什么是一命二运三风水四积德五读书？What is the Concept of "One Fate, Two Luck, Three Feng Shui, Four Accumulation of Virtue, Five Study"?**

最近有很多人找我学习风水，但由于时间不允许，而且准备工作耗时较长，加上人手不足，因此我写了这篇文章，希望有兴趣学习风水的人务必仔细阅读并理解。 

什么是一命二运三风水四积德五读书？

今天，我们来讨论一下人生的道路该如何走。古人常说：“一命，二运，三风水，四积德，五读书。”古人认为，影响我们一生的，首先是命，其次是运，接下来是风水，然后是积德和读书。那这句话到底是什么意思呢？ 

“命”排在第一位，因为命是最重要的。那么，什么是命呢？命是所谓的先天。你的命如何是已经注定的，不由你选择。为什么这么说呢？如果你出生在富裕家庭，你的命当然会比出生在贫困家庭好得多。从命理的角度来看，你出生在什么家庭，以及你出生的时间，都是无法选择的。因此，我现在已经拒绝帮助人们选择孩子的出生日期和时间，因为那是由上天注定的。根据我的经验，即便指定了一个时间，婴儿往往会在我指定的时间之前出生，因为那不是婴儿应该来到这个世界的时间。

从命理的角度来看，所谓的八字，就是由出生的年月日时形成的四柱，由天干地支构成，这就是命，命为先天。科学家已经证明，基因遗传对一个人非常重要。一个遗传了父母优良基因的孩子，基本条件会比较好。例如，如果父母高大、英俊、美丽，孩子很大可能性也是如此。如果父母聪慧，他们的孩子中也会有几个出类拔萃的。科学家也证明了基因遗传对癌症细胞的研究有很大帮助。如果一个家族有癌症细胞遗传，下一代可能也会遗传癌症细胞。有些人天生就是残疾，这就是命，不由你控制，这就是所谓的先天条件。 

俗话说“三岁定终身”，以我个人的经验来看，最准确的方式是通过一个人的本命来了解他的性格。而一个人的性格能够决定他一生的道路。一个坚强的人，无论遇到什么困难，都不会轻易放弃，坚持到底。一个本命为戊阳土的人往往是一个坚强的领袖，他像石头一样，领导作战，永不退缩。如果你把大石头丢在水里，不管水有多大，大石头还是屹立不倒。邓小平就是一个典型的戊阳土，他一生经历了三起三落，但始终屹立不倒。而一般来说，阴命者会比较柔和，喜欢在幕后工作，不喜欢领导作战。这就是所谓的命。现在你知道为什么“命”排在第一了吧？ 

排在第二的是“运”。我们常常把“命运”合在一起说。而在命理的角度，命是命，运是运。运是后天条件，也就是你的人生道路如何发展。每个人都有十年大运，也可以算到流年运，甚至可以算到每天的运气好坏。要怎么算呢？基本上是看你那个时候所需要的五行（金木水火土）是否出现。如果你需要的五行，也就是“用神”出现了，而且没有冲克，那就是说你在走好运。相反，如果没有出现或被冲克，那就是走坏运。因此，你常听到人们说“命不能改，运可以改”。 

一般来说，一个人在走完一个十年大运，进入另一个大运时，会有所转变。走完一个十年大运就像一辆火车到达一个车站，需要停下来，然后继续前往下一个车站。火车开始行走时会有些卡顿，需要克服轨道的摩擦力，火车的动力必须强于摩擦力，才能顺利前行。因此，一个人在结束一个十年大运，进入下一个十年大运时，会感觉到有些不适应，这是正常现象。

 排在第三的是风水。如果你的命运都很好，风水会帮助你走得更顺，风水可以帮助你飞黄腾达。但如果你此时的运不好，你需要依靠风水来调整你的人生道路。

 所谓“一命二运三风水”，因此在研究家居风水之前，必须先研究主人的命和运，也就是主人的八字。很多人认为水代表财富，因此在家里很多地方放置流水装置，这其实是错误的。如果屋主的八字忌水，因为八字里水太多，那么再多用水，不是要把他“淹死”了吗？因此，在研究风水之前，必须先了解屋主的命理，也就是研究他的八字。

