East Asia: Center of the World - Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and Southeast Asia - page 281

FENG SHUI RELATIONSHIPS
The concepts of the five elements or forces with their yin and yang relationships were introduced
as early as the fourth century BC .All of the elements are connected: Wood makes fire, which burns
it to make earth. Earth has metal (ores). Metal has condensation—water--and water nourishes
plants and trees—wood.
The relationships of the five elements are in accordance with the laws of nature and heaven. It is impor-
tant not to interfere with the order of nature or disrupt the natural conditions designed by heaven.
The ten stems and twelve branches were introduced prior to 2000 BC .Each stem and branch is re-
lated to the five elements and yin-yang principles. All these forces are significant for proper feng
shui location, and a geomancer must be consulted.

FIVE TWEL VE

ELEMENTS YIN-YANG TEN STEMS BRANCHES DIRECTION ANIMAL

SPROUTING BUD; YIN WOOD N RA T

BEGINNING

OX SPREAD OF N/NE GROWTH YIN

GROWTH

BLOOMING YANG SPREAD OF E/NE FIRE TIGER

GROWTH

MA TURITY ABUNDANCE YIN E RABBIT

ABUNDANCE YANG EARTH PROGRESS E/SE DRAGON

ORDER YANG RENEWAL S/SE SNAKE

FULLNESS MA TURITY YANG S MET AL HORSE

RESTORA TION YANG SMELL OF S/SW SHEEP

MA TURITY

HEIGHT OF MONKEY EXPANDED YIN W/SW WA TER

FUNCTION MA TURITY

PREPARA TION YANG W RIPENESS COCK

FOR SPRING

YIN DEA TH DOG W/NW

YIN PIG N/NW NUCLEUS

Figure 10-8
Here the concept of yin and yang are outlined. Yin and yang balance opposite forces to ensure
harmony between humans and nature. Yin and yang represent the interrelationship of all
phenomena and are critical to feng shui orientation.

color and is worn by Daoist priests for burying the
dead and for geomantic blessings. White is the color
of autumn. It stands for metal, represents purity , and
denotes western orientation. Black is the north and
winter. Its element is water. Black denotes the con-
sequence of humans, death, mourning, and penance.
It is the color of calamity , guilt, and evil.

Feng shui' is goal is maximum harmony with nat-
ural forces to induce happiness, prosperity , and
longevity . Widely practiced among Chinese com-
munities worldwide, it was banned in Communist
China as harmful superstition. However, in the new ,
modernizing China, rules have relaxed, and feng
shui and the practice of geomancy have reappeared.