Feng Shui Correspondence Course

Elementary Level

Lesson 01

History of Feng Shui Seeking Harmony with Feng Shui Feng Shui of Graves
Feng Shui of Houses Course Work Back to Course Page


History of Feng Shui

Ancient Chinese were very careful in choosing a site to establish a village, a town, or a capital. A well chosen site could bring prosperity, while a poorly chosen site famine and war. The duty of selecting a site rest on the shoulders of a learned man. Experiences passed on from generation to generation establishing what we call today "Feng Shui" or more correctly "Kan Yu".

Conquering Nature using Science is the philosophy of the West. In the East, people consider themselves part of the Universe they live in. For this reason, man should try to be in harmony with Nature. Feng Shui is simply environmental study. If a Feng Shui practitioner deviates from creating an environment in harmony with Nature, he is not a genuine Feng Shui Master. In fact, "The Burial Book", an early Feng Shui book written by Guo Po in about 300 AD emphasized on preserving the environment. He solemnly told people not to hurt the dragons (mountains) to avoid disasters. Feng Shui Masters in the Tang Dynasty all taught the principle that a structure built in harmony with the energy fields of the Universe would enjoy good Feng Shui. Feng Shui is then the study of how to create a beautifully balanced environment.

Ancient Chinese Feng Shui Masters were overly selfish. They did not teach their students all they knew. Many a master kept the secrets until he was seriously ill and at an old age. In this way a large proportion of valuable knowledge was lost. In the Tang Dynasty, there were more than 120 schools of Feng Shui but none was in possession of the true Feng Shui secret. In the Qing Dynasty, one scholar successfully rediscovered the secrets of Feng Shui and disclosed these great ideas in his famous "Master Zhen’s Space and Time Feng Shui Handbook". This book was prone to bitter attacks due to jealousy. The contents of this book together with other genuine Feng Shui concepts are explained in Master Joseph Yu’s Feng Shui Correspondence Course, Advanced Level.

Since the seventies Feng Shui was well received by folks in North America. One clever man invented a new school of Feng Shui which is extremely easy to understand. Any house or work place is divided into eight sectors called "life stations". In the beginning these life stations coincide with the eight sectors of the Ba Gua.

Using the compass to determine the facing of a building is no easy task. The extensive use of electrical appliances interferes with earth’s magnetic field making measurements difficult. This school of Feng Shui abolishes the use of the compass altogether. They claim that the entrance to a building is always the Career Life Station making Feng Shui so much easier to practice. Some practitioners claim their Feng Shui to be of Tibetan origin. Others say that such claims are merely part of a marketing ploy that exploits American ignorance of Asian history. Some are honest to call the kind of Feng Shui they practice "creative Feng Shui". They are honest to admit they created a method of placement which is different from genuine Feng Shui. They also integrate psychology into their practice. All these are more appropriately called "Pseudo-Feng Shui".

Looking into the future, Feng Shui will be the Science of tomorrow. Though Feng Shui theories have not yet been proved using any known scientific method, the principles underlying agree with Quantum Physics and Relativity. It is unfortunate that people include superstition in their marketing plan and practice. It is my hope and belief that more and more people will learn this art (if not science) with seriousness. In the near future, people who use religion and transcendental nonsense as their marketing humbug will have to vanish.

Glossary

Feng Shui -- Feng means wind and shui means water. Ancient Chinese considered a site to be fortunate if it was sheltered from the attack of ill winds and untamed waters. It was considered more fortunate if the wind and water could bring comfort and fertility to the dwellers.

Kan Yu -- Kan means time factor and Yu means geographical concern. Kan Yu is the study of a site with reference to the time factor.



Seeking Harmony

When a house is built, the first concern is the choice of site. A house is considered fortunate if it is conformable to its surroundings. The following are some of the findings of Feng Shui studies in the old days which may still hold true today.

