Ba Zi Learning

Initially, I have my quiet reservation about attending the Bazi Advanced Level course. This was probably due to my previous prior experience learning from other Bazi teachers yielding virtually unclear understanding and inaccurate interpretation leading one to unclear and uncertain analysis and the level of accuracy marginalized…….

Garrett Lee 

“Although I’ve studied with many Bazi masters before, Grandmaster Francis Leyau has never failed to amaze me, even in a supposedly a “basic” Bazi Course.  No matter how much knowledge you have in this subject, I am sure you will be enlightened and your mind will spin again when Sifu shares his secrets and techniques in Bazi with you.  His methods in deciphering Bazi are worth its weight in gold. Everything is precise and to the point with pin-point accuracy. These are real secrets of Bazi that were time-tested by a Teacher who knows this subject inside out from his vast experiences.

JL Tong Singapore

 

Testimonial on Ba Zi

Testimonials on Ba Zi

Testimonials on Ba Zi

WHY BA ZI STUDENTS STILL CANNOT READ A BA ZI CHART

It is appalling that many students who have completed theirBa Zi studies still cannot read a Ba Zi chart. This outcome seemed to be the same even for those serious students who studied from various famous masters.

Surely this situation also reflected poorly on the masters as much as the students. What were the probable causes of this state of affairs

“TO KNOW EVERYTHING IS TO UNDERSTAND NOTHING”

Some students might be gratified to have studied under masters who professed to have taught them everything. These students were given the opportunity to be taught all possible and probable topics under the sun, from A until Z. They probably also covered all the possible angles in any given chart, from the steepest and most improbable angles to the more common angles.

The only drawback was that the same group of students were not told what was essential and what was trivial. As a result, they seemed to have no idea what to look for in a Ba Zi chart. They did not even know where to start, let alone what to find.

The sad fact was that the students were not told that they only needed to look for a few essential issues. Therefore, they searched all over the chart without any idea what they were supposed to focus on. They looked everywhere and found nothing!

  THE WRONG WAY OF WRITING THE CHART CAN RESULT IN A MISTAKEN READING

Then some of the students were taught by various masters to write the Ba Zi chart in an incorrect manner. For instance, some masters said that it was not even necessary to learn how to write the Ba Zi chart in the Chinese language. If the student could read the Ba Zi chart in the English language, then the English language would do just as well, thank you.

If the student chose to follow this axiom, he would probably not be able to pursue his Ba Zi studies to the deepest possible level.

However, even if the master emphasized to the student that he had to learn how to read the Ba Zi chart in the Chinese language, it was still possible to present the chart in an inaccurate way. For example, some masters said that the main Qi in the Earthly Branches should be written in the centre, followed by the second element or Qi on the left side and the third element or Qi on the right side.

The result of following this practice meant that the third Qiwas wrongly placed when it came to the four graveyards. In the traditional practice, the third Qi was the Qi that was being stored or that was entering the tomb.

The practice of writing the main Qi in the centre with two secondary Qi on each side reminded one of the left and right assistant mountains or stars in the study of feng shui.

It was up to the individual student to decide which method he wanted to follow when writing the Ba Zi chart. However, we should point out that if sufficient care was not taken in writing the Qi in the Ba Zi chart, it could cause confusion in the reading.

  CAREER AND THE TEN GODS

When the student was asked to analyse which career the client should pursue, he usually used the Ten Gods to work out the answer. For instance, perhaps a water day master would be advised to venture into the fire business because his wealth element was fire.

This approach meant that the answer was easier to give. The method of working was not wrong.

But it was also only half right. In the first place, while there were Ten Gods, it should be borne in mind that there were only Six Relationships.

In the second place, the student should have begun by analysing the client’s character and potential for wealth before proceeding to analyse which career was suitable.

However, the potential for wealth was not obtained by counting the number of wealth elements. Some masters taught that the higher the number of wealth elements, the greater the potential for wealth!

THE FAMILY – WHICH FAMILY?

Similarly, some masters taught that the correct method of plotting the family tree was to use the Ten Gods. This approach was viable and logical.

But this method was also somewhat long winded. When the concept of Yin and Yang was not adhered to, the result can lead to a very different family.

When the members of the family tree were wrongly identified, what would happen to the Ba Zi reading given by the Ba Zi student to his client?

 CLASHES VERSUS PUNISHMENTS

The Ba Zi student was taught all that he needed to know about clashes and punishments. But he was not told which relationship had greater priority – the clash or the punishment.

For instance, the丑Ox clashed with the未Goat. But the丑Ox also had ungrateful punishment with the very same未Goat. Which should relationship should take precedence?

Then the寅 Tiger clashed with the申Monkey. But the寅Tiger also had vigorous punishment with the same申Monkey. How to read the chart in such a situation?

 THE MINOR STARS BECAME THE MAJOR METHOD OF ANALYSIS

The students were taught by some masters to use the minor stars to analyze the chart.

