水龍經 - WATER DRAGON CLASSICS 5

As translated by Micheal John Paton

General Discussion—Chapter 3

This chapter particularly refers to the significance of pictographs of the water dragon as they resemble entities, which is the same as the indications of the regular pattern of the celestial bodies. This is because if the sky has this star, the earth has this entity. Since water is able to symbolize a star, it is able to symbolize an entity. The main idea comes from a single precedent which is shared by the True Classic of the Jade Body. The original volume indeed says that Jingchun was the author. However, the script is not ancient. Compared to the Star Seal, the difference is like the difference between the Ya and Zheng of the Book of Songs. Whether it was passed on by some later subordinate is not yet able to be known. I most like the beginning of this piece of writing.

'In the prefecture of the mountain consider the mountain as the dragon. In the prefecture of water consider water as the dragon.' These two phrases have been from ancient times until now the opening discussions of the experts on the principles of the earth, absolutely not circulated by the superficial scholars who could not be expected to obtain one in ten thousand.

Of the remaining words much is crude and coarse and the meaning dubious and could be omitted. This writing also says that the mouth of the water meets, confines, weaves and connects. Even though the water is following, it is still within an auspicious situation. What is the use of harmful penetration with an arrow shooting contrarily vertically? This is a true and profound recognition.

On observing the maps of the various situations, it can be seen that they resemble pearls of dew on tails of grass and a pair of dragons cavorting, and a feeling of the magnificent canopy enters your bosom. Of the various patterns all are profound, obtaining the subtle beauty of the water dragon.

Moreover, the selection is of a gathering from amongst the chaos, which is the crux to deciding a node. The true machinations are really not an easy theory. In naming the form and deciding on a point for the node, the master's discussion is at the extremity of criticism of the mountain dragon. How, on the contrary could it be in the water dragon alone? What he is referring to also accords with the discussions of this generation on flood plains. When he indicates the form, he especially selects the form of the land and not that of the water. Therefore, I seek the meaning far and wide in order to break down the generation's delusions and cause there to be a single school of correct discussion. The reader only needs to understand the adaptations to select the knowledge and all will be well.

Written by Dahong

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Theory of the Pictographic Patterns of Water and Reeds

The trunk and branches of the Yangzi River connect and flow through the two provinces does not exceed several square li (the size of a village). What the previous worthies meant by saying consider water as the dragon was just this place. Observe the water and recognize the configurational force. The grave obtains the true node and the wealth and nobility are long lasting.

The Classic says that the great land of the Jiang and the Huai rivers is without a dragon and tiger. In the vastness, to where does one return? From west to east, if one only takes the water as the dragon, afterwards the grave will develop the Three Dukes. The reason that in there are no mountains (but) heroes repeatedly manifest, is that the good fortune is in the water.

Even though the lands of Zhe and Min have many mountain veins, they also create water dragons. As for the land of Susong, it is near the sea and there are lakes through-out it.

On the sixth hour water approaches the lakes and on the sixth hour it leaves them. An approach to the mouth is appropriately a departure from it. A departure from the mouth is appropriately an approach to it. The meeting of two heads is (like) sexual intercourse. The tide withdraws and the two separate like a woman's breasts. The beauty is, indeed, located in this deep whirlpool. Life is fond of the mystery of a deep whirlpool. This mystery gives us a hundred times more of the essential spirit and the metamorphosis is limitless. With a meandering approach to a confluence do not discuss whether it is a large river or small stream. With a distant flow with a meandering embrace, there is no division between rivers, seas, pools or ponds.

The Classic says that the way of earth is both strong and soft and is changed by spirits. A multitude of flows gather at a place leading to the principle machination. The greater the number of small watercourses gathered the more beautiful it is. Even if a straight flow is great, it is not wonderful. If the internal is straight and the external hooked, there is much skillful connection. If the internal is hooked and the external straight, in vain there is glorious intention. The water passing by laterally and embracing the body is an embracing situation. A bend on the opposite side is a situation of greeting the spirit. With proceeding to the situation on entering the bosom, there must be an embrace on two sides, there should be a flowing approach on entering the thigh, and there is value in the wrapping around of the four boundaries. With the special beauty of the magnificent canopy, the back and the front are sheltered.

Attachment to the body is the goldfish. A situation where two approaches meet is the morning star. The flow of two tributaries meeting is the harmonious basis. The six constructions on four sides are complete protection. The place which faces the three yang is the place of greeting. The goldfish girdle winds around the waist. The situation of the banded bow is a heavenly rainbow in front of you.

The great embrace of the above and the below facing each other is called the male and the female. Only when both feelings surround the body can it be correctly called the magnificent canopy. Within a situation of the turbaned head a small branching stream is the pitchfork is unbound and the development is sudden. One can welcome in the water and bravery is bestowed for three generations. A situation of refinement means wealth and nobility for a thousand autumns. Particularity. Follow it and see the glory and the magnificence.

