THE 3 YI OF NOT MUCH DAO 道法本無多:三易

Three Syllabic Classics or commonly known as SanZi Jing《三字经》is neither a Confusion nor a FengShui classic per-se but it can be taken as the fundamental entry level textbook in Chinese Metaphysics. 

The opening passage: -

人之初 (rén zhī chū) People at birth,
性本善 (xìng běn shàn) Are naturally good (kind-hearted).
性相近 (xìng xiāng jìn) their natures are similar,
習相遠 (xí xiāng yuǎn) (But) their habits make them different (from each other).

Dictates that human nature in its origin is good but their “cultivations” made them different. What caught my attention, when my 7 years old daughter asked me what is: -

有连山 (you lien shan) have combined mountains,
有归藏 (you gui chang) have hidden and revealed,
有周易 (you zhou yi) have Zhou Yi,
三易详 (san yi xiang) three Yi(s) detailed.

I am speechless for a moment and I believed it is not just “pure fortune” telling as commonly taught by her teacher. If indeed true, is that how “cultivation” are meant to be in our modern society?

The true picture may have been there are 3 Yi 三易 comprising of LienShan 连山, GuiChang 归藏 and ZhouYi 周易. LienShan 连山 and GuiChang 归藏 are no longer existed as a complete doctrine or probably merged into ZhouYi 周易. The extinction of LienShan 连山 and GuiChang 归藏 may have been attributed by the burning of books during the Qin Dynasty. However, according to some scholars, it may have survived through its fragments.

What is exactly LienShan 连山 Yi 易? The word LienShan 连山 means stacking of mountain (山) or in the language of Yi, it is Gen Gua 艮. 山山在上  refers to the peak of KunLun 崑崙 range. All the rivers have their origins from KunLun mountains. It is the source, the alpha, the law pertaining to its origin and the law governing mountains. Being the alpha, it is also Qian 乾, the Heaven. LienShan 连山 as some believes to start with Gen Gua 艮 may not necessary be true. 

What is exactly GuiChang 归藏 Yi 易? The word GuiChang 归藏 means returned to the concealed or in the language of Yi, it is Kun Gua 坤. Opposite to KunLun 崑崙 range, GuiChang 归藏 refers to the Yellow River 黃河. The Yellow River 黃河 has through time changes its course and alter the landscape of China. Therefore it conceals and reveals and GuiChang 归藏 is the law pertaining to water, source of ShengQi and the omega. Being omega, it is also the Kun 坤, the mother Earth. GuiChang 归藏 as some believes to start with Kun Gua 坤 and attributed to a set of BaGua dug up from the scripture of MaWangDui 馬王堆 . Later scholars attributed these set of BaGua to be as the same with YuanBao 元包經 BaGua or ShenNong 神農 BaGua. ShenNong being the legendary sages of Chinese Medicine, YuanBao 元包經 BaGua is also being adopted in Chinese Medicine.

The story of 3 Yi has taken another twist with the involvement of its founder. Where ShenNong is credited to have invented GuiChang 归藏, between FuXi (伏羲) and HuangDi (黃帝), who has invented LienShan 连山 and ZhouYi 周易? Someone pointed out that to understand LienShan 连山 and GuiChang 归藏, the secrets are within this Daoist Scripture -道法本無多. How true can that be?

道法本無多

道法本無多，南辰灌北河，寫來三七數，趕盡世間魔。 
道法不用多，南斗降北河，總成一個字，斷盡世間魔。
用法不須多，南蛇光北河，只消一個字，寒精一界魔。
道法本無多，南蛇貫北河，手持三尺劍，降盡世間魔。
道法本無多，嵐蛇泛百河，都來一個字，強盡世間魔。
道法不須多，南宸貫北河，只消一個字，降盡世間魔。
道法本無多，南泉貫北河，都來一個字，強盡世間魔。
道法本無多，南泉貫白鶴，共用一個字，降盡世間魔。
道法不用多，南極共北河，總成一個字，掃盡世間魔。
道法本無多，南辰貫北河，都來二十一，合盡世間魔。
道法不須多，南山灌北河，只仗一口氣，盡用世間魔。
道法本無多，南膳頭北河，書成一個字，掃盡世間魔。
老君一把鎖，天師交付我，只消一個字，收盡世間魔。
佛法本無多，南方貫北河，算來廿七數，伏盡世間魔。
佛法本無多，南辰透北河，紫微真妙法，傳盡世間魔。
佛法本無多，南成透北河，算來無邊法，合斬世間魔。
道法不須多，南宸降北河，五雷三帝印，只消加一字，
降盡世間鬼。

Translation: -

The method of Dao is not much, south Dragon (辰) controls river north, come to write 3 7 numbers, hurry expel the world of evil. 

The method of Dao has not much use, south dipper descends river north, compose formed a single word, breaking completely the world of evil. 

The method of use is not much, south serpent (蛇) Illuminates River north, merely needs a single word, freezing the essence of the world of evil. 

The method of Dao is not much, south serpent (蛇) controls river north, hand held 3 foot (尺) sword, slash completely the world of evil. 
 
The method of Dao is not much, misty serpent (蛇) floods the 100 rivers, already come a single word, compel exhausting the world of evil. 

The method of Dao may not be many, south royal (宸) controls river north, may need only one word, descend capitulating the world of evil. 

The method of Dao is not much, south well (泉) control river north, entirely comes one word, compel exhausting the world of evil. 

The method of Dao is not much, south well (泉) control white crane, commonly use one word, descend capitulating the world of evil.

The method of Dao need not use many, south pole is river north, compose formed a single word, swept clean the world of evil. 
 
The method of Dao is not much, south Dragon (辰) controls river north, already come twenty one, combine completely the world of evil. 

