Jiutian Xuannü, also known as "Empress Jiutian Xuannü" and "Xuannü", is a goddess in Taoist legends who is skilled in military strategy and tactics.
Du Guangting's Yongcheng Jixian Lu (Records of Immortals Gathered in the Walled City) states that when the Yellow Emperor fought against Chiyou at Zhuolu, Chiyou used magic to create a thick fog that lasted for three days, making it impossible for the Yellow Emperor to win. The Yellow Emperor then held a fasting ritual at the foot of Mount Tai. The Queen Mother of the West sent an envoy to grant him a talisman, telling him, "If you earnestly pray to Heaven, there will surely be a response from the Supreme."
A few days later, Xuannü descended at the Yellow Emperor's fasting place, riding a vermilion phoenix and accompanied by a brilliant dragon, wearing a robe of nine-colored green and emerald hues. She bestowed upon him talismans of the Liu Jia (Six Yang Stems) and Liu Ren (Six Yin Branches) for military signals, books on commanding ghosts and spirits, seals for subduing demons and communicating with the spiritual realm, and more. With these, the Yellow Emperor led the feudal lords in another battle against Chiyou, eventually defeating him and pacifying the four corners of the world. Later, the Yellow Emperor cast a tripod at the foot of Jing Mountain, where a yellow dragon came to escort him to the Heavenly Palace.
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Taoism holds that the military strategies with which the Yellow Emperor achieved victory and the techniques for attaining immortality were all derived from the talismans, diagrams, and secret formulas taught by Jiutian Xuannü. Thus, Jiutian Xuannü is regarded as the teacher of the Yellow Emperor and a disciple of Holy Mother Yuanjun.
Although Jiutian Xuannü does not hold a prominent position in folk beliefs, she is a god of justice. Her image frequently appears in classical novels as a destiny-bound fairy who aids heroes in eliminating evil and violence, hence occupying a very important place among Taoist deities.
