Title: Yang Gong FengShui - Fundamental Theories
Author: M.L. Chin
Review:
This is a very BASIC book of Yang Gong FengShui written in the pretext of the so called old method or GuFa. Although the introduction is brief, it is meant to give an over simplified view of classifications as the old method versus the new method for purpose to allow reader to further research into both techniques without the preconceive ideas of which is neither superior nor otherwise. As this work reflects on the writer, whom was a disciple of Yang Gong Old method, he has consciously tried to distance himself from writing a biased view with regards to Yang Gong in an idolised manner, although with its setbacks. From the continuous explanations, such devoid of idolization result in many interpretations that is purportedly classify as Yang Gong old method, very distinctive in nature and in a style of explanation only found common within the Chinese literate FengShui communities. Saying thus, the ways in which a postulation is made is typically Chinese in thinking, logic and understanding. For a western reader, such will pose a greater degree of irrational line of reasoning and logic. Perhaps the notion of things being Chinese would need to be clarify before embarking on this book.
Chapter 1 resemble the history of Yang Gong in a nutshell. When it states that Yang Gong is the Imperial Master, such title has a far reaching impact to the Chinese reader then any others, as such title bearer holds the responsibility beyond the living and the death. The tale of how Yang Gong left the imperial palace and live among the commoner in a place now called Yang Xian Ling or Mountain of the Sagely Yang, on a superficial level indicates its genesis, which again may lead to further abuse of identification of authenticity of any FengShui lineages, as Yang Gong old and new methods are one of the many lineages harping around this art of FengShui. At a deeper level, although not mentioned in details, is the name of Jiu Ping annexed to Yang Gong as the savior of the poor. Meaning in regardless of the auspiciousness of a place, such method can still make a difference to a commoner.
Chapter 2 resemble the definition of Growing Qi, ShengQi. The writer tries to give different perspective of ShengQi in accordance to different schools although not without its setbacks. More importantly, the writer stress the fact that ShengQi stems from the underlying knowledge of the 12 growth phases with relation to the 5 processes, each found in the 8 directions. Precisely saying, the purpose of FengShui is to ride ShengQi both the internal and the external, a concept annexed to the Burial Classics again, by another great grandmaster before Yang Gong, name GuoPu. Here the methodology is silenced, as prescribed it is just a BASIC book of Yang Gong Old Method.
Chapter 3 resemble the meanings of Qi or Water Mouth. The opening pretext stems on comparison between the other schools, again not without its setbacks. The underlying principle is first to indentify what is not Watergate. Then, only to identify what is Watergate, typical of a Chinese way of reasoning. That is still not the catch. The writer brings its reader one full cycle of landform analogy of how Qi is born out of earth and water is born out of Qi, follows by why water follows mountain as the principle of water is Yin, female and Mountain is Yang, male. Such postulation has caused heated debates among the contemporary FengShui theorist today and is taken as a distinctive boundary between the old methods with the new method, although I may differ in such opinions. These male and female marry in the so called XuanKong with the front bright hall. The intercourse of male and female give birth to ShengQi, before the water exits via the Watergate, usually locked by two mountains. At this point of explanations, there is again, no conclusive definition as to what constitute a Watergate, liken to the act of chasing mirage.
Chapter 4 resembles more round about arguments as first the theory of what and what not constitute a mountain dragon and the water dragon annexed to phrases and definition found in the burial classics. Overall, it is noted that these dragons are found naturally and not drains that were dug out, purportedly to mirror the water dragon and lumps of mud to represent mountain dragon. More importantly, it states that the male and female moves parallel to each other. What does this signify in regards to Yang turning or Yin turning was not discuss in details and were left for other chapters. The rest of the sub chapters were more geared towards rebuttal of the other method, not constituting the old method school of thoughts. To the uninitiated, it brings forth a sense of supremacy of the old method over the new method with highlights of redundancy of the Yin Yang denotation of the Heaven plate and the use of the Human plate to audit the external environment. More importantly the notions of Yin matches Yang or vice versa are deeply misunderstood when it comes to the Yin Yang Heaven plate. The roles of the human plate were rather sketchy and were left unaddressed.
Chapter 5 resembles the famous Yang Gong 72 dragon rings. The postulations of each directions consists of the 5 elements are explained here in a geomantic manners. The writer subconsciously idolised the intelligence of Yang Gong when he explains the derivation of the 72 dragons in pain taking details, almost of explaining from the inner rings to the outer rings of the Heaven plate. It is just a pity that the writer did not include diagrammatic explanations to ease understanding. The other subchapters dwell more into the notions of death and emptiness lines or void lines but never mention in detail as the applications of these void lines and how would a practitioner quantify such in a nexus of its measurements. A comparative discussion were made against other school of thoughts notably Xuan Kong, again which bias towards the Yang Gong Old Method. These 72 dragons were annexed to another postulation of Dian Dian Dao sequence which was to be explained in detail in chapter 9. Reaching thus far, it is not easy to consume all the postulations put forth at a glance, critically, as it was explains in a typical Chinese way of understanding towards the subject matter in a flux at a beginner or entry level.
