Qi originates from the external and be collected to the internal of a house or a grave. There are the external Qi that flows from the Heaven, so called riding with the wind, and an internal Qi that moves in subterranean that so called collects at the boundary of water. When these external meet the internal, it forms what called Xuan Kong. Mysterious subtleties when Yin mixed with Yang to give birth to Sheng Qi.
The external Qi moves along the mountains from a higher plain to a lower plain. Similar to water flows from a higher level to a lower level and these Qi always meet at a point of Xuan Kong. Liken to a birth, there must first be a womb. This womb as a vihicle of birth is the bright hall or ming tang. In Xuan Kong methodology, these bright halls again has its qualities defined as Zhen Shen or Ling Shen to factor in the time dimensions in accordance to the Loshu.
For the external, as quoted in translation in the Burial Classic, Qi rides with wind collects at the boundary of water. This translation is absolutely misleading. It should be phrase as Qi moves, wind moves. Qi stops water coagulates. The next question, how to collect Qi? This is an art. "Shou Shan Chut Sha" or Set back mountain and extrude the embrace, is one of a method. In other word, first encase wind then channel water. What Qi to collect? Sheng Qi! True indeed for a house, but not a grave! In a grave, we ride Sheng Qi.
Assuming the external has been taken care of, apply the same polarity notion of encase wind then channel water principle into the interior. The Loshu is only there to give one an idea how these Qi moves along the principle of 5 elements. If one take the 5 elements as element per se, one is a "dead fish". It only means 5 transformation and these transformations must occur for it to work! How to be sure, again it is an art.
Now, in the interior reads the walls and voids as mountains and water, we called structure. Apply encase wind then channel water principle, read against the Loshu to determine its qualities, one should understand how Qi moves.
I will keep the notion of storing Qi for another day.
Ar. David Yek Tak Wai