For instance, they might have been told to check for Harms and Destruction. They were taught about other minor stars such as “Sky Horse”, “Monthly Virtue” or “Peach Blossom.”

These were only the minor methods of analysis. They could be used to add spice to the reading or to give the student more things to explain to the client.

But the minor roads to analysis should not have been expanded into major highways.

     HARMONY IN THE BA ZI UNIVERSE

The principle that “best chart was the balanced chart” had been so often repeated by many masters that this axiom should have become ingrained in the minds of the students.

This rule was true and sound. In practice, however, almost all charts were imbalanced. The only difference was the degree of imbalance. Yet despite these imbalances, the owners of these charts managed to overcome their difficulties and enjoy their achievements.  For some of them, these achievements need not necessarily be monetary in value.

It has been said that the owner of the balanced chart would not have any problems in his lifetime for one generation. That did not necessarily mean that he would also have achievement during his lifetime.

San Yuan Qi Men Dun Jia Course

San Yuan Qi Men Dun Jia Course

The ultimate full fledged to practice Xang Kong Da Gua method in Fengshui is to integrate Xuan Kong Da Gua Fengshui, Xuan Kong Da Gua Date selection to San Yuan Qi Man Dun Jia. Many students have long waited for this course!!! This year you will have a UNIQUE chance to learn San Yuan Qi Men Du Jia from Master Leyau before his retirement. This course in San Yuan Qi Men Dun Jia (64 Hexagrams) will teach you how to use the most auspicious timing to boost any Fengshui events that you desire to obtained. These authentic lineage techniques are NOT taught openly before so do not miss this rare opportunity to learn! In this 4 days course – you will learn ~ 1 )How to calculate the 1080 Charts in San Yuan Qi men based on the 64 Hexagrams. 2)How to make your own QMDJ Calendar. 2) How to choose a day using San Yuan Qi Men side by side with your Xuan Kong Da Gua Date Selection. 3) And to apply it to the 64 directions in the San Yuan Luo Pan to increase the chances of success in the activity chosen. 4)The secret behind the “phenomenon”

I am thankful to Master Francis Leyau for

I am thankful to Master Francis Leyau for bringing to light for the first time the secret knowledge of San Yuan 64 Gua Qi Men Dun Jia. The charts were first published by the famous Taiwanese master Zeng Zi Nan, and many years later, a course that teaches how to derive and use them. One of the last and best kept secrets of Xuan Kong Feng Shui! This knowledge is based on the traditional San Qi Liu Yi (3 rare 6 protocol) and Ba Men (8 Door) plates, that are expanded into 64 directions using the Shao Yong sequence. You will then learn how to use them in conjunction with date selection to find the best timing for a given building or grave. In the last day of the course, sifu shows how to observe the phenomena that manifests when such powerful and precise timings are chosen. The student also becomes proficient in making his own Qi Men Dun Jia calendar from scratch. I strongly recommend to all Feng Shui enthusiasts and date selection practitioners in particular to attend this module. I have previously learned with other masters but it was at the Central Academy of Feng Shui that I found the teaching is authentic with the straightforward practical applications and above all, yielding the best results.

Joao ( Portugal )

Testimonial for San Yuan Qi Men Dun Jia Course (10-13 November 2012)

Testimonial for San Yuan Qi Men Dun Jia Course

The 64 Gua Qi Men Dun Jia (64卦奇门遁甲) is diamond of  Sanyuan (三元) Fengshui courses that I have been waiting for years and it’s finally here and I couldn’t believe it when it was inform by Dennis. Master Leyau have been very kind to share this very secret knowledge of  Sanyuan(三元)64 Gua Qi Men Dun Jia(奇门遁甲)and this will help one to close the gap in pursue of the Golden Nectar of San Yuan(三元) Fengshui knowledges and applications. 

The 3 trinity of三元Fengshui has always mention when one have discussion on the very topic and actually how many people really understand the real meaning of 天 (Heaven : Season), 地 (Earth : Fengshui) and人 (Human : Birth).  Have you ever wonder what is common link or DNA that will bridge the 3 trinity. To keep the story short and sharp, this is the course that will reveal a lot of mystery or missing gap that kept me pondering and wondering all these years.

Master Leyau have been generous and patience to guide us step by step knowledge of how do the Qi Men(奇门) Almanac using Zhi Run Fa (置闰法) instead of Chai Bu Fa(拆补法). I have finally understood how the Yin Yang Dun (阴阳遁) numbers (1,6,7,2,8,3,4,9) come about from the seasonal chart which was beautifully taught through simple explanations through the understanding of the Season Markers Chart. Reference to get the Ba Men (八门) for the 64 Gua （卦）can be complicated and confusing at times. It was made simple by inclusion of few simple chart cleverly and neatly lay out to ensure ease of reference. As usual, with Master Leyau loud and thunderous voice, when he humorously explained how the “Phenomenon” part come about which all of us was eagerly anticipating and brought everyone of us crying with laughter when we know the method and reason. Now all students could proficiently explain the “Phenomenon” on the mysterious wind that Zhuge Liang borrowed,  flock of Birds flying, sudden drop of temperature etc…

After attending Master Leyau San Yuan 64 Gua Qi Men Dun Jia (三元64卦奇门遁甲), I finally could understand Ceng Zi Nan (曾子南) materials and even able to fully appreciate and use Ceng Zi Nan (曾子南) Almanac (万年历) and Qi Men Calendar (奇门历表) to the fullest. 

