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Shuilong ‘Water Dragon’ - Core Principles Tyler J. Rowe BTCM-Acu BTCM-Chm Dip-Tn CertIV-Fs Cert-CA Cert-ONM 水 龍 chinadragon.com.au
Shuilong ‘Water Dragon’ - Core Principles
Tyler J. Rowe BTCM-Acu BTCM-Chm Dip-Tn CertIV-Fs Cert-CA Cert-ONM
水龍
chinadragon.com.au
Unity - Fragmentation
Zhou-Han Tang-Song Ming-Qing
Zhunjing ‘Antique’
What is Classical Fengshui?
Traditional Fengshui – orthodox techniques, family lineages commonly practiced by the majority
• three cycles, flying star, eight house, etc.
New-Age Fengshui – recently created amalgamations with other modalities and ideas.
• three door bagua, space clearing, geopathic stress etc.
Modern Fengshui - independently designed, research based applications and methodologies.
• sick building, scientific, architectural etc.
Classical Fengshui – ancient arts as drawn from study of canonical literature.
• antique, form & force, three harmonies etc.
What is a Classic Text? Strict Chinese Literary tradition
• Texts important during 汉 Hàn dynasty (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.)
People of the Han
• China’s golden age of philosophical thought
• Everything after is merely interpretation and added detail
经(經)Jīng ‘Classic’
• Cannon, scripture (warp, channel, longitude, pathway)
• Connection of heaven to earth, religious texts
• Use as literary device to express or increase importance
Common Expanded Definition
• Any famous pre-modern book, treaty or compilation
Chinese Classics The 5 Classics of Chinese Literature
• 礼记 Lǐjì ‘Record of Rites’
• 易经 Yìjīng ‘Classic of Changes’
• 诗经 Shījīng ‘Classic of Poetry’
• 书经 Shūjīng ‘Classic of History’
• 春秋 Chūnqiū ‘Spring and Autumn Annals’
Medical Classics
• 皇帝内经 Huángdì Nèijīng ‘Yellow Thearch’s Inner Classic’
• 难经 Nánjīng ‘Classic of Difficulties’
• 本草经 Běncǎojīng ‘Classic of Materia Medica’
• 汤液 Tāngyèjīng ‘Decoction Classic’
• 伤寒论 Shānghánlùn ‘Discussion of Cold Disease’
Fengshui Classics
Foundation texts (metaphysical philosophy and theory)
• 周易经 Zhōuyìjīng ‘Changes of the 3rd Dynasty Classic’
• 淮南子 Huáinánzǐ ‘Masters South of the River’
Form texts (mountain tops and configurational forces)
• 葬书经 Zàngshūjīng ‘Book of Burial Classic’
Compass texts (directions & orientations, patterns of energy)
• 青囊经 Qīngnángjīng ‘Cerulean Satchel Classic’
• 宅经 Zháijīng ‘Dwelling Classic’
Zhou 1045 - 256 B.C.E.
Han 206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E.
Tang 618 - 907C.E.
Republic 1912 C.E. -
Prince Liu An Huainanzi
‘Masters South of the River’
Guan Zhong Guanzi ‘Master Guan’s Book’
King Wen, Confucius Zhouyijing ‘Changes of
the 3rd Dynasty Classic ’
Wang Wei Zhaijing ‘Dwelling Classic’
Blue Raven Esquire, Guo Pu Zangshujing
‘Book of Burial Classic’
Yellow Stone Elder Qingnangjing ‘Cerulean
Satchel Classic’
Yang Yunsong Hanlongjing ‘Rousing Dragon Classic’ Yilongjing ‘Doubtful Dragon Classic’
Qingnangaoyu ‘Cerulean Satchel Profound Sayings’ Qingnangxu ‘Cerulean Satchel Preface’
Tianyujing ‘Heavenly Jade Classic’
Jiang Dahong Dilibianzheng ‘Differentiating Geomancy’
Shuilongjing ‘Water Dragon Classic’
Emperor Qianlong Imperial Collections
Master Sam Shenshixuankongxue ‘Shen Family Flying Star Study’
Qing 1644 - 1911 C.E. .
