Feng Shui History

Feng shui, which translates to "wind water" was created by the ancient Chinese and dates back centuries. It's also known as the art of placement and is cited by lots of individuals as either an art form, a science or even a philosophy. In its earliest form, it has been used to observe the land and its position in relation to bodies of water and other pieces of land. This practice was developed in order to locate optimal areas of settlement, areas which were thought to bring its inhabitants happiness, prosperity and good harvest.

There are many disputed reports of the very beginning of feng shui history because it is difficult to trace the origin back centuries. However the earliest use that could have been documented date back to the Tang Dynasty when emperors sought the services of practitioners to help with building palaces and tombs that may guarantee their success and reign of power. SInce that time, a number of schools of thought have been developed and many of the original principles have been modified to suit the period. Some schools and modifications have made it more complex and detailed while others find a way to cause it to easy enough to understand for the average person.

The earliest recorded version is called the Form School, and the fundamental principles of this school of thought revolves around the overall landscape and environment. The form and size of this land is analyzed in great detail and its relative position determines how it will affect its inhabitants. This early form of feng shui primarily focuses on nature and how we are influenced through the environment around us. A great deal has changed since then, but the basic principles still apply for the newer version which is in use today.

The Compass School developed shortly after around the Song Dynasty, and built upon the initial in a great way. New tools and concepts were introduced, which makes it more complex. There are two main sectors that derived from this school of thought, the Flying Star and also the Eight Mansions. The compass was developed at the time and has been used to incorporate a person's date of birth with their feng shui reading, which makes it more personalized. Practitioners began using the compass in accordance with the principles of the Eight Mansions. When the Flying Star was developed, it incorporated yin yang theory and introduced the five elements. All major concepts that were introduced then have been passed down and continue to be used today.

The Black Hat Sect School is the most recent among the bunch and was introduced not too long ago. It's a somewhat watered down version of previous schools of thought. This simplified form makes use of the map bagua and focuses on the layout of a home over its surroundings. This easy to understand version has been adopted by people all over the world and is mostly practiced today. There are numerous changes in feng shui history through the years, but one thing is for certain, this ancient tradition shows no sign of dying out. Its popularity is evident and it will be practiced by countless people for years to come.

Learn more about the origins of feng shui and how to use feng shui in your home. Discover the history of the map bagua and lo pan, and find out how they have been used over the years.

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