The Origins of Feng Shui

To begin, let us look at the origin of Feng Shui. During the Zhou Dynasty (from 11th century BC to 256 BC), the fortune of a dwelling was determined by ‘Zhai Bu’ divination.  For example, to determine the auspiciousness of a grave site, ‘Zhai Bu’ is used to see if there is an underground spring below the burial site. If there is one, then it is not a suitable site. This practice became the embryonic form of Feng Shui.

During the Warring States period (475-221 BC), the study of I Ching became very popular. Chinese cosmology and philosophy like Confucianism, Daoism, the theories of Yin and Yang, the Five Element (Wu Xing), and the Bagua etc., began to take shape. By the time of the Han dynasty (206-220 AD) there appeared written records of Feng Shui consultations. The study of Feng Shui at that time was initially linked with the study of I Ching. The popularity of I Ching and Feng Shui reached their peak during the Han Dynasty.

The word “Feng Shui” first appeared during the Jin Dynasty. Guo Pu, who lived from 276-324 AD, wrote in his book Zhang Shu or the Book of Burial, “the dead should take advantage of the Sheng Qi, the wind will disperse the qi and the water will contain it. The ancients said that one should try to gather the qi so that it will not disperse. The aim is to keep it flowing but contained. Hence it is called “Feng Shui”.

Observation & analysis (‘looking’) ‘automatically’ means looking both inwards and outwards.