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Chapter 7 of 8
博山篇
The site selection principles for yang dwellings (dwellings of the living) and yin dwellings (burial sites) share the same fundamental reasoning. The only difference is that the "acupoint method" for yang dwellings must distinguish between precipitous and gentle terrain.
Where the incoming dragon force surges forward with urgency yet contains calm within, the land may also be suitable for habitation. Where the momentum comes to rest, one must choose flat and open ground. The construction of towers, pavilions, and courtyards all follows established principles—these are by no means empty words.
The application of the Five Star forms follows specific guidelines: Wood Star (straight and tall), Metal Star (round and moist), and Earth Star (square and thick) are suitable for building dwellings, bringing prosperity to descendants. Fire Star (pointed and sharp), as the embodiment of the dragon spirit, must undergo transformation and refinement, shedding its sharpness before an acupoint can be established. Water Star (curved and soft) requires that water momentum be gathered and contained—harmonizing with earth, with a tightly secured water outlet and the wealth star shining upon it.
The bright hall should be wide, yet even more so, flat like a whetstone. Roads should curve in embracing patterns, water flows should wind with affection, and gates should be upright and centered—thus the household will prosper naturally.
In examining urban dwellings, one must assess ruju (entering the pattern): observe whether the bright hall is open, whether water flows curve appropriately, the variations in terrain elevation, whether the layout is broad or narrow, the orientation of gates, and the surrounding structures. The White Tiger side (right) is contraindicated for direct assault; the Azure Dragon side (left) suffers under oppressive weight. Recurve shapes inflict harm upon people, and pressing towers create killing energies. The courtyard should be deep, receptive of energy through its well-like formation. Rear hillocks should be neither too tall nor too confining. If the headwater feature assumes the Overlaid Metal Bureau (shaped like an inverted metal cauldron), there is peace upon encountering earth, development upon encountering wood. But upon encountering water it overturns, and upon encountering fire it collapses. These matters require careful deliberation, never carelessness.
In examining rural dwellings, one must assess taixi (fetal breath): observe the coordination of yin and yang, the quality of hishe (urgency and gentleness), the fuchen (floating and sinking) states, the qifu (rising and falling) forms, the azure dragon and white tiger considerations, the encircling support and backing, the facing mountains and petition mountains, the enclosure of city walls, the locking of water outlets, and the configuration of the eight directions. Only after clearly determining raojian (allowances and reductions) may construction commence. Reckless heightening or indiscriminate excavation will inevitably wound the dragon spirit and deplete one's own blessings.
Road planning should follow the flow of water; gate placement should align with wood energy. Study water positions with precision, and examine construction methods in detail.
The heart of this chapter lies in the principle: "Yang dwellings and yin dwellings share the same source reasoning, but must adapt to local conditions." Yang dwelling feng shui is not independent of yin dwelling theory but shares the same logical foundation of landform appraisal. The key points can be summarized as:
| Core Element | Original Meaning | Modern Correspondence |
|---|---|---|
| Shi (Momentum) | Where momentum flows, habitation is possible; where it stops, ground must be level | Overall energy flow of a property site |
| Xing (Star Forms) | Wood, Metal, Earth suitable; Fire requires transformation; Water needs gathering | Landform classification and suitability by terrain type |
| Mingtang | Wide and level as a whetstone | Open space in front of buildings |
| Roads & Water | Embracing roads, winding water, centered gates | Traffic circulation and building orientation |
| Dragon & Tiger | Tiger averse to assault; Dragon averse to oppression | Balance of buildings and terrain on left and right |
| Taixi (Fetal Breath) | Yin-yang coordination, urgency-tenderness, floating-sinking | Subtle assessment of micro-topography |
| Taboos | Reckless heightening wounds dragon spirit; excavation depletes blessings | Harms of blind terrain modification |
"Shi lai qu, yi ke ju. Shi ruo zhi, xu tan yi." (Where momentum flows, one may reside. Where momentum stops, ground must be level.) This passage has direct corollaries in modern architectural site selection. Land with flowing momentum has a certain slope and dynamism—energy circulates freely, and as long as it is not excessively steep, it actually suits habitation. Where momentum comes to rest, on flat and stagnant terrain, one must select level and open areas; otherwise, energy becomes congested and immobile. This aligns remarkably well with modern architectural requirements regarding slope, ventilation, and drainage. 🌬
Modern Translation of the Five Star Forms: Wood Star (tall and straight terrain) suits high-rise residential buildings; Metal Star (round and gentle terrain) works well for integrated communities; Earth Star (square and regular terrain) befits stately architecture. Fire Star (pointed terrain) is traditionally considered unsuitable for direct construction, but modern techniques can achieve "transformation" through land grading and landscape redesign—essentially altering the sharp attributes of the terrain to make it more gentle. Water Star (winding terrain) requires gathering and containment—the concentration and retention of water flow—which resonates with modern hydrogeological practices in managing water tables and surface runoff. 🌊
"Hu ji chong, long ji ya" (Tiger averse to assault; Dragon averse to oppression) is especially common in modern cities. When the right-sided White Tiger position faces direct impact from a road or angled attack from a tall building's edge, or when the left-sided Azure Dragon position suffers oppression from towering structures, the effects register negatively in both experiential comfort and psychological well-being. Mitigations include landscape barriers, tree plantings, and entrance adjustments. ⛰
For contemporary homebuyers or self-builders, the following dimensions offer practical guidance:
Site Selection: Prioritize flat terrain or gentle slopes; avoid steep and sharply pointed landforms. For sites with sharp features (triangular lots, acute angles), employ terrain reshaping or layout reconfiguration as "transformation." 🌱
Mingtang Management: Maintain openness in front of dwellings; avoid close-range pressure from tall buildings. Spaces before courtyards or balconies should be level and unobstructed—not cluttered with miscellaneous storage.