There is one word that I can express about Master Leyau teaching as follows:  “Sifu teaching is like the Clean Air we breathe in easily everyday and always taking it for granted as simplicity is it’s core. Only when we see others gasping for air at their dying moment just wanting to live a little longer than will we realize that the Fengshui knowledge available outside is choking everyone with complicated hard to understand teaching which makes everyone wanting for more.”

Regards,

JM (Beijing China)

How to make a comeback after losing millions and your reputation? The Lesson of Leeson

How to lose millions in seconds

 

In 1995, Chinese New Year commenced on 31 January. About two weeks before the New Year, on 16 January 1995, a British futures trader named Nick Leeson bet in the Singapore International Monetary Exchange (SIMEX) that the Nikkei 225 Index would not fall below 19,000 points overnight. It was a fairly safe bet as the Nikkei had been fairly stable recently. But on 5.46 am on 17January 1995, his bet fell apart when there was an earthquake at Kobe killing about 6,000 persons. In a matter of seconds, he had lost a huge amount of money for his employer, Barings Bank. In desperation, he purchased another 20,000 futures contracts betting that the Nikkei would make a swift recovery. But the Nikkei did not recover so soon. His accumulated losses amounted to about 827 million pounds (US$1.4 billion) or about twice the trading capital of the bank.

He left a note saying “I am sorry” and fled to Johore, then Brunei where he and his wife, Lisa, took a flight back to the United Kingdom. However, by then the authorities were already on his trail and arrested him when the plane landed at Frankfurt for refueling. He was extradited back to Singapore. He had been trying to flee back to the United Kingdom because he thought he would rather face a trial there than in strait-laced Singapore. But Britain declined to extradite him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud and the Singapore court sentenced him in December 1995 to six and a half years jail, back dated from the date of his arrest in March 1995.

The Star Trader who could not lose money

He had joined Barings Bank in the early 1990s and made about 10 million pounds in profits from his trades, for which he was paid a salary of 50,000 pounds and a bonus of 130,000 pounds. The bank promoted him to futures manager at SIMEX in 1992. The bank’s senior management had no idea of how the options and futures markets worked or the huge risks associated with the trades. They merely expected their star trader to repeat his miracle of sniffing out money making positions and make even more money for them.

The Errors Account No. 88888 for luck

When the first loss of about 20,000 pounds was made by another employee, he did not own up to the loss but hid it in an errors account – which was numbered 88888 for luck! By late 1992, the losses had exceeded about 2 million pounds. In late 1994, the losses ballooned to about 208 million pounds. However, instead he reported in late 1993 that he had made a paper profit of about 10 million pounds. The actual picture was that he had been given about 500 million pounds to trade in late 1994 when the bank’s capital was only about 250 million pounds. He had been allowed to bet about 13 times the capital of the bank.

In options and futures markets, a small margin can allow you to trade many times the capital you have put up. So when your positions become undone, the losses can be very high and easily wipe out your capital. At one time, his positions covered as much as about 40% of the Singapore market.

The fallout from the losses meant that the trader responsible had to serve a prison sentence and the 233 year old Barings Bank had to be wound up, resulting in 1,200 employees losing their jobs. Eventually, a Dutch bank, ING, bought Barings for a nominal sum of 1 pound.

Life in Changi Prison

When he was in Changi prison, it was rife with vicious gangs. He was locked up 23 out of 24 hours in a cell with two other inmates and when fights broke out, he was invariably drawn in. He co-authored “Rogue Trader” with Edward Whitley (Little Brown and Co, 1996). In this book, he mentioned his affairs with geisha girls during the heydays of partying when he made money for the bank. His wife, Lisa had found work as an air hostess to be with him in Singapore but when she found about his infidelities, she was infuriated and divorced him.

The Abyss

The seven month period between March and October 1996 were the worst for him as there were no letters or visits from Lisa. Then he had stomach pains but the prison doctor said it was caused by the iron tablets. Finally, after the pains persisted, the doctor sent him to the New Changi Hospital where he was diagnosed with colon cancer, the disease that had killed his mother. On 11 August 1995, he went for surgery and the doctors rated his chances of recovery as about 60%, increasing to about 70% with chemotherapy. In 1999, he was released after having served about four years of his prison sentence.

