16-PCS Professional Japanese Knife Set | Genbu Sereis | SHAN ZU Knives

■ ABOUT GENBU

The design of the Genbu Series is inspired by the Black Tortoise, one of the Four Auspicious Beasts of East Asian mythology. Despite its English name, it is usually depicted as a tortoise entwined together with a snake. Furthermore, in East Asian mythology it is not called after either animal but is instead known as the "Black Warrior" under various local pronunciations.

THE BLACK TORTOISE, known in Japan as Genbu (げんぶ), is one of the four guardian spirits that protect Kyoto and it is said that it protects the city on the north. Represented by the Kenkun Shrine, which is located on top of Mt Funaoka in Kyoto.

In China, it is named Xuanwu (玄武) and it represents the north and the winter season, thus it is sometimes called Black Tortoise of the North and is worshiped as a deity of the northern sky.