This case study, Compilation of Articles and Essays, is a unique addition to the Case Study series as it does not focus on just one aspect of Feng Shui; rather, it’s a sampling of my articles. At the time it was put together, I had over 200 articles published and chose about 30 of my favorite ones to find all in one place. I also added some commentary about the current Period 9 (2024-2043) when it seemed relevant.

Since then, I have over 500 articles published and it’s likely I will create another compilation case study “Part 2” with more samplings of my favorite articles since the first compilation was made. I always try to write an article which can be enjoyed and understood by people new to Feng Shui, as well as commentary for those who are very familiar it.  For this Compilation I chose articles which I thought would be essential reading for my students.

Article topics include Feng Shui and the Occult, Religion, Cultural Beliefs, whether or not a person can be influenced by a place they do not live in, and when architectural designs undermine Yin-Yang Theory. Other articles touch on the specifics of using Feng  Shui in commercial spaces such as for a doctor’s office, a restaurant, or for children’s bedrooms, and which is more important: interiors vs. exteriors.  For advanced students, I discuss something called the Predecessor Law and Feng Shui Monthly Cycles.

EXCERPT:

Feng Shui is usually described as an ancient practice that is several thousand years old.  And yet lately I have heard of at least two Chinese practitioners who are now saying it is not as old as people generally think it is.  One man’s article on the Internet is even claiming that Feng Shui is only about 70 years old!  This is absurd of course, but a client recently brought his article to my attention. I could only assume it was a major typo in his article until I read it.

Fact is, this mystical tradition is steeped so heavily in Chinese history and documented so well that there is no way a sane person could think it has only been practiced on this planet for 70 years.  We have books that are still with us from hundreds of years ago and records from various Chinese dynasties in regards to how it was studied, catalogued, and regulated.  We know which Emperors exploited this ancient wisdom for themselves only and which ones mandated that the information be tested and standardized.

There are old books and Feng Shui compasses (call Luo pans) on display in museums around the world as ancient artifacts. We even know the names of some of the greatest masters and contributors to this art and science, even the towns in China where their Schools began. But just how far back the practice goes does depend on what your reference point is.

The term “feng shui” was not even used until Guo Pu (276-234 CE) coined the phrase in his book Zang Shu, Book of Burial.   Prior to that time, it was referred to as “di li” or “kan yu” theory.  The Chinese invented the compass, and for Feng Shui divination purposes, long before it was used for maritime navigation.  Any web search on the origin of the compass will take you to the same answers. Someone might believe that the practice really wasn’t in full swing until the invention of the compass, but that is not true either.

Earlier masters were experimenting with a magnetized needle before an official Luo pan was manufactured. And we can assume that many people knew the world was round and not flat long before it became “common knowledge.”  The invention of the compass created new applications relative to magnetic north, but long before that the “Fang Shih” practitioners were using something called a Shih Board, with calculations imprinted on it relative to True North.  The Shih Board was in use BCE and was the direct predecessor to the Luo pan.

Some authors and practitioners might be referencing the development of two major Schools as the starting point in Feng Shui’s history, with the San He School, founded by Wang Chi (990-c. 1060) preceding the San Yuan School by around 600 years. Many classical practitioners in modern times utilize the San Yuan techniques, particularly the Xuan Kong Flying Star School.  This School is much younger, but Feng Shui as a whole is more than 2,000 years old in practice for sure.

Author: Kartar Diamond

Company: Feng Shui Solutions (R)

From the Frequent Client Questions Blog Series