nanshan. In the sixth year of Taiping and Xingguo (98 1), he was named the next general. In the seventh year of Song Zhenzong Dazhong Xiangfu (10 14), he was named the true king of St. Baode in the following year, and later changed to Xuanwu as Zhenwu to avoid the taboo of the holy ancestor Zhao. Song Zhenzong, Song Huizong, Qin Zong in Southern Song Dynasty, etc. Often sealed. In the seventh year of Dade in Yuan Dynasty (1303), Zhenwu was made Emperor of Heaven. Ming Chengzu worshiped Zhenwu, and there were Zhenwu temples in yamen, bureaus, departments, factories and warehouses. , dedicated to the statue of Zhenwu the Great. In the tenth year of Yongle (14 12), Longping Hou was ordered to lead more than 200,000 soldiers to build Wudang Mountain Palace Group, which made the incense of Zhenwu Emperor reach its peak. Among the seven nights, there is a fighting night. Taoism attaches great importance to the worship of fighting stars, saying that "the southern fighting is reborn, and the Beidou is dead." Anyone born again will transition from Nandou to Beidou. Life and death are decided by Beidou. Therefore, people who wish to live a long life should worship Zhenwu the Great.

"Blessing Holy Mantra" calls Zhenwu the Great as "the moon's metaplasia, and the water is pure and flat. The virtual danger should be met, and the tortoise and snake fit together. Zhou Xing Liuhe, Wei She Wan Ling. " Therefore, Zhenwu Emperor belongs to water, so he should be able to control water and reduce fire, and relieve the suffering of fire and water. In the Ming Dynasty, Zhenwu Temple was built to avoid fire and water disasters.

The reason why Zhenwu emperor changed his name

There are different opinions about the reason why Xuanwu changed its name to Zhenwu. One is to avoid Song Zhenzong (Song Zhenzong's Zeng Fu was named Xuanxiu and Xuankan), which can be found in books such as Ji Shuo Quan Zhen, and the other is to avoid Zhao Xuanlang, the "holy father" of Zhao and Song Dynasties, which can be found in Lei Yu, Zhuzi. After Xuanwu was changed to Zhenwu, the name Xuanwu was rarely mentioned. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhenwu's image was still tortoise and snake. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the legend of personification of Zhenwu became popular. When Song Taizu was in China, Zhenwu and Tian Peng were considered great generals. Song Gaocheng recorded the first year of Song Zhenzong Tianxi (10/01022) in Ji Yuan Shi (17). "Those who saw turtles and snakes in the camp, the sergeant built Zhenwutang. In April of the following year, people who are not thirsty and those who are sick drink more. " After hearing this, Zhenzong wrote a letter and built a temple named "Xiangyuan". So personalized Zhenwu was born. According to Jian Yizhi, Yun Lu Manchao and other books, its image is full of feathers and combs, and it is equipped with a sword (hence the name "the founder of Pifa"), which is quite brave. Zhenwu, as a great god of Taoist worship, has a wide and profound belief among the people, and can no longer jump out of the Taoist altar like the original image of the star turtle and snake. As a result, the legend about Zhenwu's life experience and miracles gradually spread. There are many legends and magical stories about Zhenwu's life experience in books such as Taoist Collection, A General Examination of Continued Documents, The Complete Works of Three Religions Seeking Gods, and The Mirror of Immortals in Past Dynasties.

The images depicting Zhenwu in Taoist scriptures are all dressed in black, wearing golden armor and jade belts, glaring at swords, stepping on turtles and snakes, and having a round cover on the top. These images are very powerful. "Yuan Shi Tianzun said that the northern Zhenwu Miao Jing" Zhu Xuan, the Zhenwu Emperor, turned out to be the prince of Jingle Kingdom, was born with a spirit likeness and knew his luck through observation. When I grow up, I am very brave. I only practice and swear to get rid of all demons in the world. I don't want to inherit the throne. Later, when he met Purple Virtual Goddess, he was granted the highest secret passage. He even swam across the East China Sea. When he met the gods, he got a sword. Wudang (Taihe Mountain) practice. After 42 years of success, the Jade Emperor ordered Zhenbei to take over the position of Xuanwu, and renamed Taihe Mountain Wudang Mountain, meaning "If Xuanwu is not sealed, it is not enough to block it". During the Jubilee of Song and Tian Dynasties (1017-1022), it was called "Zhenwuling should be a true king". In the seventh year of Yuan Dynasty (1297- 1308), Dade was named "God of light, benevolence and Tian Xuan" and became the highest god in the north.

Ming Dynasty was the period when Zhenwu Emperor became famous and folk beliefs were the most common. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Judy, the son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the prince of Yan, launched the "Jing Nan Change" and seized the throne. Legend has it that Zhenwu the Great once played a great role in the whole operation of the Prince of Yan. Therefore, after Judy acceded to the throne, she specially named Zhenwu as the "God of the Arctic Town" and built a large-scale Taoist temple on Wudang Mountain, including the Eight Gong Er Temple, the Thirty-six Luan Hall, the Seventy-two Rock Temple, and the Thirty-nine Bridges and Twelve Pavilions, which made Wudang Mountain a world-famous Taoist shrine and built a "Golden Temple" on the top of Tianzhu Peak. Thanks to the emperor's vigorous advocacy, Zhenwu Emperor's belief reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty, and a large number of Zhenwu temples were generally built in the imperial court and among the people.

Now the temple is dedicated to the Zhenwu Emperor, who usually sits in the temple with his hair and feet, and there are two generals, a tortoise and a snake, or golden couple. It is said that the former is the guardian of the Great God, and the latter records the merits and demerits of the three realms for Zhenwu. Zhenwu's birthday is on the third day of the third lunar month.