MOUNTAINS
Mountains and other raised features of the land are yang, and they are not only full of secter cosmological meaning to the geomancer, but are also the protectors of the site. An ideal sites is on a slope, open to the south and protected from evil influences by mountains at the north. A pinnacle or a point on the top of the mountains range or a fast running stream on its slopes or at its base will allow the ch'i to be dispersed too rapidly by wind or water.
Steeply flowing waterfalls threaten the site and steep mountain peaks will provide an excess of yang whereas a site that is low-lying among small hills or pools is undesirable since it is a source of excess yin and a likely place for sha to accumulate. A high mountain range as a back drop is acceptable for the site if there are foothills in front so the excess yang caused by towering peaks is lessened.
A headland jutting out from a horse-shoe shaped mountain is a good choice of site as is a peninsula or headland jutting out from the centre of a forking formation. This type of headland is sometimes referred to as the dragon's head. Two gently flowing streams should have their confluence in front of the site and then flow away to the sides, preferably out of sight. On a well-chosen site, these streams or a pool of water with adequate drainage, would be on a flat oiece of land known as a Court Altar or Table.
TREES
In the absence of mountains, trees can have the same protective role provided that they are at the back and to the side of the house and not situated at the front. Well-established verdant trees, preferably evergreen, are likely to bring good fortune and are a source of yang. The tree should not be cut or scarred since this will detract from its beneficial influence. Often one well-sited evergreen tree is more important than a grove of trees at the site and is sometimes referred to as a feng shui tree.
WATER
Great attention is paid to the courses of streams and rivers in feng shui since they are one of the natural features of the landscape that is most easily identified and occur on both high and low land. The twists, bends and branches of a river are known as the Water Dragon as opposed to the Mountain Dragon. The various formations of a watercourse are given a feng shui interpretation in the Water Dragon Classic which is found in the Imperial Encyclopedia.
The confluence of two rivers is a positive thing, since infuences are concentrated, but a branch in a river often indicates a dispersal of positive forces. A sharp bend in a river is unlucky, since it forms straight, arrowlike lines compared to a meandering river which is considered a natural route of good infuence.
The directional flow of rivers and streams is interpreted through the eight trigrams and their infuence. The following table indicates the fortune that can result from sharp bends or branches at various compass points:
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THE WATER DRAGON CLASSIC
If water pours (away from the site) it drains off, it is hurried. How can it be abundant and wealth accumulate? If is comes in straight and goes out straight it injures men (Secret Arrow). Darting left, the eldest son must meet with misfortune; darting right, the youngest meet with calamity.'
In the Water Dragon Classic, an ideal site should nestle among watercourses so it is protected in the stomach of the dragon. Ch'i flows through watercourses and the branches that immediately surround a site and protect it are called inner ch'i, whereas the main trunk of the river that surrounds the site at the outermost point carries the outer ch'i which is capable of nourishing the inner ch'i which in turn penetrates gently into the house or grave. These general classifications are further defined by the shape of trunks and branches, by the sharpness of their bends, and by the arrangement of their shapes.
The illustrations on pages next assess favourable and unfavourable sites.
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