📜 Life of the Immortal Master
Yang Yun Song (楊筠松) (834–900 AD), courtesy name Shumo, was the preeminent National Preceptor during the Tang Dynasty under Emperor Xizong. Known as the "Father of Feng Shui," he served as the head of the Imperial Bureau of Astronomy (*Lingtai*).
During the Huang Chao Rebellion (880 AD) , Master Yang fled the capital of Chang'an, carrying the secret geomantic manuals of the imperial library. He eventually settled in Ganzhou, Jiangxi , where he broke the imperial monopoly on Feng Shui by teaching the common people. Because his precise methods brought immediate prosperity to the poor, he is affectionately known as Yang Jiu Pin (楊救貧) —"Yang who saves the poor."
楊筠松 （834年—900年），字叔茂，唐代著名風水宗師，世稱「楊公」或「楊救貧」。曾任唐僖宗朝國師，掌管靈台地理事務。
廣明之亂（880年） 期間，楊公攜宮廷風水秘籍離開長安，最終隱居於 江西贛州 。他打破了皇家對風水的壟斷，將秘傳之術傳予民間。因其利用地理之術助貧苦大眾致富，被世人尊稱為「楊救貧」。
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🛠️ The Technical Pillars / 核心思想
Yang Gong Feng Shui, often called the Ganzhou (Jiangxi) School , is the source of all classical San Yuan and San He lineages. Its core philosophy is "Forms as the Body, Qi as the Application" (形巒為體，理氣為用) .
1. Dragon Seeking (尋龍)
Identifying the mountain ranges (*Dragon Pulses*) that carry vital energy. Yang Gong taught that the pulse must be vibrant, winding, and lush.
2. Spot Pinpointing (點穴)
Locating the exact point where Qi accumulates. "True Dragons produce True Spots." A master spends years learning to find the "Acupoint."
3. Water Methods (水法)
The most critical element for wealth. "Water brings the luck, Forms hold it." Mastering the direction of flow is the key to immediate result.
The Three Plate Logic (三盤理氣)
Yang Gong developed the Luo Pan (Compass) rings used to this day:
- Earth Plate (地盤): For determining the Sitting and Facing direction.
- Man Plate (人盤): For auditing the surrounding hills (*Sand*).
- Heaven Plate (天盤): For measuring the coming and going of Water.
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📚 The Master Classics / 楊公經典著作
These texts are the absolute foundation of the Kanyu canon. Most were preserved through the efforts of his primary disciples: Zeng Wenchan, Liao Yu, and Liu Jiangdong .
| Classic (書名) | Focus (重點) | Description |
|---|
| Han Long Jing (撼龍經) | Macro Landforms | The "Classic of Shaking the Dragon." Describes the 9 Star mountain types. |
| Yi Long Jing (疑龍經) | Micro Landforms | The "Classic of Doubting the Dragon." Resolving doubts in complex terrain. |
| Tian Yu Jing (天玉經) | Trigram Logic | The technical heart of San Yuan. Exploring the "Parent Trigrams." |
| Qing Nang Ao Yu (青囊奧語) | Ai Xing (Star Shuffling) | Contains the specific formulas for Period and Star interaction. |
| Du Tian Bao Zhao Jing (都天寶照經) | Operational Methods | Practical applications for building, orientation, and wealth. |
| Zang Fa Dao Zhang (葬法倒杖) | Burial Technique | The 12 methods of placing the coffin (*Dao Zhang*) to capture Qi. |
| Tian Yuan Wu Tu Jing (天元烏兔經) | Solar Selection | Calculating the movement of the "Sun and Moon" for date selection. |
| Yu Chi Jing (玉尺經) | Water & Hill Audit | The "Jade Ruler Classic" for measuring the quality of incoming energy. |
| Hei Nang Jing (黑囊經) | Pulse Secrets | The "Black Bag Classic" containing deep secrets of identifying hidden pulses. |
| Li Zhui Fu (立錐賦) | Spot Precision | An elegant ode describing the precise pinpointing of the burial spot. |
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🌳 Disciples and Lineage Succession
Master Yang's teachings survived through three primary disciples in Jiangxi:
- Zeng Wenchan (曾文辿): Specialized in the internal trigram logic (*Li Qi*).
- Liao Yu (廖瑀): Also known as Liao Jinjing, master of mountain forms (*Luan Tou*).
- Liu Jiangdong (劉江東): Preserved the practical field measurements and compass methods.
Through these three disciples, Yang Gong's methods split into distinct but complementary streams. Zeng's lineage evolved into the nucleus of the San Yuan school (三元派), emphasizing time-based calculations and trigram interactions. Liao's lineage strengthened the form school tradition. Liu's branch preserved the compass measurement techniques that became central to the San He school (三合派). By the Song Dynasty, these intertwined lineages had become the two great pillars of classical Feng Shui.