The method of Dao need not be many, south mountain controls river north, merely arm with one breath, exhaust used the world of evil. 

The method of Dao is not much, south meal leads river north, write complete one word, sweep clean the world of evil. 

The old wise gentleman (老君) single lock, heavenly master (天師) delivers upon me, merely need one word, cast away completely the world of evil. 

The method of the Buddha is not much, south direction control river north, sums up twenty seven figure, lean up the world of evil. 

The method of the Buddha is not much, south Dragon (辰) controls river north, purple enclosure (紫微) true wondrous method, dispense completely the world of evil.  

The method of the Buddha is not much, south royal  (宸) penetrates river north, regard come without use, combines to chop the world of evil.

The method of Dao must not be many, south royal (宸) subdue river north, 5 thunders 3 emperor’s seal, merely need to add one word, descend exhausting the world of ghost.

Commentary: -

The Method of Dao (道) or Buddha (佛) is of not much, of not much use, use is not much, may not be many, need not use many and these terms, use (用) and not much (本無多), have been repeatedly apply interchangeably. 
What does these phrases suggest or signify?

After the term Dao (道) and the Buddha (佛) has been applied, LaoZi (老君) was mentioned together with Heavenly Master (天師). These figures are more aptly linked to Dao (道) rather than to the Buddha (佛). 
What has the method of the Buddha (佛) so significant that the Dao (道) needs to borrow perhaps the swastika 萬佛字 (卐)?

What is so significant about LaoZi (老君) and it also implied the Heavenly title of 太上老君? 
His famous opening phrase, 道可道， 非常道 has anything to do with 道法本無多? 老君一把鎖. 
What can be construed as LaoZi single lock? What is this lock that the phrase is referring to? 鎖 has an operative meaning or simply pointing to YinYang 陰陽?

Heavenly Master (天師) probably mean Jiang TianShi 張天師 or the Hexagram 師 and 天? Heavenly master (天師) delivers upon me (交付我) what sort of things? 

If indeed it was referring to Jiang TianShi 張天師, he was known for his 5 thunder charms 五雷符. For the initiated, talisman writing has many rules and regulations but what does it represents in this context? 
Perhaps the key is with this word thunder 雷 or Zhen 辰 Gua-3?

Significant to Heavenly Master (天師) is probably this phrase - 五雷三帝印 5 thunders 3 emperor’s seal. One interpretation is that the 5 thunder charms 五雷符 are meant to evoke the Five Camps of Military Army 五营兵将. These are supposed to be Daoist spiritual soldiers canonized during the Shang Dynasty lead by Jiang ZiYa 姜子牙. 
Is this phrase referring to Jiang ZiYa 姜子牙 8 Trigrams as in the method of military movement and formation?

三帝 or the Three Sovereigns are FuXi (伏羲), ShenNong (神農) and HuangDi (黃帝). 
The question is what exactly are their seals? Rather if their seals meant their 8 Trigrams? 
So, we have the Early Heaven FuXi's BaGua, Middle Heaven ShenNong's BaGua and Later Heaven HuangDi's BaGua?

River North (北河) has been repeated numerously and linked to 100 Rivers (百河) and White Crane (白鶴),
What exactly does River North meant, Kan 坎 Gua-1?

River North (北河) has been controlled, descends, illuminated, flooded, leads, penetrated, subdued, by:

… Dragon (辰),
… Dipper (斗),
… Serpent (蛇),
… Royal (宸),
… Well (泉),
… Pole (極),
… Mountain (山),
… Meal (膳),

These 8 matters, 辰斗)蛇)宸泉極山膳 that may constitute the 8 Trigrams? 

In the order or sequence of:

… three (3) and seven (7), 3+7=10, combo 10,
… a single word (一個字),
… 3 foot (三尺劍) sword,
… come twenty one (二十一),
… one breath (一口氣),
… sums up twenty seven figure (廿七數),
… purple enclosure (紫微) true wondrous method (真妙法),
… come without use (無邊法) 

How do you arrange the sequence of the LienShan and GuiChang Yi?

SEQUENCE OF YOUR TAIQI

Which TaiQi belongs to the Yi of Dao and the Yi of Qi? When one turns left, the other turns right. Left turning is Yin? Right turning is Yang? Mountain is Yin? Water is Yang? Another manifestation of 扭轉乾坤?

This one version is not yet the ultimate version but it is good enough to keep things moving for those who wish to understand the true nature of DaGua. The word XuanKong is purposely left out... 

Liked any FengShui method, what makes it ticks is the underlying application and what is probably known as Mid-Heaven BaGua. Without knowing this it is as good as theory. The LuoPan only shows you the Heaven and Earth plate. It never tells you about application. If really that XKDG is about Heaven Qi, how do one link it to Earth and Human? There are three components. Heaven, Man and Earth Gua. You have the 2 without the 3rd, things cannot work consistently. It is really not about date selection, tilted door and matching to the person's Gua. It is more of arranging YinYang from the 2 slices, 4 imagery and the mysterious Mid-Heaven Gua. This is sort of the very reason why so many courses offered out there are plain rubbish.

If you Google and search for Mid-Heaven Gua, probably you will find one version called YuanBao BaGua. It is the same species someone dug out from DunHuang cave years ago... Is this the Mid-Heaven Gua applied to XKDG? Ha... you just can't trace over that into your LuoPan and simply use it? Strangely, you will also come to notice in a very near future, some masters may be teaching Mid-Heaven Gua in their XKDG syllabus.

So this very Mid-Heaven BaGua is a top secret of any given school. Should I disclose what do they advocate to make their XKDG works? Drop me a mail or comment if you want to find out.