Bazi and Feng Shui

Research on Bazi, Feng Shui & everything in the kitchen sink.
A collection of translation from classics, Chinese books and analysis.
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Monday, May 19, 2014

What is Qi?

How many types of Qi are there?

What is the relationship with Yin Yang and the 5 elements?
What is the connection between Qi and the origin of life?
What is the link between Qi and the law of heaven?



















The most important question for the members here would be what is the link between Qi and Chinese Astrology and more importantly with Feng Shui.
How did the ancient Feng Shui Master (Sages) proposed for us to work with Qi?
What is their understanding of Qi and what was the methodology proposed by them?

A Study of Qi.

Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee
Qi itself is neither a substance nor a spirit.’ This simple statement expresses some of the enigma which is qi. By declaring what qi is not it challenges us to think more deeply and precisely about what qi is and how we perceive, experience and use it in our lives.
What kind of relationship exists between qi and living beings, between qi and form? By ‘form
we mean everything that has a specific and perfect quality; form requires substance and essences. The beginning of form is the yin concentration and condensation of qi, which allows substance to appear. When qi becomes yin and yang it is subject to the movements and transformations which create opposition. Within this duality of essences and qiform and qi, the qi will be specific with specific qualities and no longer in totality.
Therefore it may be changed, altered and even perverted, especially by the power of human nature.

Taoism.

, 名天地之始;有, 物之
Nothing, the beginning of everything. (Qi without form/substance/essence)
With, the mother of everything. (Qi, with form)

Yin and Yang will become a kind of differentiation of qi, as qi will become the influence behind any kind of manifestation.
Qi is being used to codify the movement of time, and that movement is seen not only in the four seasons but also seen in the progress of each day.

Master Yang Gong.

杨公养老看雌雄,天下诸书对不同。
Master Yang grows old observing Ci Xiong (female male). All the books in the world are all different.
Comment: The importance of Ci Xiong. The first principle of Feng Shui starts from the observation of Ci Xiong. The differentiation of Yin Yang.

This is the way Master Yang Gong observe Qi.
Through Ci Xiong. Qi which is with form.
It is not possible to observe Qi which is formless but it is possible to study Qi through Ci Xiong which is also a representation of Qi.

This is the method Master Yang Gong proposed to study Qi. What we called Feng Shui today.

So what is he observing?
He is observing the form of the surrounding.
先看金龙动不动,次察血脉认来龙。
First observe golden dragon, stirring or not stirring.
Next observe (blood) vein to identify incoming dragon.
Comment: Golden dragon referring to the mountain/topography of the surrounding area. Whether it is moving or not referring to the slope of the land. Identifying where it is higher and where it is lower. The blood vein referring to the flow of the Qi. Always from the higher ground to the lower ground. Once the path (blood vein) is identified, the In-Coming Dragon can be located.

Then he divides the Qi into Yin and Yang. Must always be Yin and Yang. That is always the start.
龙分两片阴阳取,水对三叉细认踪。
The dragon is divided into two halves, Yin and Yang,
Water uses three intersections to identify tracks.
Comment: Once the Yin Yang is confirmed, the next step is to locate the water mouth. Here it is clearly stated that the water mouth is where the river intersect.
The old feng shui master would always walk around the area looking and studying the river for many many weeks. Looking for water mouth.
What is so important about the water mouth which could be two miles away? Or even further. The water mouth are the points when the Qi stopped and accumulate.





















Book of Burial.

: 風則散,界水
Classic: Qi rides the wind and dissipates. The movement of Qi stop upon reaching water where the Qi gathers.
Comment: Qi flows from a higher ground to a lower ground like the way water flows. Where there is a body of water the Qi will stop and accumulates.
古人聚之使不散,行之使有止,故
The collection of Sheng Qi by the ancients to prevent it from dissipating.
The art of Feng Shui is observing the movement of Qi, where it stopped, retaining the Qi to make use of it.

A STUDY OF QI - Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallee.

Later Duke Zhao or Zhao Gong, wrote:
'Heaven has six qi [liu qi
which descending generate five tastes (wu wei 五味)issue as five colours, are evidenced by five sounds, and in excess they generate six diseases. The six qi are yin and yang, wind and raindarkness and light (yin yang feng yu hui ming 陰陽風雨晦明) . They divide to make the four seasons {si shi in sequence, make the five rhythms {wu jie ) and in excess bring about calamities.'
Systems of five qi and six qi.
So why in medicine do we have two series of atmospheric influences coming from outside, one ruled by five and one by six? The reason is because we have two systems. There is the remainder of the liu qi (
system, the six qi of heaven, and there is the system by five which came afterwardswith the five qi corresponding to the five elements and five influences coming from heaven.

So instead of just Yin Yang Qi, it is now more complicated. Becoming 6 Qi in medicine and 5 Qi in Feng Shui.