The release and homecoming

He returned to Britain where he had no home and no work or prospects of finding work. But his family and friends supported him. In 2001 he studied for a psychology degree at Middlesex University. He coauthored another book, “Back from the Brink: Coping with Stress” with Ivan Tyrell (Virgin Books, 2005) which picked up where “Rogue Trader” left off. Eventually, he became a much sought after speaker on Risk Management. In April 2005, he was appointed commercial manager at Galway United Football Club and was promoted to general manager in November 2005. He also remarried, this time to Leona Tormay, an Irish beautician who had one son and daughter from a previous marriage. In 2004, a son was born to the couple

It’s not fair!: How come someone like him could ever bounce back?

The general public reaction to his comeback ranged from dismay, disbelief to amazement. There seemed to be some general feeling that he did not deserve to be allowed to make such a remarkable rebound. But if one were to examine his birth chart, the reasons for his revival should be quite evident.

Furthermore, he had already paid his debt to society by serving his prison sentence. If he did not deserve to make any effort to comeback, then surely the same argument should apply to other ex-fraudsters such as Michael Milken, the former junk bonds trader turned philanthropist.

His birth chart

He was born on a Yang metal day in the Tiger month. His day of birth is the Monkey day so that means that his Yang metal is already rooted in the Monkey day. But he was born in the Tiger month and Goat year. The Tiger month is the spring season so his Yang metal is weak during this season. The fire in the Goat year further weakens his Yang metal. The element that his chart needs the most is therefore the autumn animals of Monkey, Rooster and Dog.

During the troubled years from 1995 onwards, he was aged 28 which puts him in the Yin earth Pig luck cycle. As Pig is a winter animal, the water in Pig further weakens his already weak day master of Yang metal. Furthermore, the year 1995 was the Yin wood Pig year. This Pig year combined with his Pig luck cycle to increase his troubles. The two Pigs he encountered also triggered off a combination with his Tiger month of birth to result in a wood combination. Wood represents money to him, therefore his difficulties would be related to money matters.

When he was released in 1999, he was aged 32. The year was Yin wood Rabbit year. Although he was still in the luck cycle of the Pig, the Rabbit had a harmonious relationship with the Pig. This was a favorable combination for him and helped to secure his release from prison.

The Turning Point

But his fortune changed for the better in the longer term when he reached 37 years old onwards. From this period onwards, he was in the luck cycles of Dog, Rooster and Monkey for the next 30 years of his life. At last, he was in the autumn luck cycle which would strengthen his weak Yang metal day master.

The results of this beneficial change came in 2005 which was the year of the Yin wood Rooster. The wood element represents money to him. Although the Rooster has harm relationship with his Dog luck cycle, this situation is not dangerous to him. The Dog is said to be the tomb or storage of fire. He needed the fire of the Dog to forge his weak Yang Metal day master to make it useful. The fire also produced the Yang earth in the Dog which in turn produced his Yang Metal. So overall, it is a good combination of elements for him. During this year, he was appointed manager of the Galway United Football Club.

The Real Lesson of Leeson

He has often stressed the need for regular audit checks on futures, options or stocks traders by the companies that employ them. He particularly mentioned that the audit team must comprise of members who know and understand the mechanisms of trading, otherwise such teams would not be effective in their roles.

While his comments may be relevant in the context of trading, one may well point out that this does not concern the general public. After all, there is probably a sizable portion of the general public who may not even invest in the shares, options or futures markets. Even for those who do so, they might be investing for their own trades and not on behalf of a company so there is no need for checks and balances in their case. So what is the overall lesson of Nick Leeson’s rise, fall and rise again to the public in general?

Perhaps the overall thread in his tale is that one should never give up hope even in the darkest hour. The Master of Endurance said that you had to hang on to something during your most difficult period to keep you going; that you had to keep up a strong frame of mind and you will be able to cope. His initial trading success led to his failure. But this failure in turn led to success again eventually. So although Fate plays her hand, the individual can also make his choices in Life – hopefully, wise choices and during the favorable time. 

It’s not fair!: How come someone like him could ever bounce back?

The general public reaction to his comeback ranged from dismay, disbelief to amazement. There seemed to be some general feeling that he did not deserve to be allowed to make such a remarkable rebound. But if one were to examine his birth chart, the reasons for his revival should be quite evident.

Furthermore, he had already paid his debt to society by serving his prison sentence. If he did not deserve to make any effort to comeback, then surely the same argument should apply to other ex-fraudsters such as Michael Milken, the former junk bonds trader turned philanthropist.

His birth chart

He was born on a Yang metal day in the Tiger month. His day of birth is the Monkey day so that means that his Yang metal is already rooted in the Monkey day. But he was born in the Tiger month and Goat year. The Tiger month is the spring season so his Yang metal is weak during this season. The fire in the Goat year further weakens his Yang metal. The element that his chart needs the most is therefore the autumn animals of Monkey, Rooster and Dog.

