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As humans entered the civilized society, the fengshui theory was written down. For instance, there were many records about house location divinations on the oracle inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century BC). According to Shijing (Classic of Poetry) and the large amount of records on the oracle bones, by the Shang Dynasty, the Chinese had categorized landforms and water areas into many specific types very meticulously.

Shang Shu (Collection of Ancient Texts, whose compilation is generally attributed to Confucius) divides China into nine administrative regions, or jiuzhou, with the rivers and mountains as the natural boundaries. That is why jiuzhou is also used to refer to China.

In another classic book, Zhou Li, there were records about choosing the location of civil housing. In the Zhou Dynasty (11thcentury-221BC), Emperor Zhou Wuwang ordered his brother Zhou Gong (also known as the Duke of Zhou) to examine the site of the capital with his fengshui knowledge.

With the development and prevalence of Yijing and the yin-yang theory in the pre-Qin period, the fengshui theory became a kind of systematic academic thought. After Emperor Qin Shihuang united China, the qi or vital energy was integrated into the fengshui theory. Meanwhile, professional fengshui experts also appeared during the time.

The large-scale and magnificent Epang Palace and Qin Shihuang Mausoleum demonstrated the advanced measuring techniques and also the more developed fengshui theory, which focused on two issues at the time: choosing a suitable place for the living, and a resting place for the dead.

In the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD), the practice of choosing suitable places became even more popular. The people engaged in fengshui were also proficient in astronomy and geography. In the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), funerals were given more attention, which led to another upsurge of fengshui. People in the Eastern Han Dynasty also attached great importance on the living conditions, which contributed to the writing of the first batch of fengshui books.

A number of renowned fengshui masters appeared in the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420), among them the most reputed was Guo Pu, who set up a complete fengshui theory structure. Some of the basic principles first advocated by him are still in use today. Guo is usually considered the originator of Chinese fengshui theory.

Comparatively speaking, the Sui Dynasty (581-618) was a time of less belief in fengshui; still, there was still a renowned fengshui master named Xiao Ji. Several of his books are still considered fengshui canons. He once suggested an auspicious place for the empress, but after getting turned down by the emperor, foretold the quick fall of the Sui Dynasty.

As one of the most thriving periods in Chinese history, the Tang Dynasty (618-907) witnessed the rapid development of many humanities including fengshui. At the time, most literate men had some knowledge about fengshui. The building of palaces, villages, and tombs were more or less influenced by fengshui. Famous Emperor Tang Xuanzong also believed in fengshui. In the Mogao Caves, a number of fengshui books were found, showing the dissemination of the theory to the fringe northwest long ago.

The demise of the Tang Dynasty did not stop the heritage of fengshui. Instead, the emperors in the Five Dynasties (907-960) firmly believed in fengshui, and some superstitious elements were also added at the time.

By the Song Dynasty (960-1279), fengshui masters and monographs abounded. Emperor Song Huizong firmly believed in fengshui. A story goes that he took the advice of a fengshui master to change the landform of the capital, which helped him to bear a child.

Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) cared much about the first capital of the dynasty in Nanjing. After the capital moved to Beijing, everything was built according to the fengshui theory. For instance, the famous fengshui master Liao Junqing chose the site of the 13 Ming emperor tombs built outside Beijing from the 15th to 17th centuries.

The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) set up a specific department in charge of observing celestial phenomena and mausoleum site choosing. All the emperors in the Qing Dynasty believed in fengshui and highly valued the location of their tombs. The Forbidden City is a masterpiece built strictly in line with the fengshui theory, and its great momentum has continued to overwhelm the world to this day.

In history, the fengshui theory gave birth in the pre-Qin period, prevailed during the Song Dynasty, and flooded in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Author: Jeff