上 Shàng Upper; higher; superior; first previous.
前 Qián Front; forward; ahead; before; preceding; former.
下 Xià Lower; down;
underneath; below; inferior;
next; latter; second.
后 Hòu Back; behind;
afterwards; later.
Han 206 BCE -220 CE
Xia 2010-1600 BCE
Shang 1600-1045 BCE
Zhou 1045-256 BCE
Qin 221-226 BCE
Jin 265-420 CE
Bei Nan 420-589 CE Sui 581-618 CE
Tang 618-907 CE
Song 960-1279 CE
Yuan 1279-1368 CE
Ming 1368-1644 CE
Qing 1644-1911 CE
Classical Chinese View of Time
Xue of Water
Guanzi – Master Guan’s Book
• 管子 Guǎnzǐ ‘Master Guan’
• 管仲 Guǎnzhòng (685-645 B.C.E.) Minister of State
• Long text
• Economic and political theory
• Military theory, sociological information, philosophy, ecology and daoist cultivation
• Chapter 39 - 水地 Shuǐdì ‘Water & Earth’
Longmai - Dragon Vein
水者，万物之本原，诸生之根菀也。 水者，地之血气，如筋脉之通流者也。
Shuǐzhě, wànwùzhī běnyuán, zhūshēngzhī gēnwǎnyě. Shuǐzhě, dìzhī xuèqì, rújīnmàizhī tōngliúzhěyě.
‘Water, of the myriad things it is the root origin, of all life it is the source of growth also.
Water, it is earth’s blood and qi, like sinews and vessels it connects and circulates also.’
- Guanzi, Chapter 39 Shuidi, Verse 1
• 筋 Jīn ‘Tendon’, 脉 Mài ‘Artery, Vein’
• Earliest record indicating underlying qi flow in landscape • Very early understanding of human circulatory system
Ren - Human
人，水也。男女精气合，而水流形。 Rén, shuǐyě. Nánnǔ jīngqìhé, érshuǐ liúxíng.
‘People are water also. When man and woman’s essence and qi unite,
thus water flows and becomes form.’ - Guanzi, Chapter 39 Shuidi, Verse 5
• Highly developed understanding of animal physiology
• 人 一 人 Rén + Yī + Rén • 精 Jīng ‘Essence’
水
Shen - Spirit
是以无不满无不居也，集于天地，而藏于万物。 产于金石，集于诸生，故曰水神。
Shìyǐ wúbùmǎn wúbùjūyě, jíyú tiādì, ércángyú wànwù. Chǎnyú jīnshí, jíyú zhūshēng, gùyuē shuǐshén.
‘There is nothing it cannot fill, nowhere it cannot dwell also, it gathers in Heaven and Earth, thus stored in the myriad things.
It is produced in metal and stone, accumulating in all life, therefore it is said that water is divine.’
- Guanzi, Chapter 39 Shuidi, Verse 3
• 生 Shēng ‘Generative’ cycle of 五行 Wǔxíng ‘Five Phases’ • Mountain springs as the source of rivers
• 神 Shén ‘Spirit, god, deity, supernatural, mystical, magical’
Ti of Water
Zangshujing – Book of Burial Classic
• Original 形势派 Xíngshìpài ‘Form & Configurational-Force school’ text
• 郭璞 Guō Pú (276 - 324 C.E.) Daoist philosopher, poet, diviner, astrologer, geographer, dream interpreter, editor of texts on occult & mythology, later deified
• Based on 汉 Hàn dynasty (206 B.C.E . – 220 C.E.) manuscript 葬经 Zàngjīng ‘Burial Classic’ by 青乌先生 Qīngwū Xiānshēng ‘Blue Raven Esquire’
Fengshui – Wind Water
经曰， 气乘风散， 界水则止。古人 聚之使不散， 行之使有止， 故谓风水。 风水之法， 得水为上， 藏风次之。
Jīngyuē, qìchéng fēngsàn, jièshuǐ zézhǐ. Gǔrén jùzhī shǐ bùsàn, xíngzhī shǐ yǒuzhǐ, gùwèi fēng shuǐ. Fēngshuǐ zhīfǎ, déshuǐ wéishàng, cángfēng cìzhī.
