Publisher: Yang Yi Culture Development Center, Ganzhou, China
Author: Li Dingxin
1. Preface:
First and foremost, the first thing I want to say here is this:
Ganzhou Yang Jiupin Feng Shui is not a superstitious art of geomancy from feudal times. From theory to practice, it has no superstitious elements at all—it is scientific! Yang Jiupin (834-906 AD), whose real name was Yi, courtesy name Yunsong, and pseudonym Jiupin, was from Ganzhou. (Some claim he was from Douzhou, but this misconception stems from the Qing Dynasty's Qianlong Emperor Year 43 (1778) when the governor of Ganzhou, Dou Xin, revised "The Gazetteer of Ganzhou Prefecture," which was mistakenly referred to as "Douzhi" by various local gazetteers). During the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang (874-888 AD), he served in charge of geography at the Imperial Observatory and held the rank of Jinzi Guanglu Doctor. In the sixth year of Ganfu (874 AD), Wang Xianzhi and Zhao Yi rebelled, with Huang Chao responding. In the year of Guangming Gengzi (880 AD), Huang Chao entered Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an), and Yang Jiupin secretly obtained "The Secret Techniques of the Forbidden Jade Box," also known as Guo Pu’s "Book of Burial." He returned to Ganzhou, teaching his disciples on what is now known as Yangxian Ridge.
Yang Jiupin took Guo Pu's "Book of Burial" as the theoretical foundation and wrote the detailed implementation guide, "Qingnang Aoyu," secretly passing it down to his accomplished disciple Zeng Wendan. Zeng Wen Dan wrote "Preface to the Tianyu Classic," continuing this study and establishing a systematic, practical methodological approach to Guo-Yang-Zeng ancient feng shui techniques. This technique spread throughout Jiangxi Province, then across all of China and even to overseas Chinese communities worldwide, truly marking another significant invention following the Four Great Inventions of Ancient China.
The theoretical basis of Yang Jiupin’s Feng Shui is “multiplying vital energy,” which is materialistic. The internal opposition within this vital energy consists of the five types of soil and water, or elements and water. It can be likened to the "energy" that causes sunflowers to grow towards the sun. Its methodology is dialectical; the "Book of Burial" mentions “external energy gathering internal energy,” meaning external factors influence internal ones. Its worldview is positive and revolutionary, as stated in the "Book of Burial": "A gentleman seizes divine power and alters fate." Its practice does not involve drawing talismans, chanting spells, hanging baguas, mirrors, or erecting stone guardians. So why call it superstitious?
Yang Jiupin’s Feng Shui is the orthodox Feng Shui of China, influencing all imperial palaces, royal tombs, civilian residences, graves, and temple complexes from the late Tang Dynasty through the Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing periods.
When Yang Jiupin taught his disciples in Ganzhou, he assisted the high-ranking apprentice Liu Jiangdong in expanding the ancient city of Ganzhou for King Lu Guangchou (840-910 AD). They opened five gates—East, South, West, Yongjin, Jianchun—as well as Dao Tai, Fu Tai, Baijiang Tai, and Shuliang Temple, all constructed under Yang Jiupin's guidance.
During the Yuan Dynasty, Yang Jiupin's disciple Liu Bingzhong built the city of Beijing. In the Ming Dynasty, his descendants Liu Bowen and Xu Gong constructed the city of Nanjing. Liao Junqing, You Chaozong, and Luo Yongqing jointly built the Thirteen Tombs.
All of the above achievements are the pride of the people of Southern Jiangxi, the pride of Jiangxi Province, and the pride of all 1.3 billion descendants of Yan and Huang Emperors. We should inherit and further promote these traditions. Why should we accuse our ancestors of being superstitious? This phenomenon is not accidental. "Objective social existence determines people's social consciousness." Most of today's Feng Shui practices are not those of Yang Jiupin from Ganzhou but rather the so-called 'riverbank' Feng Shui. What about divine turtles revealing secrets? What about the Nine Heavenly Maidens? What about secret teachings from immortals? Flipping coins, riding the Qi of the Big Dipper in the Milky Way, especially Jiang Dahong's Three Yuan Da Xuan Kong—all of these do not even recognize the Chinese compass, talking about Zi Bai Tian Xing without using the human plate. They discuss the 64 hexagrams without using the heavenly plate, instead relying on the earthly plate that multiplies Earth's vital energy. These are genuinely deceptive superstitious "Feng Shui" practices, reflecting people's social Feng Shui consciousness viewing it as feudal superstition. This is unsurprising. Due to historical and other reasons, people have overly simplified their understanding of Feng Shui, sometimes even losing basic common sense.
The simplest reason for saying this is:
Firstly, all things follow certain rules. "Without rules, one cannot create squares and circles." Chinese Feng Shui has a history of at least two thousand years, and Ganzhou Yang Jiupin Feng Shui has a history of over a thousand years. How could there not be some regularity? This is extremely basic common sense. Why believe in the nonsense of "one geographical feature, one acupoint" propagated by Feng Shui masters who claim there are no rules?
Secondly, among the seventy-two trades, each has its craft, serving both others and oneself. A carpenter can make wooden utensils to sell to others and also use them for personal needs. Riverbank Feng Shui claims they can help others but not themselves. Yang Yunsong Feng Shui can benefit both others and oneself. Why believe in "a fortunate person gets a fortunate land"?
We are dialectical materialists and must never be deceived by superficial appearances. We need to use sharp "materialist dialectics" to see through phenomena to the essence, distinguishing right from wrong, identifying truth from falsehood, and clearing up misunderstandings. We should genuinely advocate scientific and civilized Feng Shui and eliminate feudal superstitious geography. Especially the people of Southern Jiangxi should advocate and further develop the Ganzhou Yang Jiupin Feng Shui originating from Ganzhou!
My cultural level is limited, and I deeply feel inadequate in studying Yang Yunsong Feng Shui, which encompasses natural sciences and social sciences. However, we firmly believe in its scientific nature. Its theoretical foundation is solid. If readers have any objections, I sincerely welcome letters for discussion and correction. I hope knowledgeable individuals will participate in research and exploration to further promote Yang Yunsong Feng Shui, benefiting the nation and its people. Together, let us transform ancient science into modern science through Yang Jiupin Feng Shui!