风水流派众多，五花八门。我所应用的是玄空飞星的理论。风水基本上是古人根据他们的智慧，了解天文地理对人的磁场影响。‘天文’基本上指的是天上的太阳、月亮和金木水火土星（被称为七曜）对人的影响。而地理是我们所居住的环境对我们的影响。因此，我常说《通胜》可以准确预测日食和月食的发生，因为这是古人研究‘天文’得出的结论。由于太阳系的阴阳磁场互相平衡，形成了所有行星在轨道上的自转和公转规律。地球绕太阳一圈是365又1/4天，九大行星里最大的木星绕太阳一圈是12年，因为它最大，所以它的磁场影响我们最多，因此有了十二生肖，这也是大自然的物理科学。‘天文’是风水的一部分，是古人了解了‘天文’对人的影响。

风水中的‘地理’其实是由峦头和理气组成。峦头分为外峦头和内峦头，即我们所居住地方的外部和内部。峦头是风水地理的‘阳’的部分，因为峦头是我们肉眼可见的东西。外峦头指的是家居外部的环境，比如外面的山和水；内峦头指的是家里的布局，比如厨房里的灶台摆放是否水火相冲。理气是风水地理的‘阴’的部分，是我们肉眼看不见的‘气’或‘磁场’的研究。我们可以通过玄空飞星的理论来了解它。例如，现在是九运，九运是火运，在后天八卦中九在南方。因此，与火有关的行业将会很红火，例如人工智能、电动汽车、手机应用程序和太阳能行业都在快速发展。在亚洲南方的国家，如新加坡、印度、印尼也在快速发展。

在古人的智慧里，影响一个人道路的第四位是积德。善有善报，恶有恶报，这与佛教的“业报”相似。我们要说好话，做好事，存好心。 

大家可以读读《了凡四训》来了解，即使命运不好，通过行善积德也可以改变命运。 所谓的舍得，舍得，要有舍才有得, 就是说必须要先有所舍弃，才能有所获得。

排在第五的是读书。这一点在以前的封建社会尤为重要。一个人通过读书，如果能够金榜题名，就能当官，从而改变命运。古时候将人分为四种职业：“士、农、工、商”。读书人的地位最高，但读书人要得到社会地位，必须通过考试，考中才能成为士。成为士就能当官，当了官就能荣华富贵，所谓“十年寒窗无人问，一朝成名天下知”。现在也是如此，一个人通过努力考取好学位，才能获得理想的职业。 

这个世界进步神速，我们不能停止学习。比如现在我们必须学习人工智能，才能跟上世界的变化。所以，人必须不断学习进步。不要以为自己很厉害，可以停止学习，否则很快会被这个世界淘汰。 

后来，随着传播，人们在后面又加上了“六名，七相，八敬神，九交贵人，十养生，十一择业与择偶，十二趋吉避凶，十三遇苦无怨，十四不固执善恶，十五荣光因缘来”等，但影响我们最多的还是前五个：一命二运三风水四积德五读书。

Recently, many people have asked me to teach them feng shui. However, due to time constraints, the lengthy preparation required, and a lack of manpower, I have written this article in hopes that those who wish to learn how to interpret feng shui will read it thoroughly and understand it. 

**What is the Concept of "One Fate, Two Luck, Three Feng Shui, Four Accumulation of Virtue, Five Study"?** 

Today, let's discuss how to navigate the path of life. The ancients often said: "One fate, two luck, three feng shui, four accumulation of virtue, five study." They believed that the primary influence on our lives is fate, followed by luck, then feng shui, accumulation of virtue, and study. But what does this mean? 

**Fate** 

Fate is ranked first because it is the most important. So, what is fate? Fate refers to the inherent or predetermined aspects of life. Your fate is predetermined and beyond your control. For example, if you are born into a wealthy family, your fate will naturally be better than someone born into a poor family. From a fate perspective, you cannot choose the family or the exact time of your birth. Therefore, I no longer assist people in choosing birth dates and times for their children, as this is determined by a HEAVEN. Based on my experience, even if I specify a time for a birth, the baby often arrives earlier than the specified time, indicating that the specified time was not the destined time for that baby's arrival.

 In fate analysis, a person's "eight characters" (Bazi) are formed by the year, month, day, and hour of birth, constituted by heavenly stems and earthly branches, representing fate or inherent conditions. Scientists have proven that genetic inheritance plays a significant role in a person's life. A child who inherits good genes from their parents will have better basic conditions. For example, if both parents are tall, handsome, and beautiful, the child is likely to be similar. If the parents are intelligent, their children are likely to excel. Scientists have also shown that genetic research greatly aids in understanding cancer cells. A family with a history of cancer can pass down these genetic traits, and some people are born with disabilities—this is fate, the inherent conditions beyond our control. 

