also: げんむ
noun
Black Tortoise; Genbu
One of the Four Symbols in Chinese mythology, guardian of the north. Often depicted as a tortoise entwined with a snake. Used in astrology, feng shui, and traditional iconography.
See also: 四神
玄武は北の方角を守る神獣です。
Genbu is a divine beast that guards the northern direction.
京都の玄武神社は、この神を祀ってい
Genbu Shrine in Kyoto enshrines this deity.
noun
seven northern mansions
In Chinese astronomy, the seven constellations of the northern sky associated with the Black Tortoise. Technical term used in historical and astronomical contexts.
See also: 二十八宿
玄武は二十八宿のうち、北方七宿を指します。
Genbu refers to the seven northern mansions among the twenty-eight lunar lodges.
From Chinese 玄武 (Xuánwǔ), literally 'dark warrior' or 'mysterious martiality'. The name refers to the tortoise-and-snake symbol. The reading げんぶ is the standard Sino-Japanese on'yomi; げんむ is a less common variant.