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Chapter 2 Fortunate People Naturally Dwell in Fortunate Places
I told them the whole story, explaining the sequence of events. The flow of water, the surrounding mountains, the embrace of nature, the gathering of spirits, the essence of the land, and the emergence of talent...
These idioms are familiar to many, but few know that their origins are closely tied to China's mysterious culture—Feng Shui. “Feng Shui” is a term shrouded in mystery and even carries certain taboos. Supporters regard it as one of the traditional cultures, attributing almost magical qualities to it; detractors dismiss it as feudal superstition and historical detritus, condemning it vehemently.
Opinions vary widely, and there is no consensus. However, Feng Shui thrives in the Countryside, especially in remote mountain villages. In places like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, it has also gained a prominent status; government officials consult Feng Shui when building official residences; companies consider Feng Shui when constructing buildings; offices and homes must also heed Feng Shui; even when an elder passes away, Feng Shui is consulted, as it is said to bless future generations...
A Feng Shui Master, also known as a Feng Shui Master, is often revered by the public. Since they utilize the principles of Yin Yang to interpret situations and are believed to interact with the realm of Yin Yang, they are also referred to as Yin Yang Masters.
Those in this profession have many intriguing experiences, and I often hear elders recount stories about selecting Feng Shui. These tales can be captivating and provoke deep thoughts.
There was an elderly Feng Shui master who once shared a story about his Master. His Master was named Liu, and outsiders called him “Lame Foot.” This Mr. Liu was also from Jiangxi and had remarkable skills in observing Feng Shui.
Once upon a time, there was a gentleman named Yang who was known for his kindness and generosity throughout several dozen miles; he was affectionately called Yang the Kind-hearted. Approaching sixty years old, he was still spirited and rosy-cheeked, always cheerful and able to converse with anyone.
Yang Yuanwai’s ancestors were from another region. Due to famine in their hometown, his family fled here during his father's generation; at that time, Yang Yuanwai was very young and had been carried here on a shoulder pole by his father. His mother passed away at seventy, buried casually in what locals call a temporary burial site—not officially designated as a Cemetery. His father is now over eighty years old but fell ill suddenly. After consulting several Physicians, he passed away within a few days without much suffering; people said he had accumulated virtue over his lifetime. When preparing for his father's funeral, it was essential to choose an auspicious site for burial so that both parents could be interred together as an Ancestral Grave. This is highly regarded in the Countryside, where consulting a Feng Shui Master is crucial. According to local beliefs, whether the chosen site for the Ancestral Grave is good or not directly affects the fortune of future generations and relates to the rise or fall of the family—it's not something to be taken lightly. Thus, selecting a Cemetery is considered paramount and must be approached with great caution. Yang Yuanwai was no exception; he invited the most renowned Feng Shui Master in the area—none other than the aforementioned Lame Foot Mr. Liu.
The Feng Shui Master, known for his wisdom and authority, could not be treated lightly. Naturally, Yang Yuanwai prepared seven dishes and eight bowls for him with warm hospitality. After they finished their meal, Yang Yuanwai asked about the principles of “Feng Shui.” The master replied: “The geography of a Yin Zhai requires water to conceal wind; this is also called Feng Shui. Water has its auspiciousness or inauspiciousness while wind can bring harm. Tomorrow you will take me around your village to observe the mountains, assess water conditions, and measure wind directions to determine an auspicious spot.” Yang Yuanwai readily agreed and served the master for rest.
The next morning, after the master finished washing up, a pot of wine and four dishes were served. Seeing that Yang Yuanwai treated him with kindness and sincerity, the master thought: This person truly has a good heart; I will certainly find him a good Cemetery.
Before dawn broke, the master slung his bag over his shoulder while Yang Yuanwai carried an axe on his shoulder and held another axe in hand as they left the village together. The master remarked: This is indeed the best time to observe energy flows and determine auspicious locations.