‘The Classic Says: When qi rides the wind it is dispersed, when it meets a boundary of water it is retained.
The Ancients were able to gather it to prevent dispersion, to guide it and retain it, hence it was called Fengshui.
The law of Fengshui is, getting water is the superior act, hiding from wind is secondary.’
-Zangshujinng, Inner Chapter, Lines 10-12
• 水 Shuǐ ‘Water’ holds qi
阴阳之气，
噫而为风，
升而为云，
降而为雨，
行乎地中，
而为生气。
Yīnyáng zhīqì,
yīér wéifēng,
shēngér wéiyún,
jiàngér wéiyǔ,
xínghū dìzhōng,
érwéi shēngqì.
“The qi of yin yang, exhales and becomes wind,
rises and becomes cloud, drops and becomes rain,
travels through the ground, and becomes generative qi” - Zangshujing, Inner Chapter, line 17
cloud
rain
soil
qi
wind
Deqi - Obtain Qi
气者，水之母，有气斯有水。 Qìzhě, shuǐzhīmǔ, yǒuqì sī yǒushuǐ .
‘Qi, it is the mother of water, where qi exists there is water.’ - Zangshujing, Inner Chapter, Line 18
• A clearly observable phenomena indicative of qi
• Conditions for 得气 Déqì ‘Obtaining qi’ - 山 Shān ‘Mountains’ gather qi 土 Tǔ ‘Soil’ gives movement to qi 化 Huà ‘Change’ condenses qi 生 Shēng ‘Life’ grows from qi
• Verifiable by quantitative & qualitative analysis
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
Zhuque - Vermillion Bird
以水为朱雀者，衰旺系乎形应。 Yǐshuǐwéi zhūquèzhě, shuāiwàng xìhūxíngyìng.
“Using water as the Vermilion Bird, decline and prosperity are in relation to response of the forms.”
- Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 45
朱雀源于生气。 Zhūquè yuányú shēngqì.
“The Vermilion Bird originates in the generative qi.” - Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 46
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
Wangshui – Ausipicious Water
忌乎湍激，谓之悲泣。 Jìhū tuánjī, wèizhī bēiqì.
‘Avoid the rapid surging, their meaning is sadness weeping.’ - Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 45
派于未盛，朝于大旺。 Pàiyú mòshèng, zhāoyú dàwàng.
‘Tributaries at their ends abundant, towards great prosperity.’ - Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 47
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
3. Must be leisurely, not rapid
Liuzhu – Ebb & Flow
泽其相衰，流于囚谢，以返不绝。 Zéqí xiàngshuāi, liúyú qiūxiè, yǐfǎn bùjué.
‘Marshes appear to decline, when flow is imprisoned it withers, because of return not ceasing.’
- Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 48 - 49
法每一折，潴而后汇。 Fǎměi yīzhé, zhūérhòuhuì.
‘The law is every single bend, pools and thus after that collects.’ - Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, lines 50
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
3. Must be leisurely, not rapid
4. Must pool, but not stagnate
Shuikou – Water Mouth
洋洋悠悠，顾我欲留。 Yángyáng yōuyōu, gùwǒ yùliú.
‘Copious and leisurely, turning back on itself desire grows.’ -Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 51
其来无源，其去无流。 Qílái wúyuán, qíqù wúliú.