Accordingly Master Yang Gong also sub divide the Qi into 5 elements.
五行即在此中分,祖宗却从阴阳出。
The 5 elements are derived from within; the ancestors (of the 5 elements) are from the Yin Yang.
Comment: The 5 elements are derived from the theory of Yin Yang.
五行分布二十四,时师化诀何曾记。
5 elements distributed in the 24, when in the past has this been written.
Comment: The 5 elements are within each of the 24 mountains.

Showing that Feng Shui, Astrology, TCM, Qi Gong are all linked through this theory of Qi, Yin Yang and 5 elements.

The Different Types of Man
黄帝问于少师曰:余尝闻人有阴阳,何谓阴人,何谓阳人?
Yellow Emperor asked Shaoshi and said: “I am told that there are different kinds of men belonging to Yin and Yang. What is called the man belongs to Yin and what is called the man belongs to Yang?”
少师曰:天地之间,六合之内,不离于五,人亦应之,非徒一阴一阳而已也,而略言耳,口弗能馆明也。
Shaoshi said: "Between the heaven and earth, all things cannot be divorced from the scope of the five elements, and the human body corresponds to the five elements also, but this is only an approximate speaking, as there are not only the opposing one Yin and one Yang, and the complicated condition can hardly be expounded by words.”
少师曰:盖有太阴之人,少阴之人,太阳之人,少阳之人,阴阳和平之人。凡五人者,其弁不同,其筋骨气血各不等。
Shaoshi said: "Generally speaking
some people belong to TaiYin, some people belong to ShaoYin, some people belong to TaiYang, some people belong to ShaoYang, and some people belong to both mild in Yin and Yang. In a word, in the five types of people, their appearances are different, the strong and weak conditions of their tendons and bones are different, and the overabundant or the debilitative condition of their energy and blood are also different. ”

The different types of houses????
How do we differentiate them?
What is the tool that we can use to identify what category the houses are designated?

In Bazi we use the HS to categorize the person.
How is it done in Feng Shui?
What is master Yang Gong proposal?






In Bazi, we use the 5 elements, 10 HS, 12 EB in great detail. Further going into 10 gods interactions, Nayin and Hexagrams for interpretation.
Basically it is a very good study of Qi, very similar to TCM. The reason why Bazi can be a very good compliment to TCM.
In Feng Shui, the same methodology should be applied.
Houses should be categorized into Yin Yang and the 5 elements and the adjustment/tuning of the Qi based on the same principle. Which is what Master Yang Gong proposed in all his writings. The study of Ci Xiong based on the 5 elements.

Wouldn't it be great one day if we can link Bazi, Feng Shui, TCM and use it to treat the illness of man. Which is what IMHO, Sun Si Miao meant when he wrote, "Understanding the Law of Heaven to treat the illness of man."

Sun Si Miao

孙思邈 :
The illness of human beings and the law of heaven.



















对天道变化了如指掌的人,必然可以参政于人事;
Whoever understands the law of heaven like the back of one’s hand, will definitely be qualified to participate in the matter of man;
对人体疾病了解透彻的人也必须根源于天道变化的规律。
To understand thoroughly the illness of human beings, it is also necessary to understand the behavior and variations in the law of heaven.

天候有四季,有五行,相互更替,犹似轮转。
The weather has four seasons, 5 elements, one replacing another, in a rotating manner.
那么又是如何运转呢?
How does it actually operate?
天道之气和顺而为雨;
When the heavenly law/weather is sweet tempered (mild), it is like the rain;
愤怒起来便化为风;
When it is angry, it changes to wind;
凝结而成霜雾;
When it condenses and solidifies, it becomes frost and fog;
张扬发散就是彩虹。
When it is time to show off and spread to all direction, it is the rainbow.
这是天道规律,
This is the law of heaven,
人也相对应于四肢五脏,
Humans are similar with the four limbs and five organs,
(heart
fire, liver wood, spleen earth, lungs metal and kidneys water)

昼行夜寝,呼吸精气,吐故纳新。
Active during the day and at rest during night time, breathing to absorb the essence of the Qi, to breath out the stale air and to take in fresh air.
(To replenish the old with the new)
人身之气流注周身而成营气、卫气;
The flow of the Qi through the body becomes the nutrient Qi, defensive Qi;
彰显于志则显现于气色精神;
Manifesting in the aspiration, appearance, complexion and vitality;
发于外则为音声,
Outside manifestation through the voice (sound),
这就是人身的自然规律。
Representing the person’s natural behavior/discipline.
阴阳之道,天人相应,
The way of Yin and Yang, corresponding according to heaven and human beings,
人身的阴阳与自然界并没什么差别。
There is no difference between the Yin Yang of human body and the natural law of heaven.
人身的阴阳失去常度时,
When a person’s Yin Yang becomes unbalanced,
人体气血上冲则发热;
When the Qi and blood rises upward, it causes fever (heat);
气血不通则生寒;
When the Qi and blood becomes stagnant, it causes cold,
气血蓄结生成瘤及赘物;
When the Qi and blood gathers in one spot and becomes knotted, it produces tumor which in times becomes an unwanted substance;
气血下陷成痈疽;
When the Qi and blood becomes subside (deficient), it becomes abscess/carbuncle;
气血狂越奔腾就是气喘乏力;
When the Qi and blood becomes too strong and forceful, it causes shortness of breath and tiredness (listlessness).
气血枯竭就会精神衰竭。
When the Qi and blood is exhausted, it will manifest in prostration (exhaustion) of vitality.
各种征候都显现在外,
All the various symptoms can be seen externally,
气血的变化也表现在形貌上,
The changes in the Qi and blood are also expressed externally,
天地不也是如此吗?"
Isn’t it the same with heaven and earth?