Chapter 6 resembles the introduction of the 12 growth phases, the 3 combinations or frames, the palm method for ease of remembrance. These palm method is very useful to ease the art of memorizing, again something very Chinese in inclination, almost devoid of using the LuoPan. This follow by the way of reading the Heaven’s plate on paper or in theory only. It absolutely sound easy, nevertheless very difficult if one is not shown the way in practice.
Chapter 7 resembles the notorious arguments of the old method supremacy which were very bias in nature. Along these line of arguments, the idolisation of Yang Gong takes centre stage almost liked taking a direct reference from other writings in the same subject in the Chinese language.
Chapter 8 resembles the modus operandi of Yang Gong old method 9 procedural practices from pre-audit to rectification of others “screw-up” FengShui jobs in a glance. Yes, do not expect anything more then a glance and it works well fine as a brochure to advertise and advocate Yang Gong old method as a curriculum.
Chapter 9 is note worthy and resembles the discussion of the classical text of Qing Ran Ao You at a theoretical approach only without much reference to applications.
In summary, when one understood the method, it is as easy as A B and C. Although the writer wishes to explain in a beating about the bush manners and very Chinese way of postulation, many so called secrets are woven in the arguments put forth. Unfortunately it only reserve for the one who knows such method and never for the uninitiated. If this is a beginner book, I would have rated it as less then skin deep. However, comparatively to the tons of pages of reference books that only displays charts and charts of meaningless graphics and glossy travelogues of searching the dragon, this is indeed a book worth its price and contents. At least, one who does not have access to the Chinese books written on the same subject, would have now granted a glimpse into the intricacy of the arts served raw.
Chapter 1 resemble the history of Yang Gong in a nutshell. When it states that Yang Gong is the Imperial Master, such title has a far reaching impact to the Chinese reader then any others, as such title bearer holds the responsibility beyond the living and the death. The tale of how Yang Gong left the imperial palace and live among the commoner in a place now called Yang Xian Ling or Mountain of the Sagely Yang, on a superficial level indicates its genesis, which again may lead to further abuse of identification of authenticity of any FengShui lineages, as Yang Gong old and new methods are one of the many lineages harping around this art of FengShui. At a deeper level, although not mentioned in details, is the name of Jiu Ping annexed to Yang Gong as the savior of the poor. Meaning in regardless of the auspiciousness of a place, such method can still make a difference to a commoner.
Chapter 2 resemble the definition of Growing Qi, ShengQi. The writer tries to give different perspective of ShengQi in accordance to different schools although not without its setbacks. More importantly, the writer stress the fact that ShengQi stems from the underlying knowledge of the 12 growth phases with relation to the 5 processes, each found in the 8 directions. Precisely saying, the purpose of FengShui is to ride ShengQi both the internal and the external, a concept annexed to the Burial Classics again, by another great grandmaster before Yang Gong, name GuoPu. Here the methodology is silenced, as prescribed it is just a BASIC book of Yang Gong Old Method.
Chapter 3 resemble the meanings of Qi or Water Mouth. The opening pretext stems on comparison between the other schools, again not without its setbacks. The underlying principle is first to indentify what is not Watergate. Then, only to identify what is Watergate, typical of a Chinese way of reasoning. That is still not the catch. The writer brings its reader one full cycle of landform analogy of how Qi is born out of earth and water is born out of Qi, follows by why water follows mountain as the principle of water is Yin, female and Mountain is Yang, male. Such postulation has caused heated debates among the contemporary FengShui theorist today and is taken as a distinctive boundary between the old methods with the new method, although I may differ in such opinions. These male and female marry in the so called XuanKong with the front bright hall. The intercourse of male and female give birth to ShengQi, before the water exits via the Watergate, usually locked by two mountains. At this point of explanations, there is again, no conclusive definition as to what constitute a Watergate, liken to the act of chasing mirage.
Chapter 4 resembles more round about arguments as first the theory of what and what not constitute a mountain dragon and the water dragon annexed to phrases and definition found in the burial classics. Overall, it is noted that these dragons are found naturally and not drains that were dug out, purportedly to mirror the water dragon and lumps of mud to represent mountain dragon. More importantly, it states that the male and female moves parallel to each other. What does this signify in regards to Yang turning or Yin turning was not discuss in details and were left for other chapters. The rest of the sub chapters were more geared towards rebuttal of the other method, not constituting the old method school of thoughts. To the uninitiated, it brings forth a sense of supremacy of the old method over the new method with highlights of redundancy of the Yin Yang denotation of the Heaven plate and the use of the Human plate to audit the external environment. More importantly the notions of Yin matches Yang or vice versa are deeply misunderstood when it comes to the Yin Yang Heaven plate. The roles of the human plate were rather sketchy and were left unaddressed.
