The Geomantic Law of Survival in the Age of the Yellow Emperor —— The Geomantic omen of Zuo Qinglong and You Baihu
1. There are four wild animals around the house.
China's geomantic omen is often represented by a proper noun called "Four Beasts", but what are the "Four Beasts"?
Chen Yikui said that it does not represent four kinds of wild animals, but uses four kinds of animals to describe the situation of "front, back, left and right" at home; For example, the left side of the house is called "Qinglong", the right side is called "White Tiger", the back is called "Hu Xuan", and the front is called "Suzaku", which are collectively called the Four Beasts.
Among them, the laws of "Zuo Qinglong" and "Right White Tiger" have the most profound influence on China's geomantic omen.
"White Tiger Yi Tong" said: "Left Qinglong, right white tiger, former Suzaku, later Xuanwu", which is to describe this environment.
Geography is more specific: "Before geography, the mountain was Suzaku, the back mountain was Xuanwu, the left mountain was Qinglong, and the right mountain was White Tiger. Gu borrowed the name of Four Nights to distinguish it from the other four mountains. 」
To put it simply, Feng Shui believes that if a family wants to be safe, prosperous and full of auspicious atmosphere, it must have mountains, hills, buildings, rivers and trees on the left and right sides of the house, just like a mother extends her hands to protect her baby.
As Jin Guopu said:
Dragons and tigers are like elbows and arms, embracing …
Chen Yikui pointed out that "Dragon and White Tiger" literally means "alert" and "guard"; Similarly, the function of geomantic omen is to use the terrain around the house to achieve the effect of "hiding wind and gathering gas"
Chen Yikui pointed out that this guard concept of "Left Dragon and Right Tiger" is the earliest "survival concept" from the era of the Yellow Emperor in the inheritance of geomantic omen.
2. The earliest geomantic omen of Qinglong White Tiger
1987, in Xishuipo, Puyang, Henan Province, three ancient tombs dating back five or six thousand years were discovered, which are estimated to be the sites of the Yellow Emperor period.
This site is mainly a rather strange ancient tomb. The owner of the tomb is a mature man, and his body lies on his back in the north-south direction. On the two sides next to him, mussels piled up in the pattern of "dragon" and "white tiger", which were arranged on the east and west sides respectively. The east is Qinglong, and the west is White Tiger. The length of Qinglong1.78m, and that of Baihu1.39m …
These two, on both sides of adult male surnames, form a very conspicuous contrast.
Chen Yikui pointed out that Qinglong and Baihu stood beside the tomb owner, and according to the characteristics of Hemudu culture at that time, they should have the intention of guarding and guarding. It seems that there are two stone lions standing in front of the house, or a pair of door gods posted on the door, all of which mean "guard"
Anyway, this is the earliest "Dragon and Tiger Feng Shui" discovered in China. Chen Yikui believes that it is from this that "left green dragon, right white tiger" is mentioned all day in China's wind and water.
Chen Yikui further stated that after the continuous evolution of later generations, in modern geomantic theory, Dragon and Tiger have become synonymous with "mountain" or "terrain" on the left and right sides of the cave. As for its "purpose", "Buried Book" once said:
Fu, because of wind energy, is a "dragon and tiger", so it is also a point guard.
The geographical encyclopedia says:
Dragon and tiger, named after Wei point!
"Buried Book Wing" also said:
People who are called "Dragon and Tiger" in the left and right sands are guarding the caves in the area, not letting the wind blow, surrounding all beings, not forcing or pressing, not folding or escaping, so the clouds.
Chen Yikui said that it can be seen from the dragon and tiger patterns unearthed from Xishuipo, Hanyang that as early as the Yellow Emperor period, China had the concept of dragon and white tiger; Tracing back to the source, it may be a kind of "totem culture" at first. I hope to make use of the national characteristics of the ancients, such as "being cautious in the end" and "dying like life", so that the deceased ancestors can be protected by the "dragon and tiger" in the sky.
Just like the imperial tombs of feudal dynasties, there are often many beasts such as elephants and camels, as well as statues of civil and military officials next to the tombs.
These, in form, are very close to the original meaning of Qinglong and Baihu. However, in the evolution of geomantic omen in later generations, "Left Qinglong and Right White Tiger" gradually became synonymous with the "landscape of mountains and rivers" next to the residence and became the real "guarding the terrain".
The popularity of this concept of geomantic omen reached its peak in the Han Dynasty and became the "house law" pursued by the ruling and opposition parties. We'll discuss it further then.