They arrived at a ridge east of the village where the master carefully observed the mountains north, west, and south of the village—their shapes, orientations, and terrain—and then said to Yang Yuanwai: “The northern mountain has imposing momentum with strong energy flow that halts at your village; its slopes gradually stabilize allowing energy to gather; two streams converge below creating a dragon vein—a good place indeed. Most families in your village live prosperously with many descendants; let us seek an auspicious site there.” The two headed straight toward the northern mountain.
However, upon hearing this from the master, Yang Yuanwai thought: If this northern mountain benefits all villagers, I cannot allow my own family's needs for energy flow to harm my neighbors. Once this thought crossed his mind, it caused great trouble for the Feng Shui Master. The master looked around carefully but struggled to find an auspicious spot to recommend to Yang Yuanwai. When asked if it would affect others or if it would be good for them too, he replied: “I am finding you a suitable site for your family’s burial; why should I concern myself with others?” To which Yang Yuanwai responded: “What benefits my family must also benefit others. If it only benefits me while harming others, I would feel uneasy about it—I cannot accept that.” Thus they spent all morning without finding a suitable location.
At noon they had lunch again with wine and dishes served.
In the afternoon they repeated their efforts from earlier—busy yet fruitless for half a day without any results.
The next day, it was another morning with no results. The gentleman was truly frustrated and sat down in a large wasteland, telling Yang Yuanwai, "You should seek someone more capable; I am leaving."
Yang Yuanwai pleaded with him, determined to keep him. The gentleman said, "You have high expectations; I cannot satisfy you. What use is it to force me to stay?"
Yang Yuanwai replied, "It's not that I have high expectations. As common folk, we would be satisfied with peace and harmony; we just fear causing harm to others, which weighs on our conscience."
The gentleman said, "After traveling so far, I've almost seen all the auspicious sites in Beishan; I can no longer look for one."
Yang Yuanwai continued to plead, but the gentleman insisted on leaving. One wanted to go, while the other desperately wanted him to stay. After half an hour of soft and hard persuasion from Yang Yuanwai, the gentleman still refused to remain. Yang Yuanwai said, "If you must go, how can I keep you? Since I've wasted two days of your time, please tell me your fee." This meant he was asking how much the gentleman wanted as payment.
The gentleman replied, "Since no auspicious site has been determined, just give me some travel expenses."
Yang Yuanwai said, "If that's the case, what do you think of this place where we are sitting? I think it's not much different from the places we've seen these past two days."
The gentleman took a rough look around and said, "It could work. You should ask someone else to take a look."
Yang Yuanwai responded, "If you say it’s fine, then why bother asking someone else? Is there any hindrance for others in this place?"
The gentleman thought: This place is most likely to deceive people; at first glance, it seems like a suitable location. However, upon closer inspection: there is water that does not accumulate on one side of the slope in front of the grave; the vegetation around the grave is sparse and lacks vitality; five distinctly shaped stones are scattered across the wasteland, resembling five tigers searching for food; thus it is known as "Five Tigers Seizing a Sheep Land," which is an extremely ominous site that would be detrimental to its occupants. What harm could it cause others? It's just that Yang Yuanwai is too kind-hearted. Alas, perhaps this is his fate; after searching for so many good cemeteries and being picky about them, he ends up choosing this place. He then said, "It won't hinder others; just ask someone else to take a look when you use it."
After returning home, Yang Yuanwai treated the gentleman with good food and drink before presenting him with a red plate of payment. The gentleman thought that since no cemetery had been confirmed yet, he should take less money and only accepted one-third of what was offered. Yang Yuanwai refused to agree and insisted on giving the full amount to the gentleman. As he left, the gentleman reminded Yang Yuanwai: "You should ask an expert to take a careful look again; do not be careless or reckless; I truly have matters at home and cannot linger any longer."
Yang Yuanwai replied, "With your assessment, I feel at ease."
Later on, the Feng Shui Master learned that Yang Yuanwai had not consulted any other experts and buried his parents in "Five Tigers Seizing a Sheep Land." He felt deep regret but could not voice it. Three years later in autumn, he could no longer bear the guilt on his conscience and decided to visit Yang Yuanwai. Along the way, he thought: Yang Yuanwai's surname is Yang; this place is also known as “Five Tigers Seizing a Sheep,” so his family must have declined. If this continues, it might endanger his family's safety. I must persuade him to relocate the grave and help him find a good cemetery.