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The 24 Mountains (二十四山)
The 24 Mountains (二十四山 - Èrshísì Shān) divide the compass into 24 sectors of 15 degrees each. This system, refined by Yang Gong, integrates the Heavenly Stems (天干), Earthly Branches (地支), and Four Corner Trigrams (四維卦) into a unified directional ring that forms the backbone of all Luo Pan analysis.
| Direction | Three Mountains | Component Types | Degree Range |
|---|
| North (坎) | Ren (壬), Zi (子), Gui (癸) | Stem, Branch, Stem | 337.5° – 22.5° |
| Northeast (艮) | Chou (丑), Gen (艮), Yin (寅) | Branch, Trigram, Branch | 22.5° – 67.5° |
| East (震) | Jia (甲), Mao (卯), Yi (乙) | Stem, Branch, Stem | 67.5° – 112.5° |
| Southeast (巽) | Chen (辰), Xun (巽), Si (巳) | Branch, Trigram, Branch | 112.5° – 157.5° |
| South (離) | Bing (丙), Wu (午), Ding (丁) | Stem, Branch, Stem | 157.5° – 202.5° |
| Southwest (坤) | Wei (未), Kun (坤), Shen (申) | Branch, Trigram, Branch | 202.5° – 247.5° |
| West (兌) | Geng (庚), You (酉), Xin (辛) | Stem, Branch, Stem | 247.5° – 292.5° |
| Northwest (乾) | Xu (戌), Qian (乾), Hai (亥) | Branch, Trigram, Branch | 292.5° – 337.5° |
🧭 Why Three Types of Characters?
The 24 Mountains use 8 Heavenly Stems (excluding Wu 戊 and Ji 己, which belong to the center), 12 Earthly Branches , and 4 Corner Trigrams (Gen, Xun, Kun, Qian). Each cardinal direction contains one Stem-Branch-Stem set, while each inter-cardinal direction contains one Branch-Trigram-Branch set. This arrangement ensures that every 15-degree sector has a unique elemental identity, enabling precise measurement of incoming Dragon energy, Water flow, and Sand positions.
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Yang Gong's Three Harmonies Compass (三合羅盤)
Yang Gong's methodology is built upon the Three Harmonies (三合 - Sān Hé) framework, which governs how the Earth Plate, Man Plate, and Heaven Plate interact on the Luo Pan compass. Each plate is rotated 7.5 degrees from the previous, creating a layered system for measuring different environmental features.
| Plate | Chinese | Rotation | Primary Function |
|---|
| Earth Plate (正針) | 地盤 | 0° (Baseline) | Determines the Sitting and Facing direction of the property. Uses the Zi-Wu (子午) axis aligned to magnetic north. This is the fundamental measurement. |
| Man Plate (中針) | 人盤 | +7.5° counterclockwise | Measures the Sand (surrounding hills and structures). The Man Plate assesses the quality and influence of Dragon and Tiger formations, Court Mountains, and Brush-Pen peaks. |
| Heaven Plate (縫針) | 天盤 | +7.5° clockwise | Measures the Water flow — incoming and outgoing water directions. Critical for wealth analysis. The Heaven Plate also maps the "Water Mouth" (水口). |
📜 The Three Plate Principle
"地盤立向，人盤消砂，天盤納水。"
"The Earth Plate establishes the Facing; the Man Plate evaluates the Sand; the Heaven Plate receives the Water."
This formula is the operational backbone of all San He practice. A practitioner who confuses which plate to use for which measurement will inevitably produce incorrect assessments.
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Dragon Tracing Methodology (尋龍訣)
The most fundamental skill in Yang Gong Feng Shui is Dragon Seeking (尋龍 - Xún Lóng) — the ability to trace a mountain range from its origin to the point where it "settles" and forms an Acupoint (穴). Yang Gong taught a systematic process that remains the industry standard.
Stage 1: Identify the Ancestral Mountain (太祖山)
Trace the mountain chain back to its highest, most majestic peak — the Tai Zu Shan (太祖山). This is the "grandfather" of the Dragon system. Major Dragon systems originate from the three great ancestral mountain chains of China: the Northern Trunk (北幹龍), Central Trunk (中幹龍), and Southern Trunk (南幹龍), all extending from the Kunlun range.
Stage 2: Follow the Parent Mountain (少祖山)
The Dragon descends from the Ancestral peak through "peeling and changing" (剝換) — transforming its elemental shape as it travels. The Shao Zu Shan (少祖山) is a prominent secondary peak closer to the area under study. This mountain reveals the character of the energy that will arrive at the Xue.
