In the original Fushigi Yuugi, we learn about the four gods; Seiryuu, Suzaku, Genbu and Byakko. But what we don't learn is
the significance that these four gods had in early chinese history and astrology. But to study the real history of the legend of
Genbu, we also need to realise that the legend that we know today is only half of the orignal Chinese history and half of
Japanese history, which has been implanted into one story of loyalty, protection and power.
In Fushigi Yuugi, both Chinese and Japanese history is seen. Before the god is summoned by whatever miko, it is always
represented as an animal of some kind. But once the god arrives on earth the first time; they are portrayed as humans. The
animal is the Chinese part of the story, and the human is the Japanese history in play.
I could go on for hours about the stories on each of the celestial gods and what they represent in Chinese and Japanese
history; but I'm not. This page is going to be strictly about Genbu: the tortoise (black warrior - also can be dark blue), the
god of the north direction of the compass, the god of night, faith and water and the god of winter.
Chinese History
First, we'll talk about the imagery of Genbu. In ancient China, the tortoise's shell represented the earth, with the flat
bottom as the earth and the rounded top as the underside of the earth. The shell reprensentes long life and unchangablitiy and
was said to be the vault of the universe. Because of this, Genbu was also drawn on tombstones and was representing immortality.
Even outside the world of Fushigi Yuugi, Genbu remains the strongest of the four gods. In Chinese culture, Genbu is a symbol
of strength and is often represented as the hero in most Chinese legends.
Japanese History
In Japanese history, Genbu is portrayed as Tamonten (or Bishamonten from Japan's Seven Lucky Deities) and is one of the four
generals who protects the earth for Taishakuten, the 5th god - the god in charge of the other four. However, Tamonten is the most
powerful out of the four and the other three gods are his underlings.
Even though we don't see the god in Fushigi Yuugi, three of Tamonten's attributes and duties are clearly suggested.
The first is that Tamonten is a god of hidden wealth and protects holy places. This is portrayed by Tomite and Hikitsu hiding
away in a cave to protect the shinzaho.
Takiko is the only miko, as far as I can tell, who has a piece of material item with her to represent her person; the
shinzaho (which allows her to talk to Namame). Tamonten is the only one of the four gods to always be shown with something else
other than a weapon; a pagoda-shaped treasure house, which is used by Tamonten to protect and give wealth and good luck to whoever
he choses.
The last shown is the location of the shinzaho in the original Fushigi Yuugi (you remember, when Nuriko dies); the top of Mt.
Kokuzan. In the legend, Tamonten lives on Mt. Sumeru (the equivalent to Kokuzan) and protects Taishakuten, who lives in a cave on
the top of the mountain. This is also illustrated in Fushigi Yuugi by the location of where the shinzaho is hidden and the facts
the Nuriko must fight to get to the cave, and the Suzaku seishi has to fight to get the shinzaho from the Genbu seishi
who protect it.