During the troubled years from 1995 onwards, he was aged 28 which puts him in the Yin earth Pig luck cycle. As Pig is a winter animal, the water in Pig further weakens his already weak day master of Yang metal. Furthermore, the year 1995 was the Yin wood Pig year. This Pig year combined with his Pig luck cycle to increase his troubles. The two Pigs he encountered also triggered off a combination with his Tiger month of birth to result in a wood combination. Wood represents money to him, therefore his difficulties would be related to money matters.

When he was released in 1999, he was aged 32. The year was Yin wood Rabbit year. Although he was still in the luck cycle of the Pig, the Rabbit had a harmonious relationship with the Pig. This was a favorable combination for him and helped to secure his release from prison.

The Turning Point

But his fortune changed for the better in the longer term when he reached 37 years old onwards. From this period onwards, he was in the luck cycles of Dog, Rooster and Monkey for the next 30 years of his life. At last, he was in the autumn luck cycle which would strengthen his weak Yang metal day master.

The results of this beneficial change came in 2005 which was the year of the Yin wood Rooster. The wood element represents money to him. Although the Rooster has harm relationship with his Dog luck cycle, this situation is not dangerous to him. The Dog is said to be the tomb or storage of fire. He needed the fire of the Dog to forge his weak Yang Metal day master to make it useful. The fire also produced the Yang earth in the Dog which in turn produced his Yang Metal. So overall, it is a good combination of elements for him. During this year, he was appointed manager of the Galway United Football Club.

The Real Lesson of Leeson

He has often stressed the need for regular audit checks on futures, options or stocks traders by the companies that employ them. He particularly mentioned that the audit team must comprise of members who know and understand the mechanisms of trading, otherwise such teams would not be effective in their roles.

While his comments may be relevant in the context of trading, one may well point out that this does not concern the general public. After all, there is probably a sizable portion of the general public who may not even invest in the shares, options or futures markets. Even for those who do so, they might be investing for their own trades and not on behalf of a company so there is no need for checks and balances in their case. So what is the overall lesson of Nick Leeson’s rise, fall and rise again to the public in general?

Perhaps the overall thread in his tale is that one should never give up hope even in the darkest hour. The Master of Endurance said that you had to hang on to something during your most difficult period to keep you going; that you had to keep up a strong frame of mind and you will be able to cope. His initial trading success led to his failure. But this failure in turn led to success again eventually. So although Fate plays her hand, the individual can also make his choices in Life – hopefully, wise choices and during the favorable time.

Article by courtesy of  http://www.astrologyisfun.com/

WHAT YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT FENG SHUI

How to determine the reading? -Magnetic North -Compass North -Geographic North   Where to take a house facing ? -Against the door -Three feet or three meters away from the door? -Opposite the road? -From the center of the building – Main Entrance? – Building Intentions? – Direction of flowing Qi? – More Yang side? – Or by external landform? What happen if there are; – multiple entrances? – more than one entrances?   Determining The House Period House units or individual apartment under the same building can sometimes have few different periods?. – Construction date or moving in date ?   Xuan Kong Flying Star Chart – Under what situation, a house have two flying star charts? – How to due with a house that has two Flying Star Chart? Pie Chart Vs 9 Square Grid or Other   How to Compartmentalize a house using the Pure Xuan Kong Method Most school (mixture of San Yuan & San He) uses a Pie Chart and 9 Grids method to analyze a house. In Pure Xuan Kong School of Feng Shui, we use the secret method known as “Compartmentalizing the Stars into the right sectors”.   Compartmentalizing the Stars: – Odd Shape Building / Houses – Passage Way vs Door – Open & Enclose Concept of “Qi” flow -Missing sectors   How to read sitting and facing using the 81 combinations –Why combo of 10 is bad? -Why combo of He Tu is bad? -Why balance of Yin and Yang is bad in Feng Shui? Can you tell all these from the 81 combinations?

The International Conference on Feng Shui 2011

Speaker Yit Meng From China

Hello Teacher Leyau, and all gracious guests, a good day to everybody!

I am from China, and one of the students of our great teacher, Master Leyau. I am honoured to be able to attend this convention. Today, my presentation topic is “an introduction to ancient feng shui studies in China, and its progress in modern times”. I welcome your feedback!

In the long ancient past of China, Feng Shui was given a high status in society. Feng Shui theory and philosophy was called “Imperial Study”. It has been passed down for thousands of years in China, and it is full of precious and useful practical value.

According to many archaeological finds, as early as 6000 to 7000 years ago, the ancient Chinese people had already reached a high level in their selection and knowledge of the living environment. In the Neolithic period in China (5000-3000 bc) of Yan Shao, the living premises of that Yan Shao period has displayed a very obvious tendency of “environmental selection” like for example:

(1) proximity to source of water for water consumption purpose as well as for agriculture

(2) at the cross-roads of water ways, to facilitate transport

(3) locate at the river delta area, where there is fertile soil for agriculture and prevention from severe flooding

(4) if on a hill, tend to be on the yang side slope. 

