Taste that soil under your feet!

The subject of fengshui is a vast subject, especially in the Yin House fengshui. One part of it is the identification of the soil for burial. The topic on Soil identification is mentioned in ”入地眼“ - Literally translated as Enter the Earth's Eyes. This fengshui was written by a Northern Song Dynasty monk called 静道和尚 - literally Silent Tao Monk.

In this text, he had written down his thoughts about landform fengshui.

As quoted in Wikipedia regarding the soil colour, "In general, colour is determined by organic matter content, drainage conditions, and the degree of oxidation."

In Chinese Metaphysics, the colours of the soil are classifed as red, yellow, green, white and black in relations to the five elements. Red and Yellow coloured soils are the best, green and white next and the black is a no-no for burial.

If the soil lines are tight and the colours fresh, then its a prosperous site. If the texture is tough, its in bits and pieces, easily scattered, then its an inauspicious site.

It was said in the past, geomancer would taste the soil to find out about the quality. If the soil taste sweet and smells good, it is a good soil to use. If the taste is dry, sour, bitter, the soil cannot be use. If it smells fishy/raw, then there must be water. If it is smelly, it must be mud, and cannot be used.

In today's technology, there are many studies on soil:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil
http://informedfarmers.com/the-colour-of-soil/

One do not necessary have to taste them to find out the quality. Nonetheless the study of soil is very much not only related to the farmers, but also for the living and the dead. Before we talk about harnessing the Qi, we might want to understand how the earth works. Different land, different soils and water produces different type of people. Different climates, geographical location as well will affect the colour of eyes, skins, hairs and the texture of our skin.

And though I touch on the topic of Soil, there are too many considerations involved. Such that I have no time to translate and share with the rest. But the purpose is to bring awareness of its importance though its only a micro part of fengshui. Hopefully, some day some master will share their experience or their teaching in English. Till then, perhaps we should go back to basic and start to learn more about geography?

Tai Sui - To Fear or Not to Fear

Talking about Tai Sui (also known as Grand Duke), this year 2013 is Water/ Fire Snake 癸巳. The Tai Sui is 徐单大将军 Xu Dan The Great General who was born in Han Dynasty in where today’s Shan Xi province, Xian Yang City.

Xu Dan had been trained in martial arts since young. When he knew about imperial action to conquer the west region, he volunteered himself. Taking a team of ex-convicts and volunteer soldiers of a thousand, he defeated the enemy and was promoted.

Tai Sui is known as:

1） Meat Linzhi 肉灵芝 – Myth was one of the longevitiy herbs that Qin Shi Huang Emperor was looking for was this. In Li Shi Zhen’s herbs bible 《本草纲目》, he had recorded it as a vegetable category, Lin Zhi type.

2) Used as the calendar classification for 60 Jia Zi cycle during the warring period around B.C476. After the Spring-Autumn war. It used Jupiter’s position to represent each year. 12 year a cycle.  But because there will be error in the actual calculation based on Jupiter’s movement, astrologist invented a “fake star” as Tai Sui. By fixing the positions and directions of its movement in relations to the 5 planets, it is more accurate for calculation.

As time passed, it slowly evolved into praying for protection, good health, fengshui and bazi practice.

And so there was never a Tai Sui Star, it was made up. But my personal belief is that Tai Sui does has its influence on people. It could be due to Jupital’s position in relations to the other 5 planets and influences on Earth. Thus, some people run into negative effect when they are offending the Tai Sui year.

Ba Zi and Fengshui share the same theory in offending Tai Sui. It is based on the ruler of that year. For example Water Snake, Snake 巳 which is at Southeast will be the Tai Sui. Thus, if you are born in the same year, you are offending the Tai Sui.

In fengshui, you are advised not to renovate or move the earth in this direction for 2013, as you were be challenging him.

The opposite direction is called Sui Po 岁破. A lesser effect nonetheless an undesirable direction to renovate or move earth.

In addition, we will look at the other penalty zodiac/earthly branches. For example, monkey – tiger – snake forms penalty. Thus Tiger and Monkey are also in penalty to the Tai Sui.

In Taoist practice, people often prayed to Tai Sui in the beginning of the lunar new year, and returned the blessing by praying again towards the end of the lunar year.

Though Tai Sui is imaginary, its effect on fengshui or bazi cannot be ignored. Especially in Bazi, where if a person is not only on penalty, but also clashed and unfavourable element, then one has to be extra careful.

And so if you do not want to take chances, better pray to the Ruler Xu Dan General this year..