Feng Shui history

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice of the use of certain so-called laws governing heaven and the Earth, which can improve through what is called as positive Qi. Its history is ancient and covers more than 3500 years. This is even older than the invention of the magnetic Compass. The main part of its origin may stem from ancient astronomy.

Astronomical history of Feng Shui is evident in the ancient instruments which were developed in its practice. The most famous of Feng Shui instrument may be what is known as the Gnomon. This tool is used in conjunction with the attempt to move the stars to determine the North and South axis. This is mainly used for the determination of early Chinese settlements.

Ancient Yangshao and Hongshan cultures in China provide the earliest evidence of the practice of Feng Shui. Recently 4,000 BC. doors of Banpo dwellings are aligned to the star, called Yingshi just immediately after the winter solstice. This allows homes to be placed on better solar gain. During the era of the Zhou dynasty star Yingshi was known as Ding and have a great influence in an attempt to determine the appropriate time to build their capital. This is in accordance with the records of the Shijing.

Another example of the practice of ancient Feng Shui can be found by the grave of Puyang, which dates back to around 3000 BC. This particular tomb contains mosaics of the stars, called Dragon and Tiger together with Beidou, known in the Western world as the Big Dipper constellation. Mosaics seems to be oriented in a North to South axis. The presence of round and square shapes are also found in the Puyang Tomb, as well as the Hongshan culture ceremonial centers and former Longshan settlement. Such evidence indicates that the practice of the gaitian astronomy (faith in the round earth and square earth) is already in ancient Chinese society.

One of the oldest instruments used are liuren astrolabes. Ancient these tools consist of a lacquered, two equipped with astronomical sightlines. The oldest of liuren astrolabes have been found and discovered tombs, dating from 278 BCE and 209 BCE. These ancient astrolabes show chart of hanging on the cord and some found even include Magic square of the three. The markings on these instruments remains unchanged from ancient astrolabe down to the first magnetic compasses.

The practice of astronomy, which bears striking similarity to many modern Feng Shui devices and theories have also been found of Jade artifact found in Hanshan, which dated to around 3000 BC. Ancient structures in China, which includes their palaces in the capital cities are influenced by Feng Shui in their design and layout. The rules that were made were written during the era of the Zhou dynasty "Kaogong JI" or "Manual of Crafts '.

Magnetic Compass was originally invented for the practice of Feng Shui and is in use by the invention. Traditional Feng Shui tools include Luopan or earlier indication of South spoon or zhinan zhen. This shows the extent of the Feng Shui history and its long standing practice in ancient Chinese history.