‘It comes without source, it leaves without degeneration.’ -Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 52
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
3. Must be leisurely, not rapid
4. Must pool, but not stagnate
5. Must have feeling
Shanshui – Mountains & Rivers
经曰，山来水回，贵寿而财。 Jīngyūe, shānlái shuǐhuí, guìshòu ércái.
‘The Classic Says, mountain arrives and water encircles, nobility longevity and thus wealth.’
-Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 53
山囚水流，虏王灭侯。 Shānqiū shuǐliú, lǔwáng mièhòu.
‘Mountains imprison water banished, incarceration of monarch and destruction of noblemen.’
- Zangshujing, Outer Chapter, line 54
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
3. Must be leisurely, not rapid
4. Must pool, but not stagnate
5. Must have feeling
6. Water should encircle a site
Yong of Water
Shuixing - Water Forms
土星比水形厚重，金星比水形圆清，
木星比水形挺直， 火星比水形飞腾。 Tǔxīng bǐshuǐxíng hòuzhòng, jīnxīng bǐshuǐxíng yuánqīng,
mùxīng bǐshuǐxíng tǐngzhí, huǒxīng bǐshuǐxíng fēiténg.
‘Earth star correlates to water forms considerably deep, Metal star correlates to water forms clearly circular,
Wood star correlates to water forms directly straight, Fire star correlates to water forms torrentially swift.’
- Shuilongjing, Chapter 2 Shuiqianfu
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
3. Must be leisurely, not rapid
4. Must pool, but not stagnate
5. Must have feeling
6. Water should encircle a site
7. Earth and metal forms are auspicious
8. Wood and fire forms are inauspicious
Ke - Overcome
在金星木星相互攻伐的时候，只有使用变水才能比较它们的真伪。 水星和火星互相战斗，尤其忌讳木星旺相。
Zài jīnxīng mùxīng xiānghù gōngfáde shíhòu, zhǐyǒu shǐyòng biànshuǐ cáinéng bǐjiào tāmende zhēnwèi. Shuǐxīng huò huǒxīng hùxiāng zhàndòu, yóuqí jìhuì mùxīng wàngxiàng
‘Metal star and Wood star mutually offend cutting for the duration, only by employing the change of water can they
contrast as genuine or fake. Water star mixing with Fire star mutually battle, particularly
avoid Wood star appearing to flourish.’ - Shuilongjing, Chapter 2 Shuiqianfu
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
3. Must be leisurely, not rapid
4. Must pool, but not stagnate
5. Must have feeling
6. Water should encircle a site
7. Earth and metal forms are auspicious
8. Wood and fire forms are inauspicious
9. Avoid conflicting with auspicious elemental forms
Sheng - Generate
而土星生出金星，又最畏惧遇到木星在旁。
而木星带来火星，就预兆国破家亡，倾覆难收。 Értǔxīng shēngchū jīnxīng, yòuzuì wèijù yùdào mùxīng zàipáng.
Èrmùxīng dàilái huǒxīng, jiù yùzhào guópò jiāwáng, qīngfù nànshōu.
‘Thus Earth star generates forth Metal star, once again dread encountering Wood star existing beside.
Thus Wood star brings about Fire star, regards omen of country broken and family fleeing, overturn and calamity harvested.’