Stage 3: Observe the Dragon's Body (龍身)
Between the Parent Mountain and the final Xue, the Dragon should demonstrate life and vitality :
- Undulation (起伏): Rising and falling like a living creature — not flat and lifeless.
- Twisting (曲折): Curving left and right — a straight Dragon is a "dead" Dragon.
- Stripping (剝換): Changing shape from one element to another — e.g., a Fire peak becoming an Earth peak, showing transformation.
- Branching (開帳): Sending out "arms" on both sides — this shows the Dragon is powerful enough to generate guardian Sand.
Stage 4: Find Where the Dragon Stops (結穴)
The Dragon's journey ends where it "rests" — a subtle depression or platform with arms wrapping around it. Classic indicators include:
- The terrain suddenly flattens after a descent (如覆釜 — "like an overturned cauldron")
- Left and right ridges wrap around like embracing arms
- Water converges in front of the resting point
- Vegetation is notably lush and healthy at the spot
📜 From the Han Long Jing (撼龍經)
"大凡尋龍要分明，龍之鬚認來龍身。先觀水口後觀穴，穴位四獸要護真。"
"In all Dragon seeking, clarity is essential. To recognize the Dragon, study its body. First observe the Water Mouth, then examine the Acupoint — the four guardian beasts must protect it truthfully."
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Sand and Water Alignment in Yang Gong Practice
After identifying the Dragon and Xue, the practitioner must verify that Sand and Water are aligned correctly. Yang Gong established precise rules for how Sand positions on the Man Plate and Water positions on the Heaven Plate should relate to the Sitting direction on the Earth Plate .
Sand Alignment Rules (消砂法)
The Man Plate is used to measure the angular position of each surrounding peak relative to the Sitting direction. The goal is to ensure that each visible peak falls in an auspicious sector according to the Five Element relationship with the Sitting Mountain.
- Productive Sand (生砂): The element of the Sand produces the element of the Sitting Mountain — highly auspicious.
- Compatible Sand (旺砂): Same element as the Sitting Mountain — stable and supportive.
- Draining Sand (洩砂): The Sitting Mountain produces the Sand element — energy leaks away.
- Killing Sand (殺砂): The Sand element controls/destroys the Sitting Mountain — extremely harmful.
Water Alignment Rules (納水法)
The Heaven Plate measures the incoming and outgoing water directions. In San He practice, the Twelve Life Stages (十二長生) of the Water element determine auspiciousness:
- Water arriving from the Chang Sheng (長生) direction: New growth, fresh opportunity.
- Water arriving from the Di Wang (帝旺) direction: Peak prosperity and power.
- Water departing at the Mu (墓) direction: Wealth is stored properly — auspicious exit.
- Water departing at the Si (死) or Jue (絕) direction: Completely drains away — highly inauspicious.
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Key Differences: San He vs. San Yuan Schools
Although both schools trace their origins to Yang Gong, they diverged significantly over the centuries. Understanding these differences is essential for any serious practitioner.
| Aspect | San He (三合派) | San Yuan (三元派) |
|---|
| Core Focus | Spatial relationships — Dragon, Sand, Water form configurations. Emphasizes the permanent landscape. | Temporal cycles — Periods, Flying Stars, and trigram rotations. Emphasizes time-based energy shifts. |
| Compass Plates | Three plates: Earth (sitting/facing), Man (sand), Heaven (water). 7.5° offset. | Primarily Earth Plate with 64 Hexagram ring. No offset plates. |
| Time Factor | Minimal — a well-formed San He site is considered permanently auspicious. | Central — sites change luck every 20-year Period. Must be updated or "renovated" with each Period shift. |
| Key Technique | Twelve Life Stages (十二長生) water method; Dragon-Water matching via Three Harmonies. | Flying Star charts (飛星盤); Xuan Kong Da Gua hexagram matching. |
| Primary Texts | 撼龍經, 疑龍經, 地理五訣, 玉尺經 | 天玉經, 青囊奧語, 都天寶照經, 玄空秘旨 |
| Ideal Application | Rural landscape, ancestral burial (Yin Feng Shui), large estates with visible landforms. | Urban residential, commercial properties, interior arrangement, date selection. |
🔗 Integration, Not Opposition
The most accomplished practitioners throughout history — including Yang Gong himself — used both approaches. As the classical maxim states: "形巒為體，理氣為用" — "Forms are the body; formulas are the application." Luan Tou (forms) and Li Qi (formulas) are two halves of a single system. A competent master excels in both without favoring one exclusively.
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