There is a saying, "A three-year-old's fate is set for life." From my personal experience, the most accurate way to understand a person's life path is through their inherent characteristics. A person's character determines their life's path. A strong-willed person will persist through difficulties. A person with the fate of Wu Yang Earth (戊阳土) is often a strong leader, steadfast like a rock, unyielding in the face of challenges. Deng Xiaoping is a prime example of a Wu Yang Earth person—he endured multiple political setbacks but remained resilient. Conversely, those with Yin fate tend to be more gentle, preferring to work behind the scenes and avoid leadership roles. This is fate. Now you understand why fate is ranked first.

 

**Luck**

 

Luck is second. We often combine "fate" and "luck" in conversation, but in fate analysis, they are distinct. Luck refers to the conditions you encounter throughout life. Everyone has ten-year luck cycles, and these can be broken down further into annual and even daily luck. How is luck determined? It depends on whether the elements you need (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) are present. If the elements you need, known as "useful gods" (用神), are present without conflict, you are experiencing good luck. Otherwise, you are experiencing bad luck. This is why people say fate cannot be changed, but luck can.

 

Typically, when a person transitions from one ten-year luck cycle to another, they experience changes, much like a train arriving at a station before continuing to the next. This transition can feel uncomfortable, akin to a train overcoming initial friction before moving smoothly. Thus, it is normal to feel uneasy when entering a new ten-year luck cycle.

 

**Feng Shui**

 

Third is feng shui. If both your fate and luck are favorable, feng shui can help you achieve even greater success. Feng shui can assist you in reaching new heights. However, if your luck is unfavorable, you need to rely on feng shui to adjust your life path.

 

The saying "One fate, two luck, three feng shui" emphasizes that when studying residential feng shui, one must first study the owner's fate and luck, or their Bazi. Many people believe that water symbolizes wealth and place flowing water features throughout their homes, which is incorrect. If the owner's Bazi has an excess of water, adding more will only cause harm. Therefore, it is essential to understand the owner's fate before applying feng shui principles.

 

Feng shui has many schools of thought, but I use the principles of Xuan Kong Flying Stars. Feng shui essentially involves understanding how astronomy and geography affect human magnetic fields. 'Astronomy' refers to the influence of celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and planets (known as the Seven Luminaries) on people. Geography concerns the impact of our living environment. For example, ancient wisdom in the Tongsheng calendar accurately predicts solar and lunar eclipses because it is based on astronomical studies. The balance of yin and yang magnetic fields in the solar system creates predictable planetary rotations and revolutions. Earth orbits the sun in approximately 365.25 days, while Jupiter, the largest planet, takes 12 years. Its strong magnetic field significantly affects us, giving rise to the twelve zodiac signs—a concept rooted in natural physical science. 'Astronomy' is an integral part of feng shui, reflecting how celestial influences impact humans.

 

In feng shui, 'geography' comprises landforms (Luan Tou) and energies (Li Qi). Luan Tou is the visible part of feng shui, including external and internal landforms. External landforms refer to natural features like mountains and rivers, while internal landforms involve home layouts, such as kitchen stove placements that should avoid conflicts between water and fire elements. Li Qi is the invisible part, focusing on 'qi' or magnetic fields, understood through Xuan Kong Flying Stars theory. For instance, we are currently in the Ninth Luck (Period 9), which is associated with fire in the postnatal bagua. Industries related to fire, such as AI, electric vehicles, and solar energy, are thriving. Southern Asian countries like Singapore, India, and Indonesia are also rapidly developing.

 

**Accumulation of Virtue**

 

The fourth influence on a person's life path is the accumulation of virtue, embodying the idea that good deeds are rewarded and evil deeds are punished, similar to the Buddhist concept of karma. We should speak kindly, do good deeds, and have good intentions.

 

Reading "Liao-Fan's Four Lessons" can help you understand that even if your fate is unfavorable, you can change it through virtuous actions. The concept of "sacrifice and gain" means that you must give something up in order to gain something in return.

