Attributed to the Tang Dynasty Grandmaster Yang Yunsong (楊救貧) , these two classics form the complete theoretical system for 寻龙点穴 (Finding the Dragon and Pinpointing the Spot) . While Han Long Jing focuses on identifying the large-scale energy lines, Yi Long Jing focuses on solving the doubts and difficulties found in the field.
Han Long & Yi Long Jing (撼龍經 & 疑龍經)
Mountain-Seeking and Pulse-Identifying: The Twin Pillars of Luan Tou
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1. Han Long Jing (撼龍經 - The Dragon Shaking Classic)
This text is the supreme authority on mountain topography. It classifies all mountains into Nine Stars (九星) based on their shape and energetic quality: Tan Lang, Ju Men, Lu Cun, Wen Qu, Lian Zhen, Wu Qu, Po Jun, Zuo Fu, and You Bi.
Primary Goal: Identifying the "Dragon Pulse" (mountain range) that carries the vital Qi from the source peaks down to the plains.
此經為辨識山脈形勢的權威聖典。它將所有山峰按其形狀與能量特徵分為 「尋龍九星」 ：貪狼、巨門、祿存、文曲、廉貞、武曲、破軍、左輔、右弼。
主要目標： 辨識將生命之氣從發源峰傳遞到平原的「龍脈」（山脈）。
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2. Yi Long Jing (疑龍經 - The Dragon Doubting Classic)
While Han Long Jing provides the map, Yi Long Jing provides the compass. It focuses on resolving the "Doubts" (疑) when the dragon pulse is not obvious—when it branches, goes underground, or hides among smaller hills.
Primary Goal: Distinguishing between true and false dragon pulses and ensuring the "Spot" (Xue) is authentic.
《撼龍經》提供地圖，而《疑龍經》提供指南針。它專注於解決龍脈不明顯時的「疑惑」——當龍脈分支、入地或隱藏在小山丘中時。
主要目標： 辨別真假龍脈，確保「穴位」的真實性。
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Classic Relationship: Han Long Jing is the "Body" (识龙之体), while Yi Long Jing is the "Application" (辨龙之用). One identifies the grand pattern, the other verifies the specific detail.
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The Nine Star Mountain Classification / 尋龍九星詳表
The Han Long Jing's central framework maps the Nine Stars (九星) of the Bei Dou (北斗, Big Dipper) constellation onto mountain shapes. Each star corresponds to a specific peak form, elemental quality, and fortune-producing capacity:
| # | Star Name | Chinese | Mountain Shape | Element | Quality | Classic Verse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tan Lang | 貪狼 | Tall, pointed, conical — like a bamboo shoot or spire | Wood 木 | 🟢 Highly Auspicious — scholarly talent, literary fame | 貪狼頓起筍生峰 |
| 2 | Ju Men | 巨門 | Square, flat-topped, massive — like a city gate or table | Earth 土 | 🟢 Auspicious — wealth, stability, landed prosperity | 巨門星峰覆鐘樣 |
| 3 | Lu Cun | 祿存 | Round-topped with irregular, lumpy sides — like a gourd | Earth 土 | 🟡 Mixed — wealth exists but poorly distributed, isolation | 祿存頓起如頓鼓 |
| 4 | Wen Qu | 文曲 | Gently undulating, serpentine — like waves or ribbons | Water 水 | 🟡 Mixed — artistic, romantic but potentially unstable | 文曲正形蛇過處 |
| 5 | Lian Zhen | 廉貞 | Jagged, rocky, fierce — exposed stone, sharp ridges | Fire 火 | 🔴 Inauspicious as facing; powerful as distant ancestor | 廉貞如何號獨火 |
| 6 | Wu Qu | 武曲 | Round, smooth dome — like an overturned bowl or helmet | Metal 金 | 🟢 Auspicious — martial valor, financial power | 武曲星峰覆鐘形 |
| 7 | Po Jun | 破軍 | Tilted, asymmetric — one side steep, one gentle, "broken" | Metal 金 | 🔴 Inauspicious — destruction, loss; but can precede renewal | 破軍星峰如走旗 |
| 8 | Zuo Fu | 左輔 | Gentle supporting ridge beside a main peak — like a steamed bun | Earth 土 | 🟢 Auspicious — support, hidden benefit, flanking protection | 左輔正形饅頭樣 |
| 9 | You Bi | 右弼 | Nearly invisible — very low, flat rise or subtle undulation | Water 水 | 🟣 Mysterious — hidden assistance, "no fixed form" | 右弼星峰無正形 |
Reading the Table
The auspiciousness of each star depends on context. A Lian Zhen (廉貞, Fire) peak is fearsome as a nearby facing mountain, but as the distant Great Ancestor Mountain (太祖山), it represents tremendous generative power — like a volcano that enriches the soil for hundreds of miles. Similarly, Po Jun (破軍) can indicate loss in one generation but revolutionary transformation that leads to future greatness.