When he arrived at Yang Yuanwai's doorstep, he was taken aback; everything had changed: tall gates, high yard walls, blue brick buildings with glazed tiles—what an impressive sight! Clearly, he had become a wealthy landowner. The Feng Shui Master couldn't help but sigh and thought: This is bad; Yang Yuanwai must have been so poor that he sold his house and moved far away—how regretful!
Just then, the main entrance creaked open with a sound as a young man and an elegantly dressed elder walked out. The Feng Shui Master looked without thinking but was shocked upon seeing that the elder was none other than Yang Yuanwai himself! Clearly prosperous now. He clasped his hands together and exclaimed: "Yang Yuanwai has prospered! Congratulations!"
Yang Yuanwai recognized him at once as the Feng Shui Master from three years ago and said repeatedly: "Benefactor has come! It’s been three or four years since we last met; I sought you several times without success. Today’s encounter is truly fate—please come in for a chat!"
The two of them entered the Main Entrance hand in hand. The Feng Shui Master admired the courtyard within a courtyard. The deep residence with doors upon doors left him praising outwardly, but inwardly he felt uneasy.
Once the banquet was set, Yang Yuanwai filled a cup to the brim and respectfully presented it to the Master, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness. Ever since my parents were buried in the auspicious location you chose, there have been few changes over the past year, though there were some minor setbacks. However, two years later, my fortunes surged rapidly; first, I engaged in salt trading, and then I opened a pawnshop, both of which were very successful. I have sought you several times to express my gratitude, but unfortunately, I could never find you. Where have you been?"
The Master replied, "Since spring, I have been traveling to Jiangnan with friends. I did not seek profit but rather aimed to enjoy the beautiful mountains and rivers for a pleasant mood. Today, passing through your esteemed place and seeing your success brings me great joy. I wish you continued prosperity." The two of them drank heartily until late into the night and then shared a room for the night.
The next morning, at the Master's request, Yang Yuanwai led him to his parents' grave. Upon entering the Cemetery, the Master noticed that after enduring wind and rain, the small ravine in front of the Cemetery had been leveled out. The trees on the back mountain were lush, and both sides were overgrown with grass and trees; it was indeed a prosperous Cemetery. However, he noticed that the five large stones that used to be in front of the grave were gone.
The Master thought to himself: This place is quite different from before. He then asked Yang Yuanwai where those five stones had gone.
Yang Yuanwai replied, "I thought that Yin Zhai and Yang Residence are similar; it would be inconvenient for my parents if they wanted to come out for a walk with those stones blocking their way. Coincidentally, six months after burying my parents, it rained continuously right after the beginning of autumn, creating many pits in front of the grave. So I built an earthen mound at the edge of the wasteland; to prevent it from being washed away by rainwater, I filled the lower part of the mound with grass and branches. Those five stones were placed on top of the grass and branches and ended up buried underground."
The Feng Shui Master inquired about the approximate locations of those five stones and repeatedly exclaimed, "Good good good! Wonderful wonderful wonderful! This is 'Five Tigers Guarding the Sheep Land.' You also have the surname Yang; with tigers guarding sheep, who would dare harm them? How could you not prosper?"
Yang Yuanwai repeatedly said: "You are truly wise; I will certainly reward you generously." The Feng Shui Master quickly replied, "I dare not accept such praise." He then clapped his hands and laughed heartily, saying: "Embrace water and hide wind; prosper in beautiful land; leave it for those with virtue to claim; those who cultivate hidden virtues will invite heavenly honors; those who study Feng Shui do their best."
Yang Yuanwai asked: "What do you mean by that?"
The Master replied: "I am echoing my teacher's teachings. When one does good deeds and accumulates virtue, heaven will surely bless you with wealth and nobility." After saying this, he cupped his hands in farewell and returned home...
This perfectly illustrates the old saying: Fortunate People Naturally Dwell in Fortunate Places!
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