The History of Feng ShuiThe history of feng shui can be traced back to more than 5000 years ago. Traditionally, the feng shui knowledge was passed down from father to son or from master to selected disciples. There are also many ancient books and manuscripts written about feng shui.
The beginning - Yin Feng Shui
The initial purpose of Feng Shui was to find proper gravesites for those who have departed.
The early Chinese believed the fortune of the living was directly correlated to the final resting place of the dead. If the departed were comfortable and secured in his/her final resting place, he/she would ensure those who are living will also be taken care of on earth. This supports the practice of the Chinese of always holding their ancestors in high regard and respect. This type of Feng Shui was known as Yin Feng Shui. It is still widely practiced by most Chinese and other Asian cultures today. The practice of Feng Shui, initially developed for the dead, evolved to accommodate those in the living realm. The early masters realized that what was considered good for the dead could also be applied to those who were living. The early Chinese believed those who had departed led a very similar life to those who are still living. This philosophy guided the early sages to begin applying the practice of Yin Feng Shui to the living, making it Yang Feng Shui. This transition from using Feng Shui for the dead to the living meant the study and practice of Feng Shui expanded and became more in depth. This is another example of Feng Shui's constant evolution to adapt to the conditions of its time. The foundation of Feng Shui was founded as a result of
These three key elements were developed by the early sages to explain natural phenomenons in the physical world.
The Compass
The compass was invented during the Qin dynasty (221 to 206 B.C). It was made by balancing a piece of lodestone in the shape of a ladle on a round bronze or brass plate. Although the first compass was initially designed as a navigational tool, it was later adapted for Feng Shui to assess the earth's energy in the environment. No true Feng Shui master can practice Feng Shui without a proper Chinese compass called the Luo Pan. The Luo Pan contains a vast collection of knowledge and formulae. Many Feng Shui masters use custom-designed Luo Pans in their teaching and practice. Therefore, not all Luo Pans are the same, although they do share some common features. The Bagua is super-imposed on the compass to form the rings of the Luo Pan.
The Bagua
The Bagua, also known as the eight trigrams, is derived from the Yin and Yang symbol. Each trigram is composed of a combination of three lines, hence the name. The trigrams consist of a series of solid and broken lines. The solid lines represent Yang, while the broken lines symbolize Yin. The series of eight trigrams put together makes up the Bagua, which means "eight trig rams" in Chinese. Each trigram represents the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west) and the four sub-directions (northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast) on the compass.The trigrams are more than just directional indicators, they also symbolize the changing nature of the universe. This concept of change gave birth to one of the most studied and well-known Chinese classics, the I Ching. The I-ChingThe I Ching, known as the Book of Changes, is one of the oldest and most significant Chinese contributions to the history of mankind.
This sacred text contains the essence of Chinese philosophy and beliefs. The I Ching suggests that a person can shape his/her future and destiny by understanding when changes happen and why. The early sages were highly sophisticated observers of nature. By studying nature and documenting its pattern, the I Ching emerged. The early sages suggested that changes and pattern of changes are an intrinsic part of nature. Once a person understands these natural patterns, he/she can use it to his/her advantage. This is why it is so important to study our own history, because history does repeat itself. The I Ching was one of the first documented writings to express this significant premise.
The foundation of Feng Shui is to create balance and harmony in one's physical environment. It is founded on the premise that we are products of our environment. Our environment affects our physiology, emotions, moods, relationships, and behaviors, just to name a few. There have been many studies that have validated this simple, yet extremely relevant principle. For example, one study found that the level of productivity decreased significantly when the amount of lighting at a manufacturing plant was dimmed slightly. The purpose of Feng Shui is to tap into the earth's energies and use it to improve and create a level of balance and harmony. The concept of balance is derived from the an symbol of Yin and Yang. The philosophy of Yin Yang is of balance and harmony. This ancient sym derived from, none other than, the I Ching.
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Feng shui was one of the best kept secrets in the Chinese history. In the past, only the Chinese emperors and the wealthy had access to feng shui masters and they wanted to keep the knowledge to themselves. They intentionally created false schools and books to confuse people and prevent the real knowledge and power from leaking to the masses.
