Xuanwu
Xuanwu, also known as Gui Xian and Genbu, is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.
Profile
Origin
Xuanwu,[b] or the Black Tortoise,[c] is among the Four Symbols.[d] It is mentioned in the Confucian Book of Rites, as well as Daoist texts regarding the Five Elements. In these texts, Xuanwu represents the north, winter, and water. It is also the constellation associated with the Black Emperor[e] of the Five Regions' Highest Deities,[f] who is associated with the planet Mercury. As a human, the Black Emperor was known as Zhuanwu.[g] Its animal equivalent is Heilong.
In cosmology, Xuanwu is a constellation, consisting of several "Mansions," roughly translating to moon positions; φ Sgr is the dipper, β Cap is its cow, ε Aqr is its girl, β Aqr is its emptiness, α Aqr is its rooftop, α Peg is its encampment, and γ Peg is its wall.
Being part of the Four Symbols, Xuanwu is paired with Zhuque, Qinglong, and Baihu.[1]
Design
Xuanwu's design is derived from the Black Emperor's stellar animal being a tortoise-snake, rooted in myths of tortoises breeding with snakes rather than each other. Today, it takes on a representation of one's inner struggle. In earlier designs, it is a recolour of Tan-Ki.
Gameplay
- For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Xuanwu.
Compendium
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| Compendium Entries | |
|---|---|
| Shin Megami Tensei(A-Mode DDS) |
Origin: China |
| Shin Megami Tensei II(A-Mode DDS) |
出身地：中国 風水において四方を守護する四神。北方を守護する。名は「玄武」と書く。亀の体に蛇の首で大地を下から支える亀とも言われ、妖怪退治も行う闘神でもある。五行の分類で、水の属性を持ち、季節では冬を、色の中では玄（黒）を表す。ゲンブは星の名前でもあり、二十八宿のうち北斗七星の総称も指す。Translation: |
| Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese mythology. It represents the direction north, the season winter and element water. |
| Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese mythology. It represents the direction North, the season winter and element water. |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese lore. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. |
| Shin Megami Tensei IV |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese lore. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. |
| Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese lore. |
| Shin Megami Tensei V |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese mythology. It represents the north, the season of winter, and the element of water. Known to be a great warrior, it is said to support the Earth from below. |
| Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance | |
| Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 |
One of the Ssu Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese lore. The Four beasts were divided equally throughout the land to protect the five emperors in ancient China. There is even a mural depiction of them in the Kitora Tomb in Japan. Gui Xian the turtle is protector of the north and represents the season of winter. It gives guidance based on the future it foresees and will even fight against evil in the guise of a human. |
| Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers(3DS) |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese mythology. |
| Soul Hackers 2 |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures of Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. Known to be a great warrior, sometimes in the form of a human, it is said to support the Earth from below. Xuanwu is also known for its clairvoyance, which it uses to bestow wisdom. |
| Persona 2: Innocent Sin |
One of the Four Symbols. A holy beast that protects the north. |
| Persona 2: Eternal Punishment |
One of four Chinese holy beasts... The black turtle protecting north. |
| Persona 3 |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. |
| Persona 3 FES | |
| Persona 3 Portable | |
| Persona 3 Reload |
One of the Ssu-ling, celestial creatures of Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. Known to be a great warrior, it supports the earth from below. |
| Persona 4 |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. |
| Persona 4 Golden | |
| Persona 5 |
One of the Ssu-ling, celestial creatures of Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. Known to be a great warrior, it supports the Earth from below. |
| Persona 5 Royal | |
| Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth |
One of the Ssu-ling celestial creatures of Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. |
| Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth |
One of the Ssu-ling celestial creatures of Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. |
| Persona 5 Tactica |
One of the Ssu-ling, celestial creatures of Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. Known to be a great warrior, it supports the earth from below. |
| Persona 5: The Phantom X |
One of the Ssu-ling, celestial creatures of Chinese myth. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. Known to be a great warrior, it supports the earth from below. |
| Devil Children Black Book and Red Book | GBC: ４つのほうがくの きたのほうを まもるセイジュウ とてもかたい コウラをもつ おおきなカメPS: ４つの方角の 北の方を 守るセイジュウ とてもかたい コウラを持つ 大きなカメTranslation: |
| Devil Children White Book | ４つのほうがくの きたのほうを まもるセイジュウ とてもかたい コウラをもつ おおきなカメTranslation: |
| Devil Children Light Book and Dark Book | ４つの方角の北を 守る セイジュウ 水を つかさどり かたい コウラと ヘビの シッポを 持つ 大きなカメTranslation: |
| DemiKids Light Version and Dark Version |
A tortoise-like demon that guards against invasion from the north. |
| Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book | ４つの方角の北を 守る セイジュウ 水を つかさどり かたい コウラと ヘビの シッポを 持つ 大きなカメTranslation: |
| Devil Survivor 2 |
One of the Ssu-Ling, celestial creatures in Chinese lore. It represents the direction north, the season of winter, and the element of water. |
| Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker | |
| Kētai Akuma Densho |
蛇と亀が合わさった体を持つとされる霊獣。姿を真武玄天上帝に変え、人々に信仰されたとも言われる。 出身地：中国ゲンブは古代の中国にあいて、「四神」と呼ばれるこの世の動物達の王の一とされている。なかでも甲殻虫類の王とされ、亀と蛇を合成した姿で表される。またゲンブという名は、「黒い甲羅」という意味を持つ。陰陽五行思想において「黒」は北と水を表すことから北方を守護する神とされ、水を司る精とされている。中国では山々を支える巨大な亀の神話があり、ゲンブもその亀の一つであるとされ、日本でも平安京を建設する際にゲンブが棲むとされる山を都の北に作ったといわれる。Translation: |
Nomenclature
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 English
|
Diamondhide Water Demon Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) | |
 Japanese
|
金剛の如き水魔Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Kongō no Gotoki Suima |
Water Demon Like Adamant |
 Simplified Chinese
|
宛若金刚的水魔Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Wǎnruò Jīngāng de Shuǐmó |
Water Demon Like Adamant |
   Traditional Chinese
|
猶如金剛的水魔Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Yóurú Jīngāng de Shuǐmó |
Water Demon Like Adamant |
 French
|
Démon d'eau à l'aspect de diamantSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) |
Water Demon with the Aspect of Diamond |
 German
|
Diamantharter WasserdämonSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) |
Diamond-Hard Water Demon |
 Italian
|
Demone dell'acqua di diamanteSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) |
Diamond Water Demon |
 Korean
|
금강불괴金剛不壞 거북이Soul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) Geumgangbulgoe Geobugi |
Adamant Indestructible Tortoise |
 Peninsular Spanish
|
Demonio agua diamanteSoul Hackers 2 (Risky Enemy) |
Diamond Water Demon |
Gallery
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 This demon is inconsistently called Gui Xian and Genbu in the iOS localization of Shin Megami Tensei, with different menus using different names. Most menus, however, use Gui Xian.
- ↑ Chinese: 玄武, romanized Xuánwǔ, humanised name is 執明/执明 Zhí Míng
- ↑ Xuanwu is known by many names due to the characters in its name, which can lead to it being named any one of Black or Dark Warrior or Marshal as well. Generally, it is shown as a tortoise-snake in traditional imagery
- ↑ Chinese: 四象, romanized Sìxiàng
- ↑ Simplified Chinese: 黑帝, Traditional Chinese: 黑帝, romanized Hēidì
- ↑ Simplified Chinese: 五方上帝, Traditional Chinese: 五方上帝, romanized Wǔfāng Shàngdì
- ↑ Simplified Chinese: 颛顼, Traditional Chinese: 顓頊, romanized Zhuānxū, also known as Gāoyáng 高陽/高阳
References
- ↑ Dai Sheng, and Si Zi. 2016. 礼记 [The Book of Rites]. 1st Ed. Zhengzhou: 中州古籍出版社 [Zhongzhou Ancient Books Publishing House].
- Pages with section stubs
- Pages with compendium section stubs
- Pages needing translations
- Demons from Chinese Culture
- Demons from Taoism
- Demons from Confucianism
- Demons in Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
- Demons in Kyūyaku Megami Tensei
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei (Game)
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei II
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei if...
- Guardians in Shin Megami Tensei if...
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Nine
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei IV
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei V
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine
- Guardians in Shin Megami Tensei: J
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: 20XX
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Colosseum 20XX
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Requiem
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2
- Beasts in Last Bible II
- Beasts in Last Bible III
- Beasts in Last Bible Special
- Demons in Majin Tensei (Game)
- Demons in Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis
- Demons in Ronde
- Demons in Majin Tensei: Blind Thinker
- Demons in Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
- Demons in Soul Hackers 2
- Personas in Megami Ibunroku Persona
- Personas in Persona 2: Innocent Sin
- Personas in Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
- Personas in Persona 3
- Personas in Persona 3 FES
- Personas in Persona 3 Portable
- Personas in Persona 3 Reload
- Personas in Persona 4
- Personas in Persona 4 Golden
- Personas in Persona 4 Revival
- Personas in Persona 5
- Personas in Persona 5 Royal
- Personas in Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
- Personas in Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
- Personas in Persona 5 Tactica
- Personas in Persona 5: The Phantom X
- Shadows in Persona 5: The Phantom X
- Personas in Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikū no Tō Hen
- Personas in Persona Mobile Online
- Demons in Devil Children Black Book and Red Book
- Demons in Devil Children White Book
- Demons in Devil Children Light Book and Dark Book
- Demons in Devil Children Fire Book and Ice Book
- Bosses in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner
- Demons in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner
- Demons in Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner: A's Test Server
- Demons in Devil Survivor 2
- Demons in Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
- Demons in Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner
- Demons in Kētai Akuma Densho