|
 |
Day 2 : Of Cabbages and Kings |
 |
|
20 April 2006 (Day 2)
Day 1's visit to the spiritual Hua Shan left many students feeling excited with their new-found ability to "see" the landforms. The earnest tour guide entertained us with little anecdotes relating to the Tang Emperors as the coach made its way to the first destination, the Zhao Ling - Li Shi Min Tomb. This burial ground on Jiuzong Shan, 70km north-west of Xian belongs to the second Tang Li Shi Min or Emperor Taizong, who died in AD 649. Zhao Ling is the largest among the 18 mausoleums of the Tang Dynasty and is also said to be the largest royal mausoleum in the world.
|
|
| As the site is generally not considered a typical tourist attraction, the roads leading to the tomb tended to be basic and rocky – just as well that Joey and his team had done enough pre-excursion research trips to ensure our actual journey occur smoothly . |
|
As a prelude to the main event, we make a stop at an area where the tombs of the daughter and one of the concubines of Emperor Taizong are housed. Here in the Tang dynasty, there were little formal written records relating to the application of Feng Shui for these tombs. However, when the formulas are retrospectively applied, students are able to see that Feng Shui has been given significant considerations in the construction and design of the tombs.
The spiral city formation can also be seen from here and along the journey to the main site – where the mountains converge in a formation similar to that of a cabbage. Again, in a message that is reiterated during various parts of the day, students are beginning to appreciate that the main star / mountain can only be as good as the supporting formations. Mountains should not be judged on their standalone appearance / merit. One needs to look at the supporting formations , which together sets the scene for a good Feng Shui location. Again, students were encouraged to look for themselves, the different formations and bring out their observations for open discussions.
|
|
 |
|
Most students soon appreciate that tombstones / headstones in Yin House Feng Shui (for the dead) are what main doors are to Yang House Feng Shui (for the living) as these passageways are the main receivers of Qi. A short jaunt up the concubine's tomb reveals that for this tomb, the tombstone is located lower than the actual tomb – as the actual tomb is located in a very windy sector (considered to attract a lot of negative Sha Qi). By moving the headstone (the main door of the tomb) lower to a less windy portion of the hill, the negative influence is circumvented
|
|
Here students were able to see where the tombs can be placed at mountains – at the top of the mountain, sticking to the side of the mountain, by side-stepping the mountain and placing the tomb at an area near the mountain and buried deep within the mountain. The choice of placement depends on the landform and the flow of the Qi. With Feng Shui, it cannot be overemphasized that landforms are critical. Use of formulas such as Flying Stars and 8 Mansions can only allow one to determine possibly about 10% of the actual situation. To take the practice of Feng Shui from mere "armchair" Feng Shui (whereby only calculations are done to the exclusion of hands-on application) to another level, one must be prepared to walk the mountains.
We reach ed the main destination for the morning via spiral roads with views of mountain teres areas, where the new entrance to the mausoleum is located. The first point of
|
|
 |
|
interest is seen at the foot of the mountain. A crossing-of-the-gap, which in Feng Shui, denotes the "neck" of the dragon is seen from this first vantage point. It is a controlling point between two mountains where the Qi crosses. It is considered the Qi source and therefore needs to be protected.
|
|
Moans and groans are heard when Joey says that to see the good stuff, we have to follow him up to the peak of the main mountain. The trek is not one for the weak kneed and for those with a fear of heights , but everyone chose to stare fear in the face in anticipation of the eventual reward. Sure enough, at the peak, amidst strong and cold winds, a spectacular view of the surrounding spiral city greets us. 9 peaks are seen all around us, also known as 9 petals of the lotus – with 5 outer petals / mountains and 4 inner petals / mountains. The tomb being embedded within this protective formation. Viewing of this actual landform strongly drives home the point from Day 1 that formation must always takes precedence over formulas. In this spiral city, there are 4 layers – each layer denoting a generation, reflective of the reputation of the Tang dynasty as the longest reigning dynasty in ancient
|
|
China . The "patching" of dragons probably having been done also to prolong the bloodline of Tang rulers in power. The formation is a chastity formation by formula but a greedy wolf formation by shape. The power of the formation at this tomb, leading to its ability to produce descendant emperors, can be seen from the unusual phenomenon of seeing all the stars conforming to the formulas i.e. a match between the stars and the formulas.
Post lunch (of cold dishes and local meats), we move on to the second attraction of the day which is the Qian Ling or the Qian tomb, a very impressive build up tomb with a main wide pathway with grand vistas and appears to be a popular local tourist site. The grounds of this imperial tomb boast a number of large stone sculptures of animals and officers of the imperial guard. It is located 85km northwest of Xian, in Liang Shan and is the joint resting place of the Tang Emperor Gaozong and his wife Empress Wu Zetian. Goazong ascended the throne in AD 650 after the death of his father, Emperor Taizong. Empress Wu, actually a concubine of Taizong, also caught the fancy of his son, who made her his empress. Gaozong passed on in AD 683, and the following year, the Empress, known for her cruelty, dethroned her husband's successor, Emperor Zhongzong. She then reigned as an all powerful monarch until her death around AD 705.
The tomb consists of 3 peaks, the two on the southern side and one higher northern peak (the main part of the tomb). The two peaks on the southern side being "topped" off by watch towers and are said to denote a woman's breast (but is known as the sunken head heavenly wealth star).
|
|
A little something different is in store at this site, as we are told that we can make our way up the main mountain on horseback. After many noisy negotiations with the local horse handlers, we are off. The trial is surprisingly green and has gorgeous views of the rice and wheat fields, as far as the eye can see. The steep mountain face close to the peak is negotiated nimbly by the horses and before long, we are again greeted by yet another expansive view of the surrounding land. Again, students are let loose to try to "see" the landforms that are prevalent in the area. A recap by Joey tells us that this is really a Flat Land Dragon formation. In this particular Flat Land dragon, there is a point in the middle in a shape of a saucer / bowl where the Qi collects. However, the unusual phenomenon that can be seen here is that in the middle of this saucer, there is a high point (a mountain). At this highest point of the Flat Land Dragon, there is a concentration of Qi which forms a meridian point. This point denotes a very special formation known as Phoenix Rising to the Sky. We also see 3 bright halls, denoting the presence of 3 different types of mountains - the main mountain, the parent mountain and the ancestor mountain. It is suspected that the actual tomb (deep inside the mountain) is facing the 2 southern peaks / table mountains.
|
|
Post a two hour journey back to the hotel where jokes were shared and resident comedic talent was uncovered, a scrumptious dinner in the hotel itself and entertainment over drinks by a spouse of one of the students (a professional musician) was enjoyed
Reported by Choo Li-Hsian.
|
|
|
|
|