In his foundational classic The Book of Burial (Zang Shu), Master Guo Pu defined the very word Feng Shui: 'Burial is to ride upon Sheng Qi (Living Vital Energy). Qi scatters when riding the wind, and halts when bounded by water. The ancients gathered it so it would not scatter, and guided its flow so it would come to rest, hence the name Feng Shui (Wind and Water).' This monograph presents the complete classical system of Landform (Luan Tou) and Compass Qi (Li Qi) for Yin and Yang houses.
I. The Law of Bio-Resonance in Yin House Feng Shui & the Five Essentials
Guo Pu's Book of Burial explains Yin House efficacy through sympathetic resonance ('When the copper mountain collapses in the West, the bronze bell in the East spontaneously rings'): ancestral remains and living descendants share the same genetic and energetic lineage. Evaluating a site requires mastering all Five Essentials: Dragon (mountain vein vitality), Spot (True Qi convergence), Sand (protective Left Azure Dragon, Right White Tiger, Front Table, and Rear Black Tortoise), Water (incoming nourishing flow and locked Water Mouth exit), and Facing (compass alignment).
II. The Three Rings of the Yang Gong Luo Pan & Four Water Structures
The classical San He Luo Pan features three distinct 24-Mountain rings: (1) Earth Plate (Di Pan, 0-degree magnetic reference) for measuring the incoming Dragon and setting the Facing direction; (2) Human Plate (Ren Pan, shifted -7.5 degrees counter-clockwise) for evaluating surrounding peaks (Sha); and (3) Heaven Plate (Tian Pan, shifted +7.5 degrees clockwise) for measuring incoming and exiting Water. Based on the Heaven Plate sector where water exits (Water Mouth), the site belongs to the Water, Wood, Fire, or Metal Structure, requiring water to arrive from Growth/Prosperous stages and exit at the Tomb (Mu) stage.
III. 120-Dragon Fen Jin Precision & Ten Classical Burial Taboos
Each 15-degree mountain divides into five 3-degree Fen Jin sub-divisions (120 total). Only the two sub-divisions governed by Bing/Ding or Geng/Xin stems are used, avoiding Jia/Ren and Wu/Ji Void lines. Practitioners must also avoid the Ten Burial Taboos, including wind-swept isolated peaks, waterlogged marshes, barren rocky cliffs, direct road/water clashes, and tree-root intrusion.
The Five Geographic Essentials (Dragon, Spot, Sand, Water, Facing) & Three Rings of the Yang Gong Luo Pan
| Geographic Essential | Feng Shui Function | Standard Luo Pan Ring Used | Auspicious Criteria (True Qi) | Severe Taboos to Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dragon (Long Mai) | Mountain ridge or terrain vein transmitting living Qi from Ancestral Peak to Parent Peak | Earth Plate (Di Pan, 0° reference) + 72 Mountain-Piercing Dragons | Undulating, vibrant ridge passing through a protected Wasp-Waist Isthmus (Guo Xia) with lush vegetation | Barren rocky dead ridges (Stubborn Mountain) or excavated, severed terrain veins |
| 2. Spot (Xue / True Lair) | Exact point where Yin and Yang converge to condense Sheng Qi | 60 Earth-Penetrating Dragons & 120 Fen Jin (selecting Bing, Ding, Geng, Xin pure lines) | Five-colored cohesive warm soil, protected from wind (Nest, Pincer, Nipple, or Prominence formation) | Cold stony soil, underground rushing water cutting through the pit, or ant/termite nests |
| 3. Sand (Sha Guardians) | Surrounding hills or buildings: Left Azure Dragon, Right White Tiger, Table & Worshipping Mountains | Human Plate (Ren Pan, shifted -7.5° counter-clockwise from Earth Plate) | Left Azure Dragon embracing gently, Right White Tiger crouched and docile, Table Mountain at chest height | Turned-back hills (Fan Bei) or jagged sharp peaks shooting directly at the spot |
| 4. Water (Shui Flow & Mouth) | Rivers, streams, lakes, or roads bringing Qi in and draining Qi out | Heaven Plate (Tian Pan, shifted +7.5° clockwise from Earth Plate) | Water arriving from Growth, Crown, Official, or Prosperous stages in a Jade-Belt curve; exiting at Tomb | Reverse-Bow Water (Fan Gong), Heart-Piercing Water, or Eight-Killing Yellow Spring clashes |
| 5. Facing (Xiang Orientation) | Precise degree of sitting mountain and facing direction of the tomb/building | Earth Plate + Xuan Kong Flying Stars / Xuan Kong Da Gua | Pure 9-degree central line collecting timely Prosperous Stars and harmonizing Dragon and Water | Major Void (between trigrams), Minor Void (between mountains), or Yin-Yang Mixed Line |
Frequently Asked Academic Questions (FAQ)
Why is the Azure Dragon on the Left and the White Tiger on the Right when looking out from the site?
Classical orientation places the sovereign sitting North facing South: from that perspective, the Left hand (Zuo) points East (Wood / Azure Dragon) and the Right hand (You) points West (Metal / White Tiger). Thus, in all Feng Shui fieldwork, Left and Right are determined while standing at the site's center looking outward toward the facing direction.
How does Yin House Feng Shui apply when remains are cremated?
High-temperature cremation purifies the physical remains; if placed in a temple columbarium, the primary influence is the serene spiritual field. If interred in a family memorial park, selecting a dry, bright, protected plot free of road/water clashes and setting an auspicious headstone orientation remain essential.
How does Luo Pan application differ between Yin Houses (Tombs) and Yang Houses (Homes)?
Both require avoiding Void lines and Eight Killings, but Yin Houses in natural terrain prioritize macro-landform Dragon veins, Sand guardians, 12-Growth Water Mouths, and Xuan Kong Da Gua, whereas urban Yang Houses focus on Gate-Bedroom-Stove configuration, Eight Mansions, and Xuan Kong Flying Stars.
UK MASTER ACADEMY Monograph Series
Explore the complete series of flagship academic monographs from the UK Master Academy curriculum: