Thursday 18 September 2008

Pictures of Xuan Wu Symbol (玄武星象表圖)





Xuan Wu, a title used to describe a Group of 7 Stars that are found in the Northern Hemisphere (Part of the 28 Constellations).

In the Chinese Star Symbol Records, Xuan Wu Symbol is made up of 2 Animals, which are a Black Tortise & Dark Blue Snake. These 2 Animals will always be pictured or drawn Curling-up together.

Why these 2 Animals are being pictured in Black or Dark color?

Cos in our Chinese Beliefs, Northern Hemisphere had a Element of Water or Darkness and also, an Energy of Coolness. And so, in-order to have a better visualization for the Chinese, Xuan Wu is always being pictured or drawn in Dark form.

In this Group of Xuan Wu, you are able to see the 7 Bright Stars that representing the 7 Different Deities or Generals in Taoist Contexts and/or Spiritual Records.

So who are they?

They are:

Dipper (斗木獬)
Ox (牛金牛)
Girl (女土蝠)
Emptiness (虛日鼠)
Rooftop (危月燕)
Encampment (室火猪)
Wall (壁水獝)

7 comments:

  1. sifu..i thaught the snake is red color like the xuan tian shang di's snake???

    ReplyDelete
  2. Usually for Xuan Tian's Snake, there are 2 colors, 1 is red represent Fire and other 1 is Blue or Black represent Water.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dipper (斗木獬)
    Ox (牛金牛)
    Girl (女土蝠)
    Emptiness (虛日鼠)
    Rooftop (危月燕)
    Encampment (室火猪)
    Wall (壁水獝)

    The first part of the Title is the Name of the Star, second is the 7 types (5 Elements plus Sun/Moon) of Natural Occurence and lastly is the Animal form of them?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Shifu, if Xuan Tian represents water / coolness / north hemisphere, who is his counterpart (deity with same rank as his but represents fire / heat / south)? Zhang Tian Shi? I see a banner where Yu Huang in the middle, Zhang Tian Shi on the right side and Xuan Tian on the left side.
    Thx in advance

    Best regards,

    ReplyDelete
  5. Due to the position and the belief that Xuan Tian has in Taoism, he is being connected with quite a number of stuffs.

    For the Fire/Heat, usually is being represent by Wang Ling Guan or Huo De Xing Jun.

    ReplyDelete

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