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The Five Stars Landform System / 五星山形分類
Beyond the Nine Stars, the Han Long Jing also employs the older Five Stars (五星) system that maps the Five Elements directly onto peak shapes. This simpler classification is often the first system taught to beginners:
| Element | Chinese | Peak Shape | Visual Analogy | Energy Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood 木 | 木星山 | Tall, straight, narrow, pointed top | A standing pencil, a pagoda, a cypress tree | Rising, scholarly, literary — produces Fire energy downhill |
| Fire 火 | 火星山 | Sharp, jagged, multiple peaks, rocky | Flames, broken teeth, a crown | Fierce, powerful but dangerous — produces Earth energy downhill |
| Earth 土 | 土星山 | Flat-topped, square, broad, stable | A table, a city wall, a platform | Stable, wealthy, enduring — produces Metal energy downhill |
| Metal 金 | 金星山 | Round, smooth dome, symmetrical | An overturned bowl, a bell, a warrior's helmet | Commanding, martial, decisive — produces Water energy downhill |
| Water 水 | 水星山 | Undulating, wavy, multiple curves | Ocean waves, a serpent, flowing silk | Fluid, artistic, changeable — produces Wood energy downhill |
The Transformation Principle (剝換, Bō Huàn)
The Han Long Jing teaches that as a dragon (mountain ridge) travels from its origin to its terminus, it transforms (剝換) through different elemental forms. A ridge that begins as Fire (jagged ancestor peak) may become Earth (flat plateau), then Metal (rounded hill), then Water (undulating foothill), then Wood (pointed terminal peak). This transformation sequence reveals the quality of Qi arriving at the final site. The best dragons show a clear, logical transformation sequence following the Five Element production cycle.
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Famous Verses on Dragon Identification / 識龍名句
Verse 1: The Cosmic Skeleton
"Mount Sumeru is the skeleton of heaven and earth, centrally stabilizing the cosmos as a great object."
Analysis: The Han Long Jing begins with the cosmic scale — all mountains originate from a single source (Mount Sumeru in Buddhist cosmology, or the Kunlun Mountains in Chinese geography). Every dragon pulse, no matter how small, ultimately traces back to this great ancestor. This teaches the practitioner to always ask: "Where does this mountain come from? What is its source?"
第一句：天地之骨
須彌山是天地骨，中鎮天地為巨物。
Xūmí shān shì tiāndì gǔ, zhōng zhèn tiāndì wéi jù wù.
解析： 《撼龍經》以宇宙尺度開篇——一切山脈源出一處。每條龍脈無論多小，最終都追溯至此大祖。此教導修行者始終追問：「此山從何而來？其源頭為何？」
Verse 2: Trunk and Branch
"In general, seeking the dragon requires knowing the trunk; the dragon's movement has trunk, branches, and leaves."
Analysis: Like a tree, a mountain range has a main trunk (幹, gān), branches (枝, zhī), and leaves (葉, yè). The trunk is the primary ridgeline carrying the strongest Qi. Branches are secondary ridges that split off. Leaves are the small spurs and foothills. A burial or building site on the trunk receives the most concentrated energy. A site on a branch receives diluted energy. A site on a "leaf" receives very little. Identifying trunk vs. branch is the first skill of the Luan Tou practitioner.
