The Xue Xin Fu (雪心賦) was written by the Tang Dynasty master Bu Yingtian (卜應天) . Named for his belief that a clear heart (snow-like) is required to perceive the subtle patterns of the earth, it is written in elegant parallel prose. It is widely considered the most literary and beautiful text in the Kanyu canon.
Xue Xin Fu (雪心賦 - The Heart of the Snow)
Elegance in Forms: Perception of Land and Destiny
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Core Ideology / 核心思想
1. Spiritual Land, Remarkable People
The central theme is "Di Ling Ren Jie" (地靈人傑) . The spiritual energy of the land (Di Ling) directly births and nurtures extraordinary human talent (Ren Jie). A site is not just for survival but for the refinement of the bloodline.
一、地靈人傑
核心主題：地之靈氣孕育人之才傑。地理環境不僅是生存之所，更是血脈傳承與人才培育的關鍵。
2. Perception of Qi (觀其融結)
The master must observe where the Yin and Yang energies "blend and freeze" (融結). It emphasizes that while forms are visible, the master's "Heart Eye" must reach the subtle and refined (精微) levels of energy movement.
二、氣當觀其融結
修行者必須觀察陰陽二氣如何「融會結作」。強調形雖可見，但「心眼」必須達於能量流動之精微層面。
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Major Topics Covered
- Mountain and Water Interaction: Identifying true vs. false pulses.
- Five Star Transformations (五星剝換): How mountain energy changes quality as it moves.
- Water Patterns: Analyzing the complex locking and arrow-like patterns of rivers.
- The Three Tiers (穴總三停): Pinpointing the exact level of the burial or building spot.
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Famous Parallel Prose Excerpts / 經典駢文名句
The Xue Xin Fu is written entirely in 駢文 (piánwén) — classical parallel prose where phrases are paired in rhythmic, balanced couplets. This literary form makes it both beautiful to recite and efficient to memorize. Below are some of its most celebrated passages:
On the Unity of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity
"Heaven opens its images and becomes a pattern; Earth gives birth to forms and becomes a body. By observing the images of Heaven, one can infer the principles of Earth. By examining the forms of Earth, one can understand the patterns of Heaven."
Analysis: Bu Yingtian establishes that the Feng Shui master must be a reader of both celestial and terrestrial patterns. The sky's constellations correspond to the earth's mountains; the earth's rivers reflect heaven's cycles. This dual literacy — looking up and looking down — is what separates the true master from the mere technician.
論天地人合一
天開地設，山峰倉卒；水流韆繾，其來已久。觀天之象，可以推地之理；察地之形，可以知天之文。
Tiān kāi dì shè, shānfēng cāng zú; shuǐliú wēirán, qí lái yǐ jiǔ. Guān tiān zhī xiàng, kěyǐ tuī dì zhī lǐ; chá dì zhī xíng, kěyǐ zhī tiān zhī wén.
解析： 卜應天確立風水師必須兼讀天文與地理。天之星宿對應地之山巒，地之水流反映天之週期。此雙重讀寫能力——仰觀俱察——是區分真正大師與僅具技術者的關鍵。
On Spiritual Land and Remarkable People
"Where the land's spirit is vibrant, remarkable people are born. Where the mountains are graceful and waters are elegant, talent flourishes for generations. Where the earth is barren and waters are harsh, poverty and misfortune persist."
Analysis: This is the core thesis of the Xue Xin Fu — 地靈人傑 (dì líng rén jié). The quality of the land directly shapes the destiny of the people who live on it. Bu Yingtian does not merely claim this as theory; the entire text provides the diagnostic tools for assessing what makes land "spirited" (靈) versus "barren" (穷).
論地靈人傑
地靈人傑，氣化形生。山秀水明，英賢繼世。地穷水惡，貧賄相繼。
Dì líng rén jié, qì huà xíng shēng. Shān xiù shuǐ míng, yīngxián jì shì. Dì qióng shuǐ è, pínhuàn xiāng jì.
解析： 此為《雪心賦》之核心論述——地靈人傑。地之品質直接塑造居民之命運。卜應天不僅將此作為理論提出，全文更提供了診斷工具，用以評估土地何以為「靈」、何以為「穷」。
On the Master's Inner Perception
"The eye is the body's lamp; the heart is the eye's master. If the heart is clear as melted snow, then the principles of the land will be as visible as a reflection in a mirror."
Analysis: This passage gives the text its name — 雪心 (xuě xīn, "Snow Heart"). Bu Yingtian teaches that technical knowledge alone is insufficient. The practitioner's heart (心, xīn) — their consciousness, intention, and clarity — must be purified like freshly melted snow: clear, transparent, free of bias. Only then can the "Heart Eye" (心眼) perceive the subtle Qi patterns that the physical eye cannot see.
論心眼之窮
眼為人之燈，心為眼之主。心如雪潔，則地理如鏡之明。
Yǎn wéi rén zhī dēng, xīn wéi yǎn zhī zhǔ. Xīn rú xuě jié, zé dì lǐ rú jìng zhī míng.
