Description

Xuanwu (玄武) or Xuandi (Chinese: 玄帝; pinyin: Xuándì), also known as Zhenwu (真武) or Zhenwudadi (真武大帝 “Zhenwu Emperor”), is a powerful deity in Chinese religion, one of the higher-ranking deities in Taoism. He is revered as a powerful god, able to control the elements and capable of great magic. He is identified as the god of the north Heidi (黑帝 “Black Emperor”) and is particularly revered by martial artists. He is the patron god of Hebei, Henan, Manchuria, and Mongolia. As some Han Chinese (now the modern-day Cantonese and Fujianese peoples) migrated into the south from Hebei and Henan during the Tang-Song era, Xuanwu is also widely revered in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Fujian provinces, as well as among the overseas diaspora.

Since the usurping Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty claimed to receive the divine assistance of Xuanwu during his successful Jingnan Campaign against his nephew, he had many Taoist monasteries constructed in the Wudang Mountains of Hubei, where Xuanwu allegedly attained immortality.