The classification and generation of Qi.

Types of Qi:

• primary Qi (Yuan Qi),
• pectoral Qi (Zong Qi),
• nutrient Qi (Ying Qi) and
• defensive Qi (Wei Qi).
In terms of their source they may be further classified into
• congenital Qi and
• acquired Qi.

Blood.

Blood is a red liquid circulating in the vessels, and is a vital nutrient substance in the body.
After being formed, blood normally circulates in the vessels throughout the body, and is taken charge of jointly by the heart, liver and spleen. The heart dominates the blood and vessels, and propelling force of heart Qi is the basis of the blood circulation.

What is 天道 the law of heaven?
What is the real illness of human being?

Heart attack, cancer, cold, fever are only an external manifestation of the imbalance of Yin Yang.
Thee is no difference between Yin Yang of the body and the natural law of heaven.
The natural behavior/discipline/emotion are the inner manifestation of Qi.
It is in the primary Qi (Yuan Qi) what we are born with, reflected in our Bazi. Further developed into pectoral Qi (Zong Qi), nutrient Qi (Ying Qi) and defensive Qi (Wei Qi). What is considered as acquired Qi.
Similar to what is proposed based on the Hetu 5 Yang and 5 Yin HS.
The 5 Yang HS are the Early Heaven representation and the 5 Yin HS the Late Heaven representation.
The 5 Yin Late Heaven behaviors are the acquired Qi which are the primary source of the illness of human beings.
各种征候都显现在外,
All the various symptoms can be seen externally,
天地不也是如此吗?"
Isn’t it the same with heaven and earth?
The human body is an exact replica of the universe.


What is the Law of Heaven according to Feng Shui?
青囊经
Ching Nan Jing

By
Huang Shi Gong 黄石公


地德上载,天光下临,
阴用阳朝,阳用阴应,
The earth auspicious Qi rises upward, the light from heaven shines downward;
Yin uses Yang to proceed; Yang uses Yin to respond;
Comment:
: virtue / goodness / morality / ethics / kindness / favor / character / kind

地德上载,天光下临,
The goodness when on earth will be recorded above (in heaven).
In return, the light (bright) from above (the goodness accumulated) will shine back down on earth. (On the person who has accumulated the goodness).

阴用阳朝,阳用阴应,
Yin proceed as a result of Yang. (Our past actions/deeds determines the current situation/environment)
Yang uses Yin to respond. (Our current environment/predicaments are the result of our past actions/deeds.)

Our surrounding environment is a factor in the implementation of this Natural Law of Heaven.
Feng Shui is a study of this factor.


Why is Feng Shui so vague and difficult to comprehend as compared to TCM and Bazi?
Because Feng Shui can change the environment to change the Natural Law of Heaven.
The next phrase by Huang Shi Gong 黄石公 states the method of applying Yin Yang.

阴阳相见,福禄永贞,
阴阳相乘,祸咎踵门。
When Yin and Yang meets, good fortune lasts forever;
When Yin and Yang multiplies together, disaster and misfortune arrives at the door.
Comment: Wow. So simple. Can be a Feng Shui Master in less than a day. No need to walk the mountains for years.
As long as Yin Yang is affectionate and not clashing.
How can Yin and Yang clash? Everything is either Yin or Yang.
How do they meet each other? Is it like a boy girl sort of thing?


The method of implementation of the Natural Law of Heaven according to Huang Shi Gong 黄石公.

天之所临,地之所感,形止气蓄,万物化生,

Where heaven arrives, where the earth is affected, where the form is still the Qi is stored, transforming into the growth of all living things;
Comment: The arrival of Karma from Heaven (past actions/deeds), the person on earth will feel the affect. The method of implementation is through Qi which accumulates where the form has stopped (still), transforming and affecting the lives of living things on earth.

气感而应,鬼福及人,是故天有象,地有形,
Qi affect and respond accordingly, whether the person is a ghost or fortunate;
In haven there is imagery, on earth it is with form.
Comment: In heaven the karma is written (without form), which is acted out on earth (With form). The Qi affects the person who will respond accordingly. Whether the person will be fortunate or poorly during this lifetime on earth.

上下相须,而成一体,此之谓化机。
Above and below the image becomes one, creates a transformation.
Comment: When the above (karma) is acted out on earth (lifetime), it becomes one. Back to the original. This is the story of life on earth.