- Shuilongjing, Chapter 2 Shuiqianfu
CORE PRINCIPLES
1. To be auspicious, must have water
2. Water in front determines fortune of dwelling
3. Must be leisurely, not rapid
4. Must pool, but not stagnate
5. Must have feeling
6. Water should encircle a site
7. Earth and metal forms are auspicious
8. Wood and fire forms are inauspicious
9. Avoid conflicting with auspicious elemental forms
10. Avoid generating inauspicious elements
Analysis of Classical Fengshui
“80% of the Fengshui input should come from Xingshi (Form and Configurations) and Luantou (Mountain Tops) techniques with
the remaining 20% from Liqi (Qi Management) techniques which will determine whether the outcome is cheap or precious”
– Howard Choy quoting Ye Jiuxing, Qing Dynasty Fengshui Master
“Fengshui is 50% the burial place of one’s of ancestors, 35% the site of one’s house or work in terms of the external manifestation
of the flow of Qi, and 15% the interior of one’s house or workplace in relation to the internal flow of Qi.“
- Dr Michael Paton quoting He Jinzong, 65th Generation Taiwanese Master, National Treasure & Expert of Dili
“In the Form School the principles are clear but the practice is difficult… with the Compass the principles are obscure but the
practice is easy“ - Stephen Skinner quoting Zhao Fang, Qing Dynasty Author and Commentator
“From the review of literature on Fengshui, it was ascertained that the Form School principles and practice is the most
dominant approach to the built environment and building design.”
- Dr Michael Y. Mak quoting the Classics
“Classical geomantic textbooks laid down three key principles for identifying an auspicious place. Of these three basic
elements that determine the quality of a place, landforms …, have been considered the most important.”
- Associate Professor Hong Key Yoon, quoting the Classics
Classical Fengshui Model
Form
compass
Site Model - Landscape Wujue
Xiang
Xue
Shui
Sha
Long
Qinglong
Baihu
Zhuque
Xuanwu
Mingtang
Sixiang
Shuikou
Longmai
Dwelling Model – Cosmological Directions
Yuandao
Tianwen
Dixing
Luoshu
Taiji
Wuyao
24 Shan
Hetu
Sixiang
Yunqi
Houtian
Xiu
Wuxing
Xiantian
Dunjia
Jiazi
Yinyang
Sanhe
Resources • Field, S.L. (2009) ‘The Zang Shu, or Book of Burial’ www.fengshuigate.com
• Needham, J. (1956) ‘Science and Civilization in China, Vol II – History of Scientific Thought’ Cambridge University Press
• Ong, H.T. & Chan, S.S. (2009) ‘Original Yin Fengshui of Zhang Shu, Book of Burial’ Gui Management Centre
• Paton, M.J. (1995) ‘Towards a scientific understanding of Feng Shui’ University of Sydney Rare Books Library
• Paton, M.J. (2013) ‘Five Classics of Feng Shui’ Brill Publishing
• Rickett, W.A. (1998) ‘Guanzi: Political, Economic, And Philosophical Essays From Early China , Vol II’ Princeton University Press
• Wong, E. (2003) ‘The Water Dragon Classic’ Feng Shui Master International
• Zhai Jiangyue (2005) ‘Library of Chinese Classics: Guanzi’ Guanxi Teachers University Press
• Zhang Juwen (2004) ‘A Translation of the Ancient Chinese The Book of Burial (Zang Shu) By Guo Pu (276-324)’ Edwin Mellen Press
Wisdom from the Zangshu
• 5 conditions for obtaining qi
• 6 methods of condensing & dispersing
• 8 techniques for locating a site
• 9 types of auspicious sites
• 18 types of inauspicious sites
• 12 principles of -
青龙 Qīnglóng ‘Cerulean Dragon’, 白虎 Báihǔ ‘White Tiger’,
玄武 Xuánwǔ ‘Dark Warrior [Black Tortoise]’ &
朱雀 Zhūquè ‘Vermillion [Red] Bird’
Greater Water Dragons
“Meandering water with a single winding pattern
For a watercourse with a single bend, it is only necessary that the meandering has feeling.
The approach must be like the characters zhi 之 and yuan 元, with 3 or 5 bends it arrives embracing like the full moon. This is the node of the pool in the bend of the water.
With its departure, the water must also turn its head and look back to the family.“
- Water Dragon Classic Vol. I
Melbourne’s Water Dragon
Greater Water Dragons
Sydney’s Water Dragon
“Forked Limb Pattern
Unbound and the development is sudden. One can welcome the spirit and obtain beauty because the water is continuous and long lasting.”
- Water Dragon Classic Vol. III
