Emperor Zhenwu is the God of the North and one of the four great gods.
Emperor Zhenwu, also known as Xuantian God, Yousheng Zhenjun, Xuanwu Emperor, etc., also known as Dangmo Tianzun, Patriarch of Baoen, Patriarch of Pifa, etc., is a famous deity among Taoist gods, Hubei Wudang Mountain is the dojo of Emperor Zhenwu, the God of the North. People in the Han Dynasty believed that there was not only one god of the north, but three. "Huainanzi Tianwenxun" called them Zhuanxu, Chenxing, and Xuanwu. Because they were more complicated and difficult for the people to grasp, Xuanwu was still regarded as the god of the north.
Historical development:
The Ming Dynasty was a period when Emperor Zhenwu was prominent and folk beliefs were most common. In the early Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang's son, King Yan Zhu Di, launched the "Jingnan Rebellion" and seized the throne. Legend has it that Emperor Zhenwu appeared to help King Yan throughout his actions. Therefore, after Zhu Di ascended the throne, he issued an edict to designate Zhenwu as the "God of Arctic Zhenzhenwu Xuantian".
And large-scale construction of palaces, temples, and temples in Wudang Mountain was completed, including a huge Taoist architectural complex with nine palaces and eight temples, thirty-six nunneries, seventy-two rock temples, thirty-nine bridges, and twelve pavilions. Wudang Mountain became a world-famous Taoist holy land; a "Golden Palace" was built on the top of Tianzhu Peak to enshrine the statue of Emperor Zhenwu. Due to the emperor's strong promotion, Emperor Zhenwu's belief reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty, and a large number of Zhenwu temples were built in the palace and among the people.