The Compass School (represented by the SAN YUAN School) studies the effects of Time (celestial energies) and Space (earthly energies) on people’s well-being. In particular, it involves the use of the complex ‘Flying Stars’ method.
The Compass is the tool of this discipline. The Compass School’s method is highly mathematical and relies on reflection, observation and experimentation rather than intuitive insight.
The Compass School is based on the principle that each of the eight cardinal directions (North, North-West, West, South-West, South, South-East, East, North-East) corresponds to a different type of Qi. It therefore uses special formulas to identify auspicious or inauspicious directions and sectors. The concepts on which it is based are as follows:
- The concept of HETU
HETU is a diagram composed of black and white dots. It represents the ideal world, where everything is in perfect harmony. Legend speaks of an arrangement of black and white dots discovered on the back of a dragon-horse. However, it is believed that its mysterious origin, several centuries before Christ, stems from the observations of the ancients, who identified and recorded patterns in the heavens, forming the basis for the revelation of the universe’s secrets. Its meaning remains elusive even today, lending it a divine connotation.
- The concept of the LUOSHU
The LUOSHU is a diagram composed of black and white squares. It represents the movement, transformation and interaction of Qi. Legend has it that this arrangement of squares was discovered on the back of a tortoise. The Chinese believe that the magic square is a divine gift, as its origins date back to several centuries before Christ. However, it is highly likely that it is the product of the observations of the ancients. The sum of the numbers on each horizontal, vertical or diagonal line is equal to 15.
- The concept of the BAGUA (or PA KUA)
The Eight Trigrams of the BAGUA are building blocks that represent a model of movement and change in nature and within ourselves. In the East, intuitive wisdom has always taken precedence over rational knowledge. The whole of nature is seen as a network of independent yet interconnected events. These events, phases or patterns are arranged in a harmonious model representing all possible situations, whether relating to nature or to human beings. This model is known as the principle of the 8 trigrams (BAGUA). In Feng Shui, the movement, change and interactions of Qi in relation to Time and Space determine your state of well-being. The 8 Trigrams represent phases of transition manifesting in nature and in human beings. The 8 Trigrams are related to elements such as magnetic directions, colors, parts of the body, illnesses and numbers.
- The Flying Stars Concept
The Flying Stars concept is a complex and sophisticated mathematical technique that examines how Time and Space affect a dwelling and, consequently, its inhabitants. It relies primarily on the concepts of magnetic orientation and the year of construction of the dwelling, information which enables its characteristics to be determined. This technique focuses on the consequences of changes in forces linked to shifts in periods. It therefore uses special formulas to identify auspicious or inauspicious directions and sectors. Flying Star Feng Shui enables one to monitor the evolution of influences within the home throughout the year by studying the influence of intangible terrestrial forces.