If the water is like a string of pearls or dribbling milk, immediately there is wealth and come the spirit and obtain beauty because the water is continuous and long lasting. Four dragons sport with the pearl on all sides and there will be great wealth and nobility.

A surrounding embrace will enable the family to continue forever. A combined flow like crossed swords produces a military position. A meandering flow hastens the official and manifests the minister. The immortal palm to the left and right together means wealth and nobility. The lotus flower hanging down or facing up decides the yin and yang. When the configurational force is like kicking a ball, it must be interesting. The form is like the flying phoenix whose wings should be long. The immortal palm strokes the qin99 and one ascends to the top of the imperial examinations. On rolling up the screen, one is found to be dazzling and majestic at the various subjects. One small bend in the watercourse like a coiling snake correctly embraced by two banks is the drawing of the bow.

A beautiful woman presenting flowers gives birth to excellent qi. A situation with the form of soldiers on parade manifests the official. The two sources of the Great Extremity mean true wealth and nobility. The hundred feet of the centipede produce bravery. If the shrimp head is large, there will be people of outstanding intelligence and bravery. The Metal city is one of nobility and longevity.

The roof, floor, and four walls of a building. A Chinese zither with either five or seven strings. The examination here is that held in the presence of the emperor and his court, being the last and highest stage. The screen refers to one used so that the candidates could not see the emperor.

With the situation of the high court greatness is manifested once and then it ceases. Dew dripping from grass tails indicates being cut off from posterity and one's name being expunged. Obeying the wind moves the boat and there is fame and eminence.

Obeying the water rolls up the screen and your son takes the place of a son in a family without heir. The flying pennant and dancing flag is truly a noble pattern.

Facing the principal and turning back to the ancestors is a true dragon. With the silk gauze belt the wind blows and the development of good fortune is slow but it is able to continue into the distance.

The goldfish lies prostrate in the shade and at first there is wealth and afterwards there is the glory. With inserting flowers into the hat and wearing a belt, there is an abundance of food. One proceeds with their livelihood at a leisurely pace, happiness enters the middle of the bosom and the good fortune goes into the distance.

The Metal hook should turn and the foot should point towards the principal. If the water of a situation where there is much binding is large and broad and not intersecting like teeth which are tightly sandwiched together, then this has feeling. The character is either auspicious or inauspicious.

The shoe city has falsity and truth. With the situation of the coiled dragon, one can fetch a rainbow for food. Where rose colored clouds gather, seek a parasol. The handle should be hanging down like a tortoise tail. With the situation of the lines on the shell of a tortoise, select the center. A pair of frolicking dragons combines yin and yang. With one watercourse like a fishing line and hook, select (the node) inside of the hook. The water on all sides returns to the confluence to guard against dispersal and chaos. With a situation of prolific gathering at the hall, fear riding the wind. Sand and water being interrelated is truly a wonderful pattern. A turning dragon turning its head to the ancestors is an ingenious pattern. The configurational force looks to a situation wrapped around by soldiers on parade, and the veins should face (the node) and gather there. There is much feeling to a place where the spider's web gathers, surrounds, and connects (with the node). One can be content with selecting it. Where there are layers of watercourses embracing and encircling (the node), much is even more wondrous. In the command tent, the hanging breasts have an external embrace and there is wealth and abundance.

When earth has a predilection to gather at the hall, one obtains the refinement of the court, is in the highest category at the imperial examinations and is certainly grand. On all sides the configurational force does not flow and the principal qi gathers in one winding embrace of good fortune. In a naturally horizontal pal-ace, a dragon node is produced and there is glory and high position. If it combines with a penetrating dragon, it represents the development of wealth. The manifestation of water lilies means ingenuity and gives birth to refinement.

With the situation of the flowing belt, the movement is a glorious pattern like a streamer. The flowers must be thick and dense like a hanging joint of bamboo; the more the branches the greater is the nobility. If there is glossy Gandoderma lucidum, the more the statemen, the more there is the greatest of nobility. Amongst the chaos, select the gathering.

Only when there are the many gathering together is it extraordinary. The approach is long and the departure short. For good fortune, there is no boundary to the shade.

Shooting the elbow and penetrating the heart means the immediate arrival of ill-fortune. Roughly, the approach should meander and the departure should be profound. A fast flow will show the uncertainty of waxing and waning. For what coagulates and gathers, there is continuous good fortune and longevity. Where a water mouth is interlocked, even though the fabric is compliant, it is still auspicious. Inside the situation, there is no use to cutting, the shooting of an arrow, or any coming and going.

The principles of this water method have the greatest subtlety. There are few people who know about it and those who are able to discuss it are not often met. Below are various types of form structures.

1.       Those which are round are Metal.

2.       Those which are curved are Water.

3.       Those which are rectangular are Earth.

4.       Those which are straight are Wood. All are related to types of wealth and nobility.

5.       Only Fire is acute and carries an extremely evil spirit and therefore does not receive a node.