解析： 此句乃書名之由來——「雪心」。卜應天教導技術知識不足以成就大師。修行者之心必須純淨如雪水：清澈、透明、無偏見。唯有如此，「心眼」才能感知肉眼不可見之氣之細微模式。
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Water Form Classification / 水形分類
The Xue Xin Fu provides one of the most detailed classifications of water patterns in all Feng Shui literature. Bu Yingtian categorizes water forms by their effect on the site:
| Water Form | Chinese | Description | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embracing Water | 環抱水 | Water curves gently around the site like arms embracing | 🟢 Highly auspicious — wealth accumulates, family prospers |
| Locking Water | 鎖水 | Two streams converge in front, creating a "lock" that holds Qi | 🟢 Auspicious — prevents Qi from escaping, ensures long-term fortune |
| Arrow Water | 箭射水 | Water flows straight toward the site like an arrow | 🔴 Highly inauspicious — brings accidents, lawsuits, violent death |
| Reversed Water | 反弓水 | Water curves away from the site (the outer curve faces the site) | 🔴 Inauspicious — wealth drains away, betrayal by those closest |
| Weaving Water | 織水 | Multiple small streams weave back and forth before the site | 🟡 Mixed — can indicate literary talent but also scattered energy |
| Hidden Water | 暗拑水 | Water runs underground or is concealed by vegetation | 🟢 Auspicious if natural — suggests deep, stored Qi |
| Cutting Feet Water | 割腳水 | Water flows right at the base of the mountain, eroding the foundation | 🔴 Inauspicious — destroys the mountain's root Qi, impermanent site |
The Key Test: Does Water Hold or Drain?
Bu Yingtian's fundamental water principle: "Water that embraces gathers Qi; water that departs scatters Qi." (水抱則氣聚，水去則氣散) When assessing any site, first determine whether the water pattern holds energy at the site or drains it away. Every other water assessment is secondary to this one question.
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Mountain Form Classification / 山形分類
Alongside water, the Xue Xin Fu classifies mountain forms by their function relative to the site:
| Mountain Role | Chinese | Position | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backing Mountain | 主山 / 靠山 | Directly behind the site | Provides support, stability, and protection. Must be solid and tall. |
| Blue Dragon | 青龍砂 | Left side (from inside looking out) | Protective arm, should be slightly higher and longer than White Tiger |
| White Tiger | 白虎砂 | Right side (from inside looking out) | Protective arm, should bow inward. If too aggressive (high, pointed), danger. |
| Facing Mountain | 案山 / 朝山 | Directly in front of the site | Acts as a "table" (案) for gathering Qi. Should be lower than backing mountain. |
| Table Mountain | 近案 | Close in front | Intimate, close gathering point. Like a scholar's desk holding treasures. |
| Court Mountain | 朝山 | Far in front | Distant respect, like officials paying tribute. Multiple layers increase grandeur. |
| Guardian Hills | 官鬼禅曜 | Near the water exit | "Lock" the water exit to prevent Qi from escaping. Essential for wealth retention. |
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Practical Field Methodology / 實地踐察要訣
Bu Yingtian's Assessment Sequence
The Xue Xin Fu implicitly teaches a field assessment sequence that experienced practitioners still follow:
- First, stand at the center and look outward: Survey the complete 360-degree embrace. Are all Four Animals (Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Red Phoenix, Black Turtle) present?
- Second, assess the mountain quality: Are the peaks graceful (秀) or fierce (惡)? Graceful peaks produce scholars; fierce peaks produce soldiers or criminals.
- Third, read the water pattern: Does water embrace or flee? Is it gentle or violent? Where is the water exit?
- Fourth, check the "Ming Tang" (Bright Hall): Is there open, flat ground in front of the site? The Ming Tang is where Qi pools before being absorbed.
- Fifth, test the soil: Dig into the earth. Good soil is moist, dense, and colorful (yellow, red, purple). Poor soil is dry, sandy, or smells of decay.
The "Snow Heart" Practitioner's Standard
Bu Yingtian insists that a practitioner must visit the site at different times of day and in different weather conditions . Morning mist reveals Qi concentrations. Afternoon sun shows how shadows fall (indicating which areas are protected). Rain reveals true water drainage patterns. A single visit in fair weather is never sufficient for a serious assessment. This is the "Snow Heart" standard: patient, thorough, unclouded by impatience or preconception.
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Influence on Later Texts / 對後世之影響
The Xue Xin Fu's influence on Chinese geomantic literature is immense:
- Ren Zhi Zhong Zhi (入地眼): This later text directly expands on the Xue Xin Fu's mountain and water classification systems, adding more detailed subcategories.
- Di Li Ren Zi Xu Zhi (地理人子須知): The Qing Dynasty encyclopedia of Feng Shui draws heavily on Bu Yingtian's assessment methodology.
- Modern Luan Tou Practice: The Four Animals configuration, water form assessment, and field methodology described in the Xue Xin Fu remain the standard curriculum for Luan Tou training today.
- Literary Influence: The text's elegant parallel prose style (駢文) inspired generations of Kanyu authors to write with comparable literary sophistication, elevating Feng Shui from a trade skill to a scholarly art.
Study Recommendation
The Xue Xin Fu is the ideal entry point for students of Luan Tou Feng Shui. Its literary beauty makes it memorable, its diagnostic systems are practical, and its philosophical depth provides a foundation for all advanced study. Students should memorize the key passages and practice applying the mountain and water classification systems during field excursions.