Opening

太陽頑金無紋浪，須打開深壙作窩，約取中堂。金魚會處，定穴懸棺而葬，取中小溫潤氣，謂開金取水，發須遲而綿遠不敗。

A round, fat greater-yang metal-star mountain-face is blunt, and not a thread of ripple or wave can be seen. One must then open a deep pit by hand, making a nest-form, taken roughly in the middle stretch of the mountain-face. Mark the point where the two golden-fish waters meet, hang the coffin in the pit and bury, in order to take that one point of warm, moist qi. This method is called 'opening metal and taking water'—opening bounding water on blunt metal. The issuing of blessing comes late, yet it lasts long and far and will not fall.

來龍脈急而無緩，有分有合，穴結深泥，打開實處而見實土，並內用磚石結起巨壙，豎四石柱於壙內，懸棺而下。壙前相接金池，放三吉之水，去壘土成墳，以接生氣。

The incoming dragon's vein is urgent and never shows a level, gentle stretch, yet above there is dividing water and below joining water, the bounds clear; the point, however, gathers in deep mud. The method is to dig the mud away until solid earth is seen, build a large tomb-chamber of brick and stone within the pit, raise four stone pillars in the chamber, and hang the coffin on the pillars and lower it. In front of the chamber join a 'golden pool' (a small storing pool), let out water of the three auspicious directions, then heap earth to make the mound, so as to receive the living qi.

來龍有蓋有座，上急下緩，為之墜脈，所以平地生突，突中有石，不可用工掘鑿，似借外城，淺開金井，浮土正葬，壘土成墳，先富後貴之地也。

The incoming dragon has a cover-mountain above and a seat below; the upper stretch is urgent and the lower stretch gentle. This kind of vein is called a 'dropping vein,' and so can generate a bubble-bulge on level ground. If there is stone in the bulge, one must not set to work and chisel it; that stone serves exactly as a ring of outer wall protecting the point. The method is to open a golden well shallow, bury upright on the floating earth, then heap earth to make the mound. This is a ground that first issues wealth and afterward issues honor.

來龍有情，頭高而穴偏，或側臂頓起圓金，到頭入手，有鼠肉受穴，水星外應，有金水相生之義，為大腕偏受。一伏再頓小金，有迎堂顧祖之意，為小剜正受。此則不可開井太深，更宜高立墳城，恐來勢聳而壓穴也。凡術者宜有裁度，用之可也。

The incoming dragon has feeling; the dragon's head is high and the point leans to one side. If a side arm suddenly raises a round metal star, and at the place where it arrives and is taken in hand there is a patch soft and full like rat's flesh that can receive a point, and outside a water-star mountain answers, joining the meaning of metal and water generating each other, this is called 'the large wrist received from the side.' If after lying down it again raises a small metal star, carrying the intent of facing the Bright Hall and looking back to the ancestral mountain, this is called 'the small scoop received upright.' For this class the golden well must not be opened too deep, and the grave-wall should further be built somewhat high, because the incoming force stands high and one fears it will press the point. In all, the practitioner must weigh and cut for himself, and use it according to the ground.

來龍高岡有窟，窟中有突，突頂正葬，須從穴前挖開，下面吞進，突下安穴。不可深開鉗壙，金骨淺安井內，否則卓棺為吉。葬後培墳，如舊土不動，馬鬣之封微露，不可用磚石結砌，侵損其突。

The incoming dragon runs on a high ridge; on the ridge there is a nest-hollow, and in the hollow a bubble-bulge swells again. The point is buried upright on the crown of the bulge. The method is to dig open from in front of the point, 'swallow' inward, and set the point below the bulge. The pincer-shaped tomb-pit must not be opened too deep; the ancestor's bones are set shallow within the golden well. If they cannot be set shallow, it is auspicious to stand the coffin upright. After burial heap the mound, keeping the old earth unmoved, and let the grave-head rise only in a faint line like the mane on a horse's neck (this is the look of 'horse-mane sealing'). One must not build with brick and stone, lest the bubble-bulge be injured.

龍勢急硬，過關峽生<鼻勾><鼻合>轉回，脈從回面結，顧祖迎堂，宗族皆轉。朝揖玄微，不必拘於真與不真。穴宜高遷，深開金井，謂之黃金登水，墓登砂是也。

The dragon-force is both urgent and hard; after passing the pass it generates a winding stretch (here two characters in the base text are rare graphs, recorded as they stand) and turns back. The vein gathers a point on the face of that turning, looking back to the ancestral mountain and facing the Bright Hall, and the clan of companion mountains turn with it. The courting and bowing feeling of the case on this kind of ground is dark and fine; one need not insist on whether it looks like a standard courting mountain. The point should be moved toward the high, and the golden well opened deep; this is called 'yellow gold mounting water,' that is, the grave mounting on the surrounding hills.

龍神盡處有突兀之結，案迫前砂而穴露，其氣不聚，後龍壘來，草蛇灰線，過脈分明，穴須退後高扦，取騎龍下，深井放棺，填補明堂，以全造化也。

At the place where the dragon-spirit reaches its end there is a sudden gathering, yet the case-mountain presses close on the front surrounding hills, the site of the point is too exposed, and qi cannot gather. The dragon behind comes in layer upon layer; the passing vein is like a snake in grass or a line in ash, faint yet clearly to be told. On this kind of ground the point should be drawn back and planted toward the high, taking the point downward while riding the dragon's