 

**Study**

 

The fifth influence is study. In ancient feudal society, a person could change their fate by passing imperial examinations and becoming an official. Ancient society categorized people into four professions: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Scholars held the highest status, but they had to pass exams to gain social standing. Becoming a scholar meant becoming an official, leading to wealth and honor, encapsulated in the saying, "Ten years of hard study unknown, one day fame spreads far and wide." Today, similarly, a person can achieve their career goals through academic success.

 

In our rapidly advancing world, continuous learning is crucial. For instance, we must now learn about artificial intelligence to keep up with global changes. Therefore, one must never stop learning and progressing. Thinking you are already skilled enough to stop learning will quickly render you obsolete in this ever-evolving world.

 

Later, as the saying spread, people added more elements, such as "six fame, seven appearance, eight worship, nine influential connections, ten health, eleven career and marriage choices, twelve seeking fortune and avoiding misfortune, thirteen enduring hardships without complaints, fourteen avoiding rigid good-evil judgments, fifteen destiny and opportunities," and so on. However, the most influential are still the first five: fate, luck, feng shui, accumulation of virtue, and study.

要学好风水就必须先了解北京故宫紫禁城的风水 To learn feng shui well, one must first understand the feng shui of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

 

我总觉得要学好风水就必须先了解北京故宫紫禁城的风水。紫禁城是近代明、清两代皇朝的宫殿，距今已有接近六百年之久，两代皇朝共有二十四个皇帝，分别明代十四个皇帝、清代十个皇帝均居住在这里。 

故宫，又称紫禁城，始建于明成祖永乐四年（1406年），永乐十八年（1420年）落成。“紫禁城”的名字来自“紫微星垣”，中国古代星象学家将天上的星星分为三垣、四象、二十八星宿等。其中三垣指紫微星垣、太微星垣和天市星垣。而紫微星垣（即北极星）居于正中，据传皇天上帝的居所（紫宫）就在紫微星垣中，人间皇帝自称“天子”便仿皇天上帝居所的名字用其“紫”字为紫禁城。这也是为什么永乐皇帝从南京迁北方北京的原因之一，紫微星在北方，故此取其『紫微正中』之义，象征世上帝皇的居住地方。在古时，帝皇所居住的地方属禁地，戒备森严，不许平民百姓踏足半步，因此并将其命名为『紫禁城』。在封建帝制时代，普通的人民群众是不能也不敢靠近它一步的。 

紫禁城是明朝朱元璋的第四子明成祖朱棣在位时下令建造的，当时是永乐五年(1407年)。朱棣在朱元璋称帝后，被封为燕王，后发动靖难之役，起事攻打侄儿建文帝，夺位登基为永乐皇帝。当年他攻入南京时建文帝已经不知所终，因此他后来派郑和下南洋寻找建文帝也有据可寻的。明代第三位皇帝朱棣在夺取帝位后，决定迁都北京，即开始营造这座宫殿，至明永乐十八年（1420年）落成。当时北京被称为北平也是当时朱棣作燕王时之地。除此之外，由于当时威胁明朝的主要危险仍然是来自塞外的蒙古贵族残余势力，也是永乐迁都之原因。朱棣是靠篡位而得帝位，因此从南京迁都北京也情有可原。

紫禁城是根据风水学说来营造的。相传紫禁城有9999个房间，因为天庭有一万个房间。为了敬重玉皇大帝，紫禁城不能多于天庭里房间的数目，但从明朝到清代，紫禁城不断地在改变。据统计，现在紫禁城里房间的数目为八千多间。

 

故宫大体上可以分为两大部分，南为工作区，即外朝或前庭，北为生活区，即内廷或后宫。外朝内廷的所有建筑排列在中轴线上，东西对称，秩序井然。外面是皇帝工作的地方，所以为阳；后面是皇帝休息的地方，因此为阴，单数为阳而双数为阴。

外朝是皇帝处理政事的地方，主要有三大殿：太和殿、中和殿、保和殿。其中太和殿最为高大、辉煌。它的比例为9长5宽，代表皇帝为九五之尊也。皇帝登基、大婚、册封、命将、出征等都要在这里举行盛大仪式。 

内廷包括乾清、交泰、坤宁三宫以及东西两侧的东六宫和西六宫，这是皇帝及其嫔妃居住的地方，俗称为“三宫六院”。在居住区以北还有一个小巧别致的御花园，是皇室人员游玩之所。

万岁山（后改名为景山）

 

