| Xuantian Shangdi | |
| Pic: | 玄天上帝塑像.jpg |
| Piccap: | Statue of Zhenwu or Xuantian by Zheng Yongtai (Penghu) |
| P: | Xuántiān shàngdì |
| Bpmf: | ㄒㄩㄢ´ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄕㄤ` ㄉㄧ` |
| Poj: | Hiân-thian siōng-tè |
| Tl: | Hiân-thian siōng-tè |
| Teo: | Hiang5 tiêng1 siang6 di3 |
| Y: | Yùhn tīn seuhng dai |
| J: | Jyun4 tin1 soeng6 dai3 |
| L: | Dark (or Mysterious) Heavenly Highest Deity |
| Altname2: | Xuanwu |
| P2: | Xuánwǔ |
| Bpmf2: | ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄨˇ |
| Poj2: | Hiân-bú |
| Tl2: | Hiân-bú |
| Teo2: | Hiang5 bhu2 |
| Y2: | Yùhn móuh |
| J2: | Jyun4 mou5 |
| L2: | Dark (or Mysterious) Warrior |
| Altname3: | Xuandi |
| P3: | Xuándì |
| W3: | Hsüan2-ti4 |
| Bpmf3: | ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄉㄧ` |
| Poj3: | Hiân-tè |
| Tl3: | Hiân-tè |
| Teo3: | Hiang5 di3 |
| Y3: | Yùhn dai |
| J3: | Jyun4 Dai3 |
| L3: | Mysterious Emperor |
| Altname4: | Zhenwu |
| P4: | Zhēnwǔ |
| W4: | Chên1-wu3 |
| Bpmf4: | ㄓㄣ ㄨˇ |
| Poj4: | Chin-bú |
| Tl4: | Tsin-bú |
| Teo4: | Zing1 bhu2 |
| Y4: | Jān móuh |
| J4: | Zan1 mou5 |
| L4: | True Warrior / Truly Valiant |
| Altname5: | Zhenwu dadi |
| P5: | Zhēnwǔ dàdì |
| Bpmf5: | ㄓㄣ ㄨˇ ㄉㄚ` ㄉㄧ` |
| Poj5: | Chin-bú tāi-tè |
| Tl5: | Tsin-bú tāi-tè |
| Teo5: | Zing1 bhu2 dai6 di3 |
| Y5: | Jān móuh daaih dai |
| J5: | Zan1 mou5 daai6 dai3 |
| L5: | True Martial Great Emperor / Truly Valiant Great Emperor |
| Altname6: | Tua Lao Aie |
| P6: | Dàlǎoyé |
| W6: | Ta4-lao3-yeh2 |
| Bpmf6: | ㄉㄚ` ㄌㄠˇ ㄧㄝˊ |
| Poj6: | Tōa lāu-iâ |
| Tl6: | Tuā láu-iâ |
| Teo6: | Dua7 lao6/2 ia5 |
| Y6: | Daaih lóuh yèh/yé |
| J6: | Daai6 lou5 je4 |
| L6: | Big Deity |
| Hangul: | 현천상제 |
| Rr: | Hyeoncheon Sangje |
| Mr: | Hyŏnch'ŏn Sangje |
| Tha: | เจ้าพ่อเสือ |
| Rtgs: | Chao Pho Suea |
| Ind: | Xuan Tian Shang Di |
| Qn: | Trấn Vũ |
Xuanwu (Chinese: {{linktext|玄武) or Xuandi, also known as Zhenwu (Chinese: 真武,) or Zhenwudadi (Chinese: 真武大帝,), is a revered 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 (Chinese: 黑帝,) 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 the 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 a number of Taoist monasteries constructed in the Wudang Mountains of Hubei, where Xuanwu allegedly attained immortality.
See main article: Black Tortoise. Xuanwu is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations, representing the north and the winter season. It is usually depicted as a turtle entwined together with a snake.
One story says that Xuanwu was originally a prince of Jing Le State in northern Hebei during the time of the Yellow Emperor. As he grew up, he felt the sorrow and pain of the life of ordinary people and wanted to retire to a remote mountain for cultivation of the Tao.
Another says that Xuanwu was originally a butcher who had killed many animals mercilessly. Yet as time passed, his conscience grew and he felt remorse for his actions. Upon repenting, he abandoned butchery and retired to a remote mountain for cultivation of the Tao.
One day, after assisting a woman in labor, as he cleaned her blood stained clothes in a river nearby, the words "Dark (or Mysterious) Heavenly Highest Deity" (Chinese: 玄天上帝 Xuántiān Shàngdì) appeared before him. The woman in labor was a manifestation of the goddess Guanyin. To redeem his sins, he dug out his own stomach and intestines and washed them in the river. The river then became dark and murky. After a while, the river flowed clear and pure once again.
Xuanwu lost his stomach and intestines while he was washing them in the river. The Jade Emperor was moved by his sincerity and determination to clear his sins, and made him an immortal with the title of Xuántiān Shàngdì.
After he became an immortal, his stomach and intestines absorbed the essence of the earth. His viscera transformed into a demonic turtle and a demonic snake, who started to hurt people. No one could subdue the demonic animals. Eventually, Xuanwu returned to earth to subdue them. After defeating them, he later used them as his subordinates.
Xuanwu is sometimes portrayed with two generals standing besides him, General Wan Gong (Chinese: 萬公) and General Wan Ma (Chinese: 萬媽). The two generals are deities that handle many local issues from children's birth, medication, family matters as well as fengshui consultation.
Xuanwu is portrayed as a warrior in dark-coloured imperial robes, his left hand holding the "three mountain seal", somewhat similar to Guan Yu's hand seal, while his right hand is holding a sword, which is said to have belonged to Lü Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals.
Another legend says that he borrowed the sword from Lü Dongbin to subdue a strong demon, and after being successful, he refused to bring it back after witnessing the sword's power. The sword itself would magically return to its owner if Xuanwu released it, so it is said that he always holds his sword tightly and is unable to release it. However, not only does he outrank Lü in terms of divinity, Xuanwu also dates back longer in history than Lü Dongbin, putting this claim in suspect.
He is usually seated on a throne with the right foot stepping on the snake and left leg extended stepping on the turtle. His face is usually red with bulging eyes.
His birthday is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month.[1]
In Indonesia, almost every Taoist temple provides an altar for Xuantian Shangdi. The story states that the first temple that worshiped him was a temple at Welahan Town, Jepara, Central Java. And the temples that were built in honor of him are the temples at Gerajen and Bugangan, Semarang City, Central Java. His festival is celebrated annually every the 25th day, 2nd month, of Chinese calendar. The worshipers of Chen Fu Zhen Ren, especially at Tik Liong Tian Temple, Rogojampi, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, believe that Xuantian Shangdi is their patron deity. That's why they put his altar at the right side of Chen Fu Zhen Ren's altar, in the middle room of the temple which is always reserved for the main deity.
Xuanwu is known among the Thai people as Chao Pho Suea (Tiger God) or Tua Lao Yah (Chinese: 大老爷 "Big Deity") according by Teochew dialect. There are many shrines that worship him in the country and the most famous shrine is Bangkok's San Chao Pho Suea near Giant Swing and Sam Phraeng neighbourhood.[2] This shrine has been highly worshipped with both Thais and Chinese, especially in Chinese New Year's Day.