Chapter 5 resembles the famous Yang Gong 72 dragon rings. The postulations of each directions consists of the 5 elements are explained here in a geomantic manners. The writer subconsciously idolised the intelligence of Yang Gong when he explains the derivation of the 72 dragons in pain taking details, almost of explaining from the inner rings to the outer rings of the Heaven plate. It is just a pity that the writer did not include diagrammatic explanations to ease understanding. The other subchapters dwell more into the notions of death and emptiness lines or void lines but never mention in detail as the applications of these void lines and how would a practitioner quantify such in a nexus of its measurements. A comparative discussion were made against other school of thoughts notably Xuan Kong, again which bias towards the Yang Gong Old Method. These 72 dragons were annexed to another postulation of Dian Dian Dao sequence which was to be explained in detail in chapter 9. Reaching thus far, it is not easy to consume all the postulations put forth at a glance, critically, as it was explains in a typical Chinese way of understanding towards the subject matter in a flux at a beginner or entry level.
Chapter 6 resembles the introduction of the 12 growth phases, the 3 combinations or frames, the palm method for ease of remembrance. These palm method is very useful to ease the art of memorizing, again something very Chinese in inclination, almost devoid of using the LuoPan. This follow by the way of reading the Heaven’s plate on paper or in theory only. It absolutely sound easy, nevertheless very difficult if one is not shown the way in practice.
Chapter 7 resembles the notorious arguments of the old method supremacy which were very bias in nature. Along these line of arguments, the idolisation of Yang Gong takes centre stage almost liked taking a direct reference from other writings in the same subject in the Chinese language.
Chapter 8 resembles the modus operandi of Yang Gong old method 9 procedural practices from pre-audit to rectification of others “screw-up” FengShui jobs in a glance. Yes, do not expect anything more then a glance and it works well fine as a brochure to advertise and advocate Yang Gong old method as a curriculum.
Chapter 9 is note worthy and resembles the discussion of the classical text of Qing Ran Ao You at a theoretical approach only without much reference to applications.
In summary, when one understood the method, it is as easy as A B and C. Although the writer wishes to explain in a beating about the bush manners and very Chinese way of postulation, many so called secrets are woven in the arguments put forth. Unfortunately it only reserve for the one who knows such method and never for the uninitiated. If this is a beginner book, I would have rated it as less then skin deep. However, comparatively to the tons of pages of reference books that only displays charts and charts of meaningless graphics and glossy travelogues of searching the dragon, this is indeed a book worth its price and contents. At least, one who does not have access to the Chinese books written on the same subject, would have now granted a glimpse into the intricacy of the arts served raw.
3 comments:
Hi David,
I’ve chanced upon your blog recently and I must say your articles are very well written and insightful. I’m a newbie to the world of FengShui and are currently trying to learn as much as I can from the internet.
I have a question that I would like to hear your opinion on and that is regarding the determination of the house sitting directions in a modern condominium/apartment setting. Do we use the main door of the apartment or do we use the main entrance of the whole estate as the sitting directions? In such a case, if you were to make a choice, which is more important – having a good estate sitting directions or a good house sitting directions? In case my description is not clear, I have attached a diagram of the above-mentioned example.
As classical fengshui use to only deal with properties whose estate directions are the same as their house directions, there is very little ambiguity and hence not much literature regarding this problem. It would be great if I could hear your views on this matter.
Rgds
Welcome to my world of FengShui.
I ought to interpret your meaning of sitting refering to the Xue sitting of the entire building of which it constitute your unit. Then take the Sitting location of the building itself.
Apartment audit is one of the more complicated arts. You need to follow through in order to understand.
You are from Singapore?
Hi David.
That was a very prompt reply! I believe you have interpreted what I am trying to convey correctly.
You are right to say that I am from Singapore. How did you know that? I have always been intrigued and fascinated by Fengshui, but did not really spend enough time on it. There is so much to learn in this art. It is only the past few months that I started to look into it again. I have contemplated of looking for a master and saw some potential “academies” (even Ngee Ann Poly in Singapore is teaching it). To be honest, I do have the apprehension of learning from the wrong master. If you have learnt the real thing, paying more is okay. What is worse is learning the wrong thing and applying the wrong things.
To me, Fengshui is a lot of commonsense. Designs and Building that makes a lot of common sense will seem to have Fengshui built into it. I like what I read from your blog, not only do you have a considerable amount of knowledge, you have a flair for writing as well, which makes your post very interesting.
rgds
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