金水河

广大的天安门广场为好的明堂

明永乐皇帝定京师于北京，按风水营建紫禁城，原来没有金水河和万岁山（后改名为景山），基于风水格局之考虑，无天然河水就要风水工力改造，成“背山面水”之格局。紫禁城正北也就是后方设有玄武门（后改名为神武门），其后需建山为屏障增靠山。这也是我们所说的左青龙右白虎前朱雀后玄武。前面是一片大广场为好的明堂。后面是靠山。

 金水河从西北方入东南出

人造山万岁山既成为紫禁城的镇山，又可阻挡北风穿堂。景山在紫禁城的北边也可以挡住寒冷的北风吹入紫禁城。金水河从万岁山(景山)西北方而来，西北方为金，金生水因此此人造河叫金水河，沿万岁山西北方注入紫禁城护城河中，河水再由西北角楼下引入紫禁城内，流入太和殿前。在后天八卦中西北方属乾位，为天门，来自天河之水，通过金水河的流动，将天上的“生气”源源不绝地引入紫禁城。再从东南流出紫禁城，东南在后天八卦中为巽卦，易经巽卦代表风，象征水从天上来而化为气。这个格局就是雨水从天而降(西北方属乾位，为天门为金，此河也被称为金水河) ，而后化为气。 

曲曲弯弯为流水有情, 直冲的水或路反而无情.

紫禁城内金水河之水从护城河西北角引入，曲曲弯弯地流经武英殿、太和殿、文渊阁、南三所、东化门等重要建筑和宫门前，既将“生气”导入，又形成风水中的“水抱有情”之势金城玉带。曲曲弯弯的金水河到东南角又流入护城河，曲曲弯弯为流水有情。直冲的水或路反而无情。

三大殿都建在‘土’字型的台基上，象征着中央土而南方属火，整个紫禁城坐北朝南。火生土，皇帝为天子，地上之皇，因此皇帝黄袍加身，黄色为土地的颜色。因此宫殿内大多数之瓦顶皆用黄色，因为普天之下莫非王土，其道理在此。五行之赤色象征火，所以紫禁城所有的墙、门、窗、柱、框一律用红色。火生土。孔子曰：南面而听天下。前天八卦的南方属天，乾为天。因此南方有天安门和天坛。

东华门 

城墙四面都有门，南有午门，北有神武门，东有东华门，西有西华门。所有的门都是9x9 81颗门钉，因为9是最大数目，但唯独东华门是9x8 72颗门钉因为东方属木，不可让木来克土呀！因此东华门的地位较小。

交泰殿

紫禁城内唯一的凤上龙下的图象 

易经里的泰卦是乾下坤上

内廷主要三宫有乾清宫、交泰殿和坤宁宫。明朝皇帝都住在乾清宫因为乾卦为最重要的男主人卦位，乾清宫象征天，而坤宁宫象征地，乾清宫比太和殿稍微小。乾为天，天为阳，坤为地，地为阴，坤宁宫为明朝皇后的住所。交泰殿为阴阳二气交会处。易经里的泰卦是乾下坤上，所以在交泰殿可以看到紫禁城内唯一的凤上龙下的图象，代表着阴阳二气交会而子孙满堂。

内廷主要三宫乾清宫、交泰殿和坤宁宫的两旁为东西六宫，有六六大顺之义，也是易经里的坤卦(三断画卦)。

 

天坛

地坛

古代铜钱

紫禁城的南方为天或易经里的乾卦，因此有天安门和天坛，天坛是圆形的因为圆形代表天。紫禁城的北方为地或易经里的坤卦，因此有地坛，地坛是方形的因为方形代表地。古代铜钱是圆形而中间有方形的洞代表着天包围着地呀！

 

玉带环抱

金水河

太和殿位于故宫正门前的金水河形状，被誉为玉带环抱“yu dai huan bao”。就像有人在拥抱和保护您。

 

您会注意到弓概念在中国北京紫禁城中的应用，人造河的建造就像弓的形状一样，是在宫殿的入口处设计的，旨在保护宫殿不受任何不好的气影响位于内部宫殿，因此受到弓保护.

 因此我总觉得要学好风水就必须先了解北京故宫紫禁城的风水。

I always feel that to learn feng shui well, one must first understand the feng shui of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Forbidden City was the palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties in modern times. It has a history of nearly six hundred years, with a total of twenty-four emperors from both dynasties, fourteen from the Ming dynasty and ten from the Qing dynasty, all living here.

