Insight into Feng Shui Schools
Translated by Howard Choy
May 2000

Foreword to the Detailed Explanation of “Bazhai Ming-jing” by Jiang Jue-Ming, June 1997.

The study of Kan Yu (Feng Shui) can be broadly divided into Luan-tou (environmental study) and Liqi (directional study).  A student should use Luan-tou as the body (Ti) and Liqi as the usage (Yong).  Combine Ti and Yong and we will have complete Kan Yu knowledge.

Liqi is to study the auspiciousness of a direction. It reflects on the position of the stars in heaven (astrology) to produce different calculations.  Liqi can be broadly classified into San Yuan Pai and Bazhai Pai, whose origins come from Guo Po in the Jin dynasty, and were passed down through Yang Jun-Song in the Tang dynasty.

San Yuan Pai uses the “San Yuan Jiu Yun” as its core and relies on the movement of the stars, sun, and moon, and the coming and going of the seasons to determine the desirability of a location and orientation.  The movement of the seven stars in the polar constellation helps to determine the growth and change of time:  when the ‘handle’ points east, it indicates spring, when the ‘handle’ points south, it indicates summer; west indicates autumn and north indicates winter).

The San Yuan Jiu Yun has two parts:  the San Yuan (the three ages), and the Jiu Yun (the 9 periods). The San Yuan is divided into upper, middle, and lower yuan, while the Jiu Yun is divided into upper yuan of 1, 2, and 3 yun; middle yuan of 4, 5, and 6; and lower yuan of 7, 8, and 9 yun.

Each yun is 20 years. A total of 9 yun make up 180 years. San Yuan Feng Shui used the San Yuan Jiu Yun to determine the locations and directionality of growth and decline, with the aim of  maximising the growth by ‘riding’ the sheng qi for posterity.  When the yun is not in the right time nor at the right place, the house should not be occupied no matter how good the environment is.

The Bazhai Feng Shui uses the 8 gua of Qian, Kun, Gen, Dui, Kan, Li, Zhen, and Xun to divide into Dong-xi-gua (East Four Trigram) and Si-xi-gua (West Four Trigram). If you have an East Four Life (Dong-xi-ming) you should live in an East Four House (Dong-xi-zhai). Likewise, Si-xi-ming should live in a Si-xi-zhai to be fortunate (Fu yuan).

If the Ming gua and the zhai gua do not fit, then adjustments need to be made to the main door, the main bedroom, and the stove, to ensure that the Ming (Fate) and Zhai (House) are in harmony, thus avoiding disaster.

Both San Yuan and Bazhai claimed Yang Jun-Song (Tang dynasty) to be their founder/teacher. But the art of Kan Yu is complex.  It is not easy to receive true transmission of knowledge. Therefore we must not be conservative and rigidly hold onto our own territory. You need to learn both the San Yuan and the Bazhai to improve on each others’ shortcomings, then you can be helpful to others.

The San Yuan Pai was passed down to Jiang Du-heng during the late Ming period. He was very secretive and did not wish to open up his teaching to the public. Hence his theories and codes are hard to fathom. San Yuan is suitable only for the more serious practitioners.  

Bazhai Pai was passed down to the Daoist monk, Ruo-guan Doaren, who committed his knowledge to writing. His theories and codes are easy to learn and understand and so are suitable for beginners.

“Bazhai Ming-Jing” (“The Bright Mirror of Eight Houses”) is a classic of the Bazhai school. It stands out in the classics of the art of Kan Yu. It has been passed down without interruption in the Chinese commentary for the last 300 years. It is the source material for many Kan Yu practitioners.