National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-01-24

hands of designing men, playing upon
the superstitious fears of the people, and
exaggerating the effects of the conjunc-
tion of certain material influences upon
outward events this system of geomancy
has become mighty power, and has i'm
posed a yoke of most CALLING bondage
upon the people. They have associated
it with ancestral worship, 80 that the two
are interviewer and combine to form the
strongest barrier to progress and en-
lightenment of every kind. In explana-
ton of its principles the flung" wind is
said TO be the cold air which issues from
the earth, and it is in all cases desirable
that there be no hollow or depression
near grave lest this evil wind blow into
1t and disturb
THE COFFIN OR THE BONES.
The "Shui water" pertains to the con-
| fguration of the earth, which is sup
| posed to be caused by the dragon whose
shape is discerned in the uneven line of
ruts along the horizon. Tho home of the
dragon is in the water, in whose winding
course he delights. Tracing tho water to
| its source we come to the meeting place
of the dragons-the fountain-head Of the
influences that control human destiny (;
hence over the gates Of many villages
may be seen the words "Ui-Lung,"
meeting of dragons" indicating the pro-
pitious sto of the town. The dragon Is
all-important. Ho has power to give
prosperity to the land, to bring glory to
the king and honor to the sage, and is the
symbol Of all superiority and success in
social, political, and moral affairs. Hence
it appears that the water courses as the
haunts of dragons are of tho first import
ance, their source, direction, or conjunc-
ton with each other, and the influences
resulting, being determined by tho geo.
mancer's compass. If, for instance, in
the case of grave the water flows past a
certain point of the compass tho descend
ants will be prosperous; if itpasses at an
other anglo distress will overtako them.
| This compass, so necessary in determining
every location, has
TWELVE CYCLICAL CHARACTERS
analogous to the twelve signs of the 20
diac inscribed at equal distances around
the outer circle. The first is at tho
northern extremity, aud is placed at the
back of the tomb which, unless for special
reasons, always faces south. The order
In which the signs are read and calcula-
lions made is from east to west accord
ing TO tho diurnal motion, us IL appears
to tn EN-, of the sun and stars. If u bend
in the water course is noted to tho forth,
it indicates that the descendants. If poor,
will be thieves, or, If rich that they will
be robbed. If the same sign appears on
the northeast, 1t shows that the descend
ants will die young or DO left widows, or,
worse still, men without children. If
tho bend in the water course occurs to
the cast they will become vagabOnds. At
the next point disturbance and rebellion
arc indicated. At tho next a snake will
~ itga1f In fha tomb causing rngf-
lessncss to the bones of the deceased. and,
consequently, to the fortunes of his pos
terity, bringing the evil wind of un-
happy destiny with special force TO blast
their prospects.
The water in front Of tomb should
never he stagnant, but always run-
ming in stream. Riches and rank are
supposed to dow capriciously from point
TO point, hence so much depends ON the
course of tho water as it flows by the
tomb. The cutting of roads or tho build
ing of bridges or dams may alter the
course of the water and disturb the nat
ural influences of the place, and man
may be ruined in fortune by the displaoo-
ment of a hundred weight Of earth be-
hind the grave of his grandfather.
In building houses, ancestral halls tenn
pies and laying the foundation of villages
the service OF the geomancer is absolutely
necessary to secure tho proper conjunc-
tiou of good influences. In front of u
village, for instance. straight road lead
ing directly out of IL, with people going
and coming or small stream flowing in
a straight course from it, are said to dissi-
pate the good influences. An open air
altar u bamboo grove or groves in front,
aud TO have the left side low and the
right high are all unlucky signs. The