 

The Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace, was built in the fourth year of the Yongle reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty (1406) and completed in the eighteenth year of the Yongle reign (1420). Its name comes from the "Purple Forbidden City," derived from the "Purple Star Enclosure" in ancient Chinese star studies. According to ancient Chinese astronomy, the stars in the sky were divided into three enclosures, four symbols, and twenty-eight mansions. Among them, the Purple Star Enclosure (the Polaris) occupies the central position. It was believed to be the dwelling place of the Heavenly Emperor (the Purple Palace), and earthly emperors, styling themselves as "Sons of Heaven," named their imperial residence after the "purple" character in homage to the Heavenly Palace. This is also one of the reasons why Emperor Yongle moved the capital from Nanjing in the south to Beijing in the north: the Polaris is in the north, so the term "Purple Central" was adopted, symbolizing the residence of the Emperor, the ruler of the world. In ancient times, the place where the emperor lived was considered a forbidden area, heavily guarded, and civilians were not allowed to step foot in it, hence the name "Forbidden City." During the feudal imperial era, ordinary people could not and dared not approach it.

 

The Forbidden City was ordered to be built by Zhu Di, the fourth son of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty. At the time, it was in the fifth year of the Yongle reign (1407). After Zhu Di was proclaimed emperor by his father Zhu Yuanzhang, he was titled the King of Yan and later launched the Jingnan Campaign, overthrowing his nephew, the Jianwen Emperor, and usurping the throne as the Yongle Emperor. When he entered Nanjing that year, the Jianwen Emperor had already disappeared without a trace, so he later sent Zheng He to the South Seas to search for the Jianwen Emperor.

 

The third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, after seizing the throne, decided to move the capital to Beijing and began the construction of this palace, which was completed in the eighteenth year of the Yongle reign (1420). At that time, Beijing was also known as Beiping, the place where Zhu Di was King of Yan. In addition, because the main threat to the Ming Dynasty at the time still came from the remnants of the Mongolian aristocracy outside the Great Wall, this was also one of the reasons for the relocation of the Yongle capital. Zhu Di seized the throne by force, so it was understandable that he moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing.

 

The Forbidden City was built according to the principles of feng shui. It is said that the Forbidden City has 9999 rooms, because the Heavenly Court has ten thousand rooms. Out of respect for the Jade Emperor, the Forbidden City cannot have more rooms than those in the Heavenly Court. However, from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City underwent continuous changes. According to statistics, the current number of rooms in the Forbidden City is more than eight thousand.

 

The Forbidden City can be roughly divided into two parts: the south is the working area, known as the Outer Court or Front Court, and the north is the living area, known as the Inner Court or Back Palace. All the buildings in the Outer Court and Inner Court are arranged on the central axis, with east-west symmetry and orderly layout. The front is the place where the emperor handles state affairs, so it is yang; the back is where the emperor rests, so it is yin, with odd numbers representing yang and even numbers representing yin.

 

The Outer Court is where the emperor handles state affairs and mainly consists of three main halls: the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony. Among them, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the tallest and most magnificent. Its proportions are 9:5, symbolizing the emperor's supreme authority. Grand ceremonies such as enthronement, weddings, decrees, military commands, and expeditions are all held here.

 

The Inner Court includes the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, as well as the Eastern Six Palaces and the Western Six Palaces on both sides. This is where the emperor and his concubines reside, commonly referred to as the "Three Palaces and Six Courts." North of the residential area, there is a small and exquisite Imperial Garden, where members of the imperial family can relax and enjoy themselves.

 

Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty established the capital in Beijing and built the Forbidden City according to feng shui principles. Originally, there was no Jinshui River and Wansui Mountain (later renamed Jing Mountain). Based on feng shui considerations, without natural river water, the feng shui had to be altered, resulting in the "backed by mountains and facing water" pattern. In the north of the Forbidden City, there is also the Xuanwu Gate (later renamed Shenwu Gate). Behind it, a mountain had to be built as a barrier to increase reliance on the mountain. This is also what we call the left Azure Dragon, right White Tiger, front Vermilion Bird, and back Xuanwu. In front is a large square for the Ming Hall. Behind is the reliance on the mountain.