Roads and Water Methods: Entrance paths should curve gracefully rather than pointing directly at the gates. If a straight road aims at the front door, install a screen wall, strategic planting, or adjust the gate orientation.
Dragon-Tiger Balance: The architecture and terrain on both sides should strive for equilibrium. If one side dominates in height (especially an oppressive Azure Dragon side), compensate by adding trees, light fixtures, or structures on the lower side to restore visual and energetic balance.
Courtyard and Illumination: The courtyard (or atrium, inner yard) should maintain appropriate depth ratios—too shallow disperses energy; too deep creates stagnation. Modern residential designs incorporating courtyards or light wells should likewise attend to these proportions.
Avoidance Rules: Neither add building stories recklessly nor excavate indiscriminately within dragon vein locations. Any significant modification to original terrain should be evaluated for its impact on the overarching environment. Empirically, document changes in living experience before and after modifications, forming a verification cycle of "hypothesis—action—review." 🔄
"Lun tian zhai, li wu er" (Regarding homesteads, the principle is no different) reveals a profound philosophical proposition: Yin and yang spring from one principle; the visible and hidden follow the same Tao. The distinction between yin and yang dwellings lies not in fundamental truth but in modes of manifestation. This echoes the Chinese philosophical pattern of "unity of substance and function"—the same natural laws, deployed differently across contexts.
"Huo zhi shi sheng, wei long shen, xu bo huan, nai ke qian" (Fire's very creation is the dragon spirit; requiring transformation, then may the acupoint be placed) further embodies the philosophy of transformation: all things possess usable aspects—the key lies in whether appropriate refinement has occurred. Fire Star of sharp form is fundamentally not a dwelling-shape, yet after "peeling and exchange," it remains serviceable. This illuminates: "unfavorable elements" in our environment are not absolute but can be converted into assets under certain conditions. 🔥
The admonition "wang zi zeng gao, ci chuan zao, shang long shen, xiao ji fu" (reckless heightening, wanton excavation—these wound the dragon spirit and deplete one's blessings) carries ecological-ethical significance in contemporary context. It is an admonition against humanity's excessive intervention in nature. Within the discourse of feng shui, "wounding the dragon spirit" effectively means damaging the natural terrain structure and hydrological cycles, while "depleting one's blessings" is the inevitable consequence of such destruction rebounding upon humanity itself.
Five Star Forms (Landform Stars): Wood, Metal, Earth, Fire, Water Stars constitute the Landform School's classification of mountain or terrain basic shapes. Wood Star is straight and tall; Metal Star is round and glossy; Earth Star is square and thick; Fire Star is pointed and sharp; Water Star is curved and supple.
Peeling and Exchange: Feng shui term denoting the gradual morphological transformation of the dragon vein during its course—a process of shifting from malevolent to auspicious. Fire Star, through transformation into other auspicious star forms, becomes usable.
Dragon and Tiger: Azure Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right—referring to the protective hills or ridges on either side of the acupoint (or dwelling foundation). The Azure Dragon should be tall and protective; the White Tiger low and submissive.
Bright Hall: The open area before the acupoint or foundation, where energy gathers and water is received. It is classified into Inner, Middle, and Outer Bright Halls.
Water Outlet: The place where water exits—a critical position in the feng shui configuration for locking energy and retaining wealth, to be secured and held shut.
Fetal Breath: The refined state at which the dragon vein knots its acupoint, likened to a fetus gestating in the womb—requiring balanced yin-yang and appropriate urgency-gentleness.
Eight States (bā gúo): The eight trigram directions—the overall relationship of mountains and waters across all orientations.
"Yangzhai Sanyao" (Three Essentials of Yang Dwellings): A classic devoted to the gate, master bedroom, and stove of yang dwellings; can cross-reference with Boshan Pian's treatment.
"Zangshu" (Book of Burial): Authored by Guo Pu; the foundational work of feng shui theory. Its statements on "energy dispersing on wind, halting at water boundaries" connect directly to this chapter's "water must be gathered."
"Qingnang Jing" (Qingnang Classic): The source classic of feng shui liqi (energy patterns); helpful for understanding the underlying logic of terms like "raojian" and "eight states."
"Xuankong Mizhi" (Arcane Secret Meanings): A classic of the Xuankong school of liqi, with detailed exposition on flying star arrangements for urban yang dwellings.
Landscape Architecture and Feng Shui: Contemporary landscape architecture's integrated design philosophy concerning terrain, hydrology, and vegetation overlaps significantly with Boshan Pian's principles of "momentum flowing" and "water embracing." Studies have examined the relationship between feng shui "storing wind and gathering qi" (cángfēng jùqì) and modern microclimate regulation.
Environmental Psychology: Research on the effects of open frontal space (bright hall) on residents' psychological security substantiates the empirical basis of "mingtang broad, yet level as a whetstone." Studies also link imbalance in side structures (dragon-tiger disharmony) to residential stress.
Urban Morphology: Comparative studies of traditional feng shui configurations and modern urban spatial organization reveal intrinsic consistency between "roads should embrace, water should wind" and contemporary traffic planning principles of "avoiding direct alignment and optimizing flow lines."