第二句：幹與枝
大凡尋龍要識幹，龍行有幹有枝葉。
Dàfán xún lóng yào shí gān, lóng xíng yǒu gān yǒu zhī yè.
解析： 如同大樹，山脈有主幹（幹）、分支（枝）和末梢（葉）。主幹即主脈，攜帶最強之氣。枝為分脈。葉為小丘。穴位在幹上得氣最濃，在枝上得氣較弱，在葉上則幾無。辨識幹枝乃巒頭修行者的首要技能。
Verse 3: The Tan Lang Star
"Tan Lang rises suddenly like a bamboo shoot peak; if the branches tilt, it becomes different."
Analysis: This iconic verse describes the ideal Tan Lang (Greedy Wolf) star — a peak that rises sharply and elegantly like a young bamboo shoot pushing through the earth. The key qualifier is "if the branches tilt" (斜枝): a true Tan Lang must be upright and symmetrical. If the peak leans or its subsidiary ridges are crooked, it is a degraded Tan Lang that produces diminished or distorted fortune. Form must be read with precision — slight variations change the entire assessment.
第三句：貪狼之峰
貪狼頓起筍生峰，若是斜枝便不同。
Tānláng dùn qǐ sǔn shēng fēng, ruòshì xié zhī biàn bùtóng.
解析： 此經典名句描述理想之貪狼星——如竹筍破土而出般挺拔秀麗。關鍵在「斜枝」二字：真正的貪狼須端正對稱。若山峰傾斜或副脈歪曲，則為品質降低之貪狼，產生衰減或扭曲之福運。形勢必須精確審讀——細微差異改變整體判斷。
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Field Application Methodology / 實地勘察方法
The Dragon-Tracing Protocol (尋龍步驟)
The Han Long Jing teaches a systematic approach to field assessment that is still used by practitioners today:
| Step | Method | Chinese | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Identify the Ancestor Mountain | 尋太祖山 | The highest, most imposing peak in the region — the ultimate source of Qi. Usually visible from great distance. |
| 2 | Trace the Trunk Dragon | 追幹龍 | Follow the main ridgeline from the Ancestor Mountain. It should be continuous, with clear "peeling and changing" (剝換) of forms. |
| 3 | Identify Star Transformations | 辨九星變化 | As the ridgeline moves, identify which of the Nine Stars each peak resembles. Note the transformation sequence. |
| 4 | Find the "Crossing the Gorge" | 過峽 | Where the ridgeline narrows to a thin saddle between two peaks — this is where Qi is concentrated and vulnerable. A good crossing is narrow but protected. |
| 5 | Locate the Terminal Star | 尋少祖山 | The last significant peak before the dragon settles — this determines the quality of Qi arriving at the burial/building site. |
| 6 | Verify the Spot (Xue) | 點穴 | The exact point where Qi concentrates. Must have proper "embracing arms" (砂手) on left and right, water in front, and mountain behind. |
Modern Practice Note
In modern urban environments, "mountains" can be interpreted as tall buildings, elevated terrain, or any solid structure that blocks and redirects wind. "Water" includes roads, rivers, open spaces, and any channel through which energy flows. The Han Long Jing's principles remain applicable — the practitioner simply reads the urban landscape as the ancients read the natural one. A highway interchange functions like a river confluence; a skyscraper functions like a peak. The Nine Star system can classify building silhouettes just as it classifies mountain profiles.
The Four Diagnostic Questions
Based on the Han Long Jing, every site assessment must answer four questions:
- 龍從何來？ (Lóng cóng hé lái?) — Where does the dragon come from? Traces the source and quality of incoming Qi.
- 星辰何形？ (Xīngchén hé xíng?) — What star forms are present? Classifies the peaks using the Nine Star system.
- 過峽何狀？ (Guò xiá hé zhuàng?) — What is the crossing like? Evaluates whether Qi survived the journey from source to site.
- 穴在何處？ (Xué zài hé chù?) — Where exactly is the spot? Pinpoints the precise location of maximum Qi concentration.