 

The artificial mountain, Wansui Mountain, not only serves as the support for the Forbidden City but also help to block the northern cool wind from blowing through. The Jinshui River flows from the northwest of Wansui Mountain. As the northwest represents metal, and metal generates water, this artificial river is called the Jinshui River. It flows along the west foot of Wansui Mountain into the moat of the Forbidden City, then is led into the Forbidden City from the northwest corner tower and flows into the front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. In the later Heaven Eight Diagrams, the northwest belongs to the Qian position, which is the Heavenly Gate, from which comes the water of the Heavenly River. Through the flow of the Jinshui River, the "vital energy" from the sky is continuously introduced into the Forbidden City. It then flows out of the Forbidden City to the southeast. In the later Heaven Eight Diagrams, the southeast belongs to the Xun position, which represents wind, symbolizing water descending from the sky and transforming into air. This pattern is like rain falling from the sky (the northwest belongs to the Qian position, which is the Heavenly Gate, and this river is also called the Jinshui River), and then transforming into air.

The water of the Jinshui River within the Forbidden City is introduced from the northwest corner of the moat, flowing in a winding path through important buildings and palace gates such as the Wuying Hall, the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Wen Yuan Ge, the Three Palaces in the south, and the East Hua Gate. This not only introduces "vital energy" but also forms the feng shui principle of "water embracing sentiment," akin to a golden city girdled by a jade belt. The winding Jinshui River flows back into the moat from the southeast corner, embodying the sentiment of flowing water. Conversely, straight-flowing water or roads lack this sentiment.

 

All three main halls are built on a '土' (earth) shaped platform, symbolizing the central earth while the south belongs to fire, with the entire Forbidden City facing north. Fire generates earth, and the emperor is the Son of Heaven, the emperor on earth, hence the emperor wears a yellow robe, as yellow is the color of the earth. Therefore, most of the roofs in the palace are yellow, symbolizing the earth, as all the earth belongs to the emperor. The color red, symbolizing fire, is used for all walls, gates, windows, pillars, and frames in the Forbidden City. Fire generates earth. Confucius said: "Facing south and listening to the world." The south of the Pre-Heaven Eight Trigrams belongs to heaven, and Qian represents heaven. Hence, the south has Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven.

 

There are gates on all four sides of the city walls: the Meridian Gate in the south, the Gate of Divine Military Eminence in the north, the East Flowery Gate in the east, and the West Flowery Gate in the west. All gates have 81 door studs in a 9x9 arrangement, as 9 is the largest number. However, the East Flowery Gate has 72 door studs in a 9x8 arrangement because the east belongs to wood, and wood should not overcome earth. Therefore, the East Flowery Gate has a relatively smaller stature.

 

The three main palaces in the Inner Court are the Palace of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility. The emperors of the Ming Dynasty lived in the Palace of Heavenly Purity because Qian represents the most important male master position. The Palace of Heavenly Purity symbolizes heaven, while the Palace of Earthly Tranquility symbolizes earth. The Palace of Heavenly Purity is slightly smaller than the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Qian represents heaven, which is yang, while Kun represents earth, which is yin. The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is the residence of the empress of the Ming Dynasty. The Hall of Union is where the Yin and Yang energies meet. In the Book of Changes, the Tai Hexagram has Qian below and Kun above, so in the Hall of Union, you can see the unique image of a phoenix above and a dragon below, symbolizing the convergence of Yin and Yang energies and the prosperity of offspring.

 

On both sides of the three main palaces, there are the Eastern and Western Six Palaces, symbolizing smoothness and harmony. This also corresponds to the Kun Hexagram (three-stroke hexagram) in the Book of Changes.

 

The south of the Forbidden City represents heaven or the Qian Hexagram in the Book of Changes, hence the presence of Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven is round because the circle represents heaven. The north of the Forbidden City represents earth or the Kun Hexagram in the Book of Changes, hence the presence of the Earth Altar. The Earth Altar is square because the square represents earth. In ancient times, bronze coins were round with a square hole in the middle, representing heaven surrounding earth!

 

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is located in front of the main entrance of the Forbidden City, shaped like the Jinshui River, and is praised as being embraced by a jade belt. It's like someone embracing and protecting you.

 

You'll notice the concept of a bow applied in the Forbidden City of Beijing, where the construction of the artificial river is shaped like a bow, designed at the entrance of the palace to protect it from any negative qi influence. It's situated within the internal palace, hence protected by the bow.