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Xuannu

 Xuannu, also known as Jiutian Xuannu, is a Chinese Goddess of War.  Her name has been translated as Dark Lady, Mysterious Lady, or Dark Lady of the Nine Heavens.  

From Wikipedia, "The Yongcheng Jixian Lu (墉城集仙錄[a]), written by the Daoist master Du Guangting (850–933), contains a biographical account of Jiutian Xuannü.  It mentions that Jiutian Xuannü is the teacher of Huangdi.  The work relates a story about the goddess appearing before Huangdi during a time when the latter was in conflict with Chiyou.  Chiyou had caused a great mist, which was so impenetrable that it obscured day and night.  Huangdi would dwell in the mist for several days.  Jiutian Xuannü rode a cinnabar phoenix, holding phosphors and clouds as reins, into the great mist.  She wore variegated kingfisher-feather garments of nine colors.  Huangdi greeted her and received her command.  Jiutian Xuannü said: "I base myself on the teachings of the Grand Supreme.  If you have any doubts, you may question me."  Huangdi responded: "[Chiyou] is cruelly crossing us.  His poison is harming all the black-haired people.  The four seas are sobbing.  No one can protect his own nature or life.  I want the art of winning a myriad victories in a myriad battles.  Can I cut the harm facing my people?"  Thereupon the goddess bestowed various objects and artifacts.  The following is a few of the listed items:

  • The Talismans of the Martial Tokens of the Six Jia Cyclicals and the Six Ren Cyclicals (六甲六壬兵信之符)
  • The Book by which the Five Emperors of the Numinous Treasure Force Ghosts and Spirits into Service (靈寶五帝策使鬼神之書)
  • The Seal of the Five Bright-Shiners for Regulating Demons and Communicating with Spirits (制妖通靈五明之印)
  • The Formula of the Five Yin and Five Yang for Concealing the Jia Cyclicals (五陰五陽遁[甲]之式)
  • Charts for Grabbing the Mechanism of Victory and Defeat of the Grand Unity from the Ten Essences and Four Spirits (太一十精四神勝負握機之圖)
  • Charts of the Five Marchmounts and the Four Holy Rivers (五[嶽]河圖)
  • Instructions in the Essentials of Divining Slips (策精之訣)

"It was subsequently noted that Huangdi was able to defeat Chiyou and ascend to heaven on the basis of the items bestowed by Jiutian Xuannü.

Huangdi was the mythical Yellow Emperor, reigning from 2698–2598 BCE.

Xuannu reminds me of Inanna.

Xuanna, in her kingfisher cloak, riding through the impenetrable mists to bestow military knowledge upon Huangdi.  Original painting available through Saatchi Art.  Stickers, prints, and other merch available in shop or through RedBubble or Fine Art America.


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