1. Government offices absorb the necessary "sheng chi" or vital energy leaving practically nothing for neighboring buildings. Therefore it is not advisable to live too close to government offices.
2. It is not advisable to live near a temple or a church. Yin and Yang are not balanced.
3. It is not advisable to live near a graveyard or a funeral home. Sorrow is contaminating.
4. It is not advisable to live near a butchery. Killing destroys harmony.
5. It is not advisable to live near a brothel where evil energy hovers.
6. It is not advisable to live near a casino where crime sprouts.
7. It is not advisable to live near a school because of the lack of balance in Yin and Yang. During the day the school children fill the place with Yang chi leaving only Yin chi behind at night.
8. It is not advisable to live near a hospital. Sickness destroys vital energy.
9. A dwelling should not be too much taller than neighboring houses. To stand out prominently also destroys harmony.
10. A square or rectangular building lot is most suitable.
11. A pie-shaped lot which widens at the back is preferred to one that narrows towards the back.
12. A house too much smaller than its neighbors is considered undesirable.
13. A house must invite ample sunlight and well ventilated. This allows the house to be filled with vital energy.
14. Avoid having a rapid stream running nearby. This disturbs the tranquillity of the neighborhood. Likewise a straight road with speeding vehicles has the same effect.
15. A straight road running directly towards a house is to be avoided. Evil energy is brought to attack the house.
16. A meandering river and likewise a winding road is considered fortunate as it carries good energy to a house.


Graves

In ancient China finding a suitable site to bury the dead was a serious matter. It was the filial duty of a son to find a comfortable grave for his parents. Later development was less noble. Feng Shui practitioners claimed they could find a fortunate site to bury the dead so that descendants would prosper. This was and still is firmly believed by most Chinese people. Actually genuine Feng Shui Masters denounced this idea. Jiang Da Hong, an undisputed Feng Shui expert who lived in the final years of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, was of the opinion that houses are far more important than graves. His argument was that the dead is dead and could do nothing to bless his descendants. Houses, on the other hand, are where the living eat, work, and sleep. If a house is full of good energy, its inhabitants will be healthy and wise. A strong and intelligent man will definitely have admirable achievement.

If graves are so important for the well being of descendants Feng Shui masters would have chosen the best sites to bury themselves. We have not heard of any outstanding descendants of any of the famous Feng Shui masters. Feng Shui for graves is nothing but comforting the living by paying respect to the deceased.



Houses

Ancient Feng Shui classics deal mostly with graves. The theory underlying is actually more apt for application to houses. To study the Feng Shui of a house we have to investigate two aspects that are supplementary to each other. We employ mathematical formulas to graph the distribution of energies inside and outside the house. We also observe the exterior environment and the interior design of the house. If the form and material conform with the energy distribution, we have good Feng Shui. If the form and material attack the good energy and reinforce the evil energy, we have bad Feng Shui.

Most people can understand the so called Form School of Feng Shui. Some practitioners even honor the great Master Yang Yun-Song in the Tang Dynasty as the founder of the Form School. The fact is that Master Yang taught the more easily understood forms as an introductory course and people after learning this were hasty to become practitioners. Master Yang, as well as other true masters of this art, integrated form and formula in the most natural way. This is explained in details in Master Yu’s Advanced Level Feng Shui Course.

Glossary

Yin, Yang -- the concept of being negative and positive, darkness and brightness, female and male, static and dynamic, flexible and rigid, etc.



Course Work

1. How ancient is the origin of Feng Shui?
Hint : Much of the Feng Shui Theory owe its origin to "Yi Jing", the Book of Changes. The Ba Gua was introduced by the first Chinese sage Fu Hsi (doubtfully about 3300 BC). The next sage Wen Wang, the founder of the Zhou Dynasty (1143-276 BC), is believed to be the chief compiler of Yi Jing. Confucius (550-478 BC) gave comprehensive explanations to Yi Jing. There is written evidence that the kings and dukes in Zhou Dynasty made Feng Shui consultations before moving or building a capital.

2. "China is full of mystery and Tibet is more mysterious. Tibetan Feng Shui deals with transcendental power which can be applied to save a marriage from breaking up, or a business from going bankrupt." Comment.

3. There are 16 items listed on page 1-3. Which of them do you disagree with and why?

4. "If a grave site is fortunate, the dead can absorb the vital energy from the Universe and transmit the energy to his/her descendants." Comment.

5. "If you live in a house with good Feng Shui, you are in an environment filled with vital energy which makes you healthy and wise." Comment.

6. In the following diagram there are three identical houses in different locations. Which one will you choose and why? Assume you are in the Northern Hemisphere.



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