Genbu (玄武, Xuanwu in Chinese), in Chinese and Japanese mythology, is one of the Four Guardians. It is the guardian of the North, the season of Winter, and represents the element of Water in the five elements, thus associated with the color black in the five primary colors (玄, gen has the meaning of black). The other three are Byakko (白虎, "white tiger"), Seiryu (青龍, "green/blue dragon"), and Suzaku (朱雀, "phoenix", literally "red sparrow").

Genbu is usually depicted as a black land tortoise alternatively combined with a snake (having a snake head), or entwined with a snake.

Japanese legendary creatures

Tortue noire du nord | 玄武 | 玄武