Studying Feng Shui in China: Lions and Tigers and Dragons, oh my!
This is the 2nd post in a series describing my September 2014 trip to study Feng Shui in China.
I had never seen anything like it before. The place was huge, humbling and awe inspiring.
I visited the LongHu Mountain in China last September and even though I was only on the 2nd day of my week long study trip with Joey Yap, things were already amazing, exciting and fun.
Longhu Mountain is also known as Dragon and Tiger Mountain. It’s famous for being the birthplace of Taoism in China (AD 34- 156). The area is well known for its spiritual power. The mountain has been honoured as the #1 site for Taoist pilgrimage.
We went there to see mountain forms (the most interesting I’ve ever seen), an ancient village, a temple that produces Taoist Alchemists, and a river raft ride down the Celestial Water Rock watery way… it was big day!
We arrived just after lunch after a 5-hour bus ride. It was so hot and humid that many people bought sun hats from the vendors. The predominant local style seemed to be “straw cowboy”.
From one large tour bus to another. As we were shuttled onto small open buses, I remember thinking how surreal it all seemed. Modern transport and fashions, ancient history and geography and powerful spiritual beliefs all mixed together.
Our first stop was Elephant Trunk Peaks, a natural rock formation that resembled the shape of the head and trunk of an elephant. Joey explained how it’s a sign, “when landforms take on the clear and obvious forms of an animal, that is a sign the land holds strong power and natural energy.”
Next stop was a small, ancient village called Mosquito Free Village. We were all given the assignment of figuring out what formula, along with mountain and water forms that were used to set up the gate to the village.
You can see from this example how City Gates were set up according to a specific formula and specific compass degrees to “tap” into the surrounding Qi.
It was obvious the Feng Shui was not that great as the village was not exactly thriving, but the view out onto the river was stunning.
Next stop – Zhengyi Temple. This was the place where Heavenly Master Zhang, the founder of the Zheng Yi school of Taoism, is said to have attained immortality and Taoism began.
The Master’s story was fascinating to hear. Apparently there was a cave located behind the temple in the mountain on the dragon vein where, as legend has it, Master Zhang would go to meditate. It was the place where he received the “Dao” and immortality. The whole area emitted an air of divinity.
With lessons learned was time to make our way back to our tour bus and then a river raft ride Chinese style along Celestial Water Rock waterway. It was the river ride of a lifetime as long you didn’t mind getting wet feet.
Along the way, we saw many interesting animal formations within the rocks. – (can you see the koala and lion in the rock?)
It was during the river raft ride and seeing the rock formations where we learned just how powerful the energy of “landforms” can be. Taoism started there more than 2000 years ago and its teachings having spread throughout the world.
I look forward to the day when I can go back and spend more time learning Feng Shui in that part of China; an area rich in natural land forms that are steeped in ancient history.
Next week, my most favourite temple and day of the entire trip -Ci Yun Temple as San Qing Mountain.