Line Plus Age

In an attempt to answer someone's question, what is lineage?

Lineage is a term comprising line and age. Line is metaphorically denoting an unbroken succession of knowledge from the ancient masters to the current lineage holder through the passage of time. History unfolds that knowledge of King Maker is absolutely dangerous to both the master and his family alike. At any point in time, one will see that these masters will leave the glamorous lives for voluntarily exile. In these exiles, “schools” were established and it is where lineage takes birth. GanZhou, Yang XianLing and the village of SanLiao is one example. Locality and time plays a vital role in the further development of lineage and thus give births to schisms such as GuFa Pai, XinFa Pai and so forth. The sporadic nature of these schisms or sects resulted in many other versions of FengShui, each befitting its own locality, micro culture, climate and social structures. Due to its own self sufficiency nature of each locality, future homegrown masters may have lost touch with the rationale of their forefather’s intention to “modify” the original FengShui method fit for purpose. That is to say, just the method that works, given the conditions of the locality, shall be kept for posterity. This is called lineage, without any attempt to revolutionize. It is also a period that end users techniques were widely used. Lineage became a trade secret under oath and all sorts of constraints so that the knowledge is not used out of context resulted in abuse.

During, post Cultural Revolution of the Maoist establishment witnessed the extinctions of this lineage in Mainland China and FengShui flourished overseas spreading mainly in Taiwan, HongKong and NanYang (another name for the Malaysia & Singapore). Lives in these Chinese populated areas are harsh and competitive thus triads and trade organizations through various establishments liked KongSi and Tang was formed. This is the cradle of FengShui overseas lineage through the FengShui families and so forth became the household names especially in Taiwan. HongKong and the rest of the sporadic FengShui lineage evolves itself independently, each equipped with their very own forte based on their modifications each to suit their local context, proven to be successful, given their very own locality. The true transmission of knowledge is inherited. However, there are always cases outside the rules, such as repaying kindness, sworn brothers and the sorts.

This is lineage.