玄武起源

On the Origin of Xuanwu

玄武是武当山道教供奉的主神,史称北方之神,武当山亦称北山。武当山地处中国的中心地带,为什么称北方之神、北山,玄武起源于何时代,为什么改太和山叫武当山等问题,众说纷纭,成为历史疑案。数年留意查找许多有关史料,终于查清其大概:6300年前,帝高阳颛顼在江汉流域统领古三苗氏族,"以龟蛇缠绕的玄武为图腾",供奉玄武的圣山叫太和山,太和山地处古苗的北方,故称北山。尊"颛顼为北方神"或"北方玄帝颛顼"等,死后葬于汉水上游鱼山。发展到尧舜禹时代"古三苗国三苗九黎文化空前繁荣"被消灭。禹为统治"善留恶去"的遗存苗民,改太和山叫武当山,夏王朝允许玄帝以"披发跣足""龟蛇缠绕"的原始雏形供奉,是遗存的古苗民变成汉民族,继承并发展了玄帝和玄武神文明,并使时代不缺环延续至今。

Xuanwu is the main god enshrined by Wudang Taoism, known as the God of the North, for Wudang Mountains known as the Mount of the North. However, Wudang Mountains lies in the center of China geographically. Why did call it the Mount of the North？ And what is Xuanwu＇s origin？ Why did ancient people change Taihe Mountains into Wudang Mountains？ All of these have attracted many researchers＇ attention. The authors have spent several years in looking for relevant historical notes, and finally identified the answers. 6300 years ago, the Emperor Zhuanxu commanded ancient Three Miao clans in Jianghan basin. Taihe Mountains lied north to ancient Miao at that time, so called ＂the Mount of the North＂, Emperor Zhuanxu called the Northern Emperor of Xuan. After the elimination of Three Miao, the Emperor Yu changed Taihe Mountains into Wudang Mountains, in order to govern the remains of Miao people better. Later, in the Xia Dynasty, Emperor Xuan was allowed to he worshiped in this area, hair-disheveled and barefooted, with tortoise and snake by the side. In this way, the ancient Miao was reconstructed into Han nationality gradually. Therefore they inherited and developed the civilization of Emperor Xuan and Xuanwu civilization till today.