Black Tortoise （Genbu)

The Meaning and Benefits of Genbu

Genbu symbolizes longevity, fertility, and wisdom, and is considered the most powerful guardian deity among the Four Symbols.

Symbol of Longevity, Prosperity, and Life

The image of a turtle and snake nestled together represents the “harmony of yin and yang,” symbolizing the fundamental power of life.

○ Longevity and Immortality: Healthy longevity symbolized by the turtle.

○ Reproduction and Fertility: Prosperity of descendants and expansion of the family, symbolized by the snake.

Power of Wisdom and Oracle

Genbu, said to be able to travel between the underworld and the mortal world, is also a god of “wisdom” that shows the way forward.

○ Oracle: Guides you to the right answer when you are lost.

○ Protection: Presides over darkness, protecting you from creeping disasters and theft.

The Importance of History and Feng Shui

The Special Nature of “North” in the Four Symbols

Contrary to its current image, in the original beliefs, “North,” where Genbu (Black Tortoise) is located, is the most important direction.

○ Heian-kyo and Nikko Toshogu Shrine: When they were built, the protection of Genbu was emphasized as a direction directly connected to the North Star and the dragon veins (the flow of energy in the earth).

○ The Highest Being: Considered the strongest and oldest of the Four Symbols, it has attracted exceptional devotion, seemingly governing the other three.

Tips for Displaying

By having all four symbols of the same size (44cm x 35cm), you can create a perfectly “Four Symbols-appropriate” protective space in your home or office.

○ On the North Side of a Room: To create a sense of solid stability and to pray for the prosperity of your family.

○ In an Intellectual Workspace: In a study or office where sound judgment and wisdom are needed.

○ With the Four Divine Beasts in Set: By arranging the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise of the North, you can ward off evil spirits from all directions and attract the best possible luck.

The mystical “Turtle-Snake Combination” design exudes a profound presence that goes beyond mere ornamentation, elevating the dignity of the space.

The Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise are known as the Four Symbols. Each is believed to guard one of the four directions: the Azure Dragon in the east, the Vermilion Bird in the south, the White Tiger in the west, and the Black Tortoise in the north. The association of the Black Tortoise with the north stems from the Five Elements theory, which assigns five colors: yellow to the center, black to the north, blue to the east, white to the west, and red to the south. The belief in the Four Symbols is thought to have originated in China during the Warring States period (5th century BC – 221 BC), influenced by the Five Elements theory. Subsequently, the belief in the Four Symbols spread not only within China but also to ancient Korea and Japan.

The Black Tortoise is depicted as a combined turtle and snake.

The turtle symbolizes “longevity and immortality,” and the snake symbolizes “reproduction and fertility.” The combined form of the turtle and snake in the Black Tortoise is likened to the union of yin and yang, as in “the turtle and snake, together, becoming male and female, and later forming a pair.”

In Japan, the Black Tortoise is less familiar than the other Four Symbols, and in contemporary culture, it doesn’t necessarily have a strong image of “strength.” However, in reality, the Black Tortoise is the strongest, oldest, and most revered of the Four Symbols.

“North” is considered an extremely important direction in feng shui. For example, during the construction of Heian-kyo (Kyoto) and Nikko Toshogu Shrine, it was positioned as the most important direction, directly connected not only to the North Star but also to dragon veins. Naturally, the worship of the Black Tortoise strongly influenced this.

The Black Tortoise is believed to travel between the underworld (located in the north) and the mortal world, receiving oracles (through turtle shell divination) in the underworld and bringing those answers back to the mortal world. The Black Tortoise presides over darkness and represents stealth, theft, and lust.

In Japan, the pedestal of the main image in the main hall of Yakushi-ji Temple in Nara Prefecture, and the four mythical creatures, the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird, are depicted in the center of the four walls of the stone chamber in the Kitora Tumulus and Takamatsuzuka Tumulus in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture, along with the Black Tortoise on the northern wall of the inner burial chamber.