The main content of “The Eight Mansions Mirror” is that it is a widely circulated and influential feng shui book for Yangzhai, also known as the “Eight Mansions Law”. The following is a detailed introduction to its main content:
1、 Book Background and Author
The time and author of the book: “The Eight Mansions Mirror” is said to have been written by Yang Yunsong, a master of feng shui in the Tang Dynasty, and then re edited by Ruoguan Daoist during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The version of the book published by Lezhentang in the 55th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty is relatively complete, but there are some errors, and no one has conducted comprehensive correction and revision for more than 200 years.
Status and Influence: “The Eight Mansions Mirror” is a masterpiece of the Eight Mansions School, which dominated the field of ancient Chinese geomancy and remained prosperous for a long time. It simplifies complexity and presents arguments that are easily accepted by people, making complex feng shui theories more intuitive and understandable.
2、 Content Structure and Characteristics
Comprehensive content: “The Eight Mansions Mirror” is very rich in content, covering various aspects of feng shui in Yangzhai, including people’s age, three elements, doors, stoves, auspicious and inauspicious directions, etc.
Clear structure: The book progresses from shallow to deep, step by step, making it easy for even beginners in feng shui to understand, apply, and use immediately.
Illustration and text: Some versions may come with illustrations and charts to visually demonstrate Feng Shui theory and operational methods.
3、 Main theories and viewpoints
Classification of people and houses:
The Eight Mansions Mirror divides people and houses into eight categories, and then categorizes them into two main types: east and west. The East Fourth Destiny is suitable for living in the East Fourth Residence, while the West Fourth Destiny is suitable for living in the West Fourth Residence. The combination of residence and destiny is auspicious, and the opposite is not advisable.
Three elements and lifespan:
The book emphasizes the relationship between a person’s lifespan and the three elements (upper element, middle element, lower element) and the feng shui of Yangzhai. By determining a person’s birth year and three elements to determine their destiny chart, one can infer the suitable type of Yang Mansion to live in.
Door, stove, and auspicious or inauspicious side:
The Eight Mansions Mirror elaborates in detail on the importance of doors, stoves, and auspicious and inauspicious directions in the feng shui of Yangzhai. The orientation of the door, the location of the stove, and the layout of the auspicious and inauspicious sides all affect the fortune of the residence and the well-being of the residents.
The book proposes specific operating methods, such as how to determine the auspicious and inauspicious directions of the door, how to arrange the stove seat and fire door, etc.
Marriage and Feng Shui:
In addition to the feng shui of Yangzhai, “Eight Mansions Mirror” also proposes specific operational methods for men and women in marriage. Inferring the goodness, fortune, and inauspiciousness of marriage through the matching of fortune hexagrams.
4、 Practical application and impact
Practical application: “The Eight Mansions Mirror” is not only a theoretical work, but also has strong practical application value. In ancient times, many people would choose, layout, and build residential buildings based on the theories in books to improve their living environment and enhance their fortune.
Profound influence: “The Eight Mansions Mirror” has had a profound impact on the development of feng shui in later generations of Yangzhai. Its theory and viewpoints have been widely quoted and referenced by later generations of feng shui masters, becoming an important reference in the field of Yangzhai feng shui.
5、 Modern Values and Controversy
Modern Value: In modern society, “The Eight Mansions Mirror” still has certain reference value. It can help people better understand the theories and perspectives of feng shui in Yangzhai, as well as how to improve fortune and quality of life by adjusting the residential environment.
Controversy and criticism: Of course, “The Eight Mansions Mirror” also faces some controversy and criticism. Some people believe that its theory is too superstitious and lacks scientific basis; But others believe that although it has some truth, it cannot be completely relied upon to predict and change fate. We need to maintain an objective and rational attitude towards these controversies and criticisms, recognizing both their possible rationality and value, as well as their limitations and shortcomings.
In summary, “The Eight Mansions Mirror” is a Yangzhai Feng Shui book with rich content, clear structure, and a balance between theory and practice. It holds an important position in the field of feng shui in ancient Chinese houses and has had a profound impact on later generations. However, in modern society, we also need to approach its theories and viewpoints with a scientific attitude.