Example: Ban Po site (ancient Neolithic site) is described as leaning on a hill with water at its side, the meeting point of two cradling water ways – an excellent feng shui set up             

半坡陶器 Ban Po ceramic
Ban Po archaeological site is located in China’s Jia Xi province, the city of Xi An’s eastern suburb. It is a classic example of an prehistoric village in the Yellow River (Huang He) basin area of a matriarchal tribe of people. It belongs to the New stone age period of the Neolithic culture, about 600 years ago. It was discovered in 1952, excavated during 1954-1957, Ban Po site is China’s first big scale excavation of a new stone age village commune site, and in 1957 was designated as a museum.

西安半坡博物館

Xi An Ban Po Museum

As you can see, the ancient people were very particular about choosing a site for settling down and this ancient tradition remained deeply entrenched in the minds of the later people, manifesting itself in the way many modern cities, towns and villages are located and built. In summary, human beings during the survey of environment, has already started to consciously choose sites for their environments.   

世界文化遺產—安陽殷墟

World cultural heritage – An Xi Yin Burial Grounds

From the ruins of the Yin Shang palace, we can clearly see that the level of understanding of the influence that a river has on a living environment has reached a high level. At today’s Henan An Yang, about 2 kilometres north west is a small village that was the capital of the Yin Shang Dynasty.

 The waters of the Huan river flow from North West to South, before turning to the East. On the two sides of this river, at small village area of the south bend is the location of the Shang dynasty palace grounds; on the palace’s west, north, south east and the east of the Huan river are where the common people and middle and lower nobles live, work and their cemeteries, etc. On the northern side where the higher status noble families and the government and military village are located, it is the Shang Emperor and nobility’s imperial tombs zone

 What needs to be strongly emphasized is, no matter if it is the palace grounds area, the common people living area, or the production area and imperial tomb area, they were all located within the convoluted cradling water ways. This proves sufficiently the later feng shui studies’ pursuit of the concept of “cradling is precious and auspicious”.

Just like what Jiang Ping Jie’s Water Dragon Classic said: “Natural water method, gentlemen please remember, there is nothing than meanders (water flow) that have feelings, incoming should not be rushing and outgoing should not be straight, horizontal should be embracing and meandering.” “when the waters ways have 3 meanders, good fortune, longevity and peace, when the incoming is meandering, prosperity and high position surrounds”.

Further to that, in feng shui studies, within the river curve is considered auspicious grounds while outside of the river curve is considered bad area. The classic “Kan Yu Xie Mi” mentions: “when the water embrace we can still look for sites, when the water is on the opposing side, do not look”. The Water Dragon Classic thinks that “reverse flight water”, “reverse jump water”, “double oppose water”, “reverse bow water” types of land formations are all considered bad areas and not suitable for keeping livestock and living. As the poem goes, “for the water to be sentimental (auspicious), favour a loop back to the auspicious site. The pulse of the water and dragon should not be clashed back.”

安陽殷墟

An Yang Burial Grounds

Chinese Feng Shui studies emphasize that city and construction should be “facing south towards yang”, this actually carries a strong and deep cultural background, and has very rational scientific evidence. From the cultural point of view, this has close relationship with the Zhou Yi.

“Zhou Yi, Discuss Trigram” mentions: “The holy persona faces south and listens to the world”. People regard the emperor’s strategy of controlling the country as “art of facing south” originates from that quote. Besides, the Chinese astronomy chart is based on the facing south to look at the sky, maps are made based on facing south looking down.

That is why the Chinese ancient way of looking at directions is very special: front south back north, left east and right west, while the modern people of today commonly use the western method of looking at directions (top north down south left west and right east) is directly opposite.

The origins of the idea of “face South towards Yang”, is due to the special circumstances in the environment. This is because China is located on the North hemisphere, where the sunlight is most of the time coming from the southern side. People’s lives and productivity have first priority on receiving direct sunlight, and this decided the people’s choice of light must be from South then.

Also, the choice of facing south for living is also related to the seasonal winds. In large areas of China during winter, the cold winds are the northern winds, while the warm and moist winds in summer are the southern winds, and this decided Chinese Feng Shui’s environmental model should be sit North face South, while West, North and East 3 sides have cradling mountains, to block the cold winter seasonal winds;  south side open and broad to welcome the warm and moist summer wind.

Because of “face south for living”, in feng shui, we use the Green Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Phoenix and Xuan Wu (black Tortoise) to represent sectors, just like what is mentioned in the feng shui classic (Book of Burials) that said:

“Left is Green dragon Qing Long

Right is White Tiger Bai Hu

Front is Vermillion phoenix Zu Que

Back is Black Tortoise Xuan Wu”

“In the feng shui classic , “Ten books on Yang premises” it is mentioned:

“When the premises has flowing water on the left, that is the Green Dragon,

Right has a long path, it is the White Tiger,

Front has pond (usually crescent moon shape), it is the Vermillion Phoenix,

Back has a hill, it is the Black Tortoise,

This will be a precious feng shui ground”.

And hence, the Green Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Phoenix and Black Tortoise became feng shui technical terms for the 4 sectors.

We do not know when did these 4 animals became used as the feng shui technical term for the 4 sectors. However, in Henan, Xi Shui Bo, at an archaeological excavation of a Yin Shang period burial ground that is 6000 years old, there is picture that clearly shows the use of shells to make up the shapes of the “Green Dragon” and “White Tiger” figures that are placed by the side of the skeleton. If in that grave the “Green Dragon” and “White Tiger” shapes are used to indicate sectors/directions, then the later feng shui’s written works’ “Green Dragon meander, White Tiger squatting” idea can be traced back to 6000 years ago to the Yin Shang period

仰韶文化墓葬“青龍”“白虎”圖形

Yin Shang period grave “Green Dragon” and “White Tiger” shapes

During May 1987 to September 1988. In China’s Henan Pu Yan County, to the south west Xi Shui Bo Bo, 3 sets of shell dragon and tiger figures from the Yin Shang period was excavated. The first set at No.45 grave site, there is a skeleton of a male, height 1.84 m, lying flat, with head to the south and feet to the north.

On the right there is a dragon shaped from shell, with head to North, facing East, with head raised and back arched, tail in waving shape, like wandering through the ocean.

On the right there is a tiger shaped from shells, head to North and facing West, with a fierce looking stature, baring its teeth, like a tiger descending a mountain.

This tomb’s formation coincide with the ancient astronomy’s 4 celestial creature’s East palace dragon and west palace tiger.    

From the past until present, in countries with some kind of history, there are always grand palaces, but with the passage of time, those imperial palaces that have been kept in their pristine condition are few. The only exception is the Beijing Gu Gong (Forbidden City) that is the world’s only better preserved palace. That is why international architects like to conduct research on the Forbidden City, and agree unanimously that the Forbidden City is one of the world’s best feng shui precious site. When we talk about feng shui, it is unavoidable to mention the Forbidden City. 

故宮

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City began construction is 1406 and was completed in 1420, and the first emperor to order its construction is Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming dynasty. The Forbidden City’s is 961 meters south to north, 753 meters east to west, and covers an area of 723600 meters square, with built up area of 155 000 square meters.

The Forbidden City has 4 entrances, with the main entrance named as the Wu Men (Wu Door), East entrance is named Dong Hua Men (East Magnificent Door) , West entrance is named as Xi Hua Men (East Magnificent Door) and North entrance is named Shen Wu Men (Great Conquering General Door)

Facing the North Entrance Shen Wu Men, there is man-made Jing Shan (beautiful hill) made from earth and stones, and is covered with evergreen forest. Looking as a whole, the Jing Shan can be said to be the Forbidden City’s protective barrier.

The palatial buildings in the Forbidden City is aligned on the south-north axis, with the 3 great halls (Tai He Dian, Zhong He Dian, Pau He Dian), 3 back palaces (Qian Qing Gong, Jiao Tai Dian, Kun Ning Gong) and imperial gardens all on the middle south-north axis, expanding to both sides, south and north in a straight line, left and right symmetrical.

The Forbidden City was designed by the feng shui/geography grand master Liao Jun Qing. Liao Jun Qing in his memorial self-proclaimed “official lineage of grand master Yang” because his ancestor Liao Shan Chuan from the Tang dynasty had lineage from the great feng shui grandmaster Yang Yun Song. As the master builder for the Forbidden City, he implemented the feng shui method of Yang Gong for the Forbidden City.

In the 18^th year of Emperor Yong Le’s reign, which is period 6, the Forbidden City’s axis is sitting Zi (Rat) and facing Qu (Horse), that matches exactly to the feng shui classic “the 48 formations of the Qing Nang Satchel” (Qing Nang Si Shi Ba Ju)’s number 29^th formation. In the feng shui classic “Heaven Jade Classic” (Tian Yu Jing), it is mentioned:

“Kun mountain, Kun Facing, Water flows Kun,

Never ending prosperity and nobility”

Which refers to this kind of feng shui formation.

Through his family’s lineage, Liao Jun Qing received the secrets of Grandmaster Yang’s feng shui. He cleverly used the:

“River East one family, River West one family and South-North one family” to form the

Fu Mu San Ban Gua (Father and Mother 3 Classes of Trigrams) theory

on the Dragon, Water, Sitting and Facing combination,

sitting and facing location,

Cui Guan (Expedite power),

Cui Cai (Expedite Wealth) and the

“one hexagram two uses” technique

To exquisitely choose the period for space and timing and to avoid the imprisonment, and the

“7 Stars Robbery technique”

What a brilliant crystallization of the great Chinese Feng Shui Principles!

From Forbidden City’s macro-view of the feng shui formation, to the minor details in decorations, the feng shui ideas are everywhere. It is a perfect model and example for Feng Shui studies. 

However, for the past few decades, due to the limit on social and scientific developments, the present practitioners of feng shui are still not able to use a scientific technique for a complete proof. As such, the study of Feng Shui in China went through a long period of time when it was neglected, even abandoned.

It was until 10^th of August, 2005, when the Chinese Architecture Cultural Centre passed a document (2005)77 named “Notice to establish Chinese Architecture Cultural Centre Architectural Feng Shui Cultural Committee”, that China established an official government research agency on Feng Shui. The professional committee comprises on famous feng shui writers and practitioners.

The document acknowledged again that Feng Shui is an important component of China’s Traditional architecture and has considerable value to the modern cyclical economy and sustainable development; and started the training and information services for architectural Feng Shui. The China Architectural Society’s online journal published essays on feng shui, to provide guidance on discussion of Feng Shui theories.

In the same year, in an interview with the media with the China Ministry of Construction, on the China Network Television (CCTV)’s morning news programmed “Respect for Feng Shui Research”, the ministry expressed its attitude towards Feng Shui. Since 2005 until now, in Beijing and Nanjing conducted a series of 5 seminars

Up until 2005 before China established its government research agency (China Architecture Feng Shui Professional Committee), government officials have never explored deeply into this aspect. This resulted in an academic gap in the origin of feng shui theory, history, purpose, meaning as well as its value and influence on China’s ancient architecture practice and theory.

What was once regarded as superstition from the feudal period, China’s ancient Feng Shui study has now become an inseparable part of Chinese studies, and has eventually received increasing attention of contemporary scholars.

In the world of the Chinese academia, the number of research treatise on ancient Feng Shui study, can be said to be like a hundred flowers blooming. Some of the theories in Feng Shui studies were also used by the the Qing Hua University and Beijing University and various other institutions of higher learning in their architectural and environmental design.

The modern learners consider that: the traditional culture of Chinese Feng Shui is a strong, comprehensive and systematic theory of ancient architecture planning. The essence of Feng Shui is in being able to have a good sense of the environment, it is the knowledge of selection of the human living environment and adaptation to it. Feng Shui theory emphasizes the “ability of the natural environment to change people’s thinking and mentality, and hence to change human life “.”Feng Shui” theory requires that in the construction of house and graves, we must take into account their harmony with the surrounding natural environment, and mainly not on people trying to dominate nature, but human beings being part of living nature. If you simply look at “feng shui” theory from this point of view, this is very feasible with modern thought.

　Today, in China’s cities and towns, and some economically developed regions, with the spread of modern civilization, “feng shui”is more acceptable to people, but in another form. The bookstores sell very well calendars that have feng shui content; as some people will check for date selections for the “red” occasions (happy events like weddings) and “white” occasions” (funerals). Some people when constructing their houses, will tell others that they are looking for a land with good feng shui, but in reality they are trying all means to seek a good piece of feng shui land to build their houses. And there are some who are eating “imperial grain”, for the sake of career accessibility, are using feng shui on their office space. In today’s society, whether the feng shui environment of a place is good or bad, it is to a certain extent, related to real estate value and prices. And so on, because Feng Shui has its rationality, it is why it stayed useful for people until now. It is only when we are able to understand the essence of Feng Shui, and the principle behind its effects on people, that we can in a scientific way put Feng Shui into a reasonable good use. Through the knowledge of Feng Shui can we rationally select locations and construct houses; through the decoration and layout of homes and rooms, we can achieve the ideal living environment, to achieve good health, happiness in the family and success in career.

  It is worth emphasizing that, because Feng Shui focuses on the connection and interaction between man and nature, and as such focuses on the complete grasps on the various relationships between man and nature, as well as the complete thought. For example, the influence of topography on the microclimate and ecological environment, is what Feng Shui places heavy emphasis on, generally becomes a favourable model for selection of locations. It is described as “xue” or points, just the acupuncture points in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The classic model for “xue” is known as “hiding the wind, accumulating the Qi”, conducive for producing the best Feng Shui pattern set.

The old saying says: “Inner Qi initiates, external Qi takes shape, internal and external multiply, Feng Shui forms naturally”. It is very worthwhile to point out that, this type of discovery, the ancient people only understood after analysis and research, after comparing the numerous defeats and successes they experienced. As can be seen, the ancient Feng Shui culture is mankind’s precious non-material cultural heritage. If in the past, Feng Shui research and theory was not abandoned outside the gates of scientific research, then maybe today, this type of research process will be greatly shortened.

Feng Shui is our human yearning for the better life, Feng Shui is the utilization of natural resources for the service of human kind, Feng Shui is the world’s cultural diversity. Kevin Lynch, urban planning authority of the United States in his masterpiece “City Image” wrote: Feng Shui theory is a “promising body of knowledge”. The mysterious and wonderful theory of Feng Shui harmonises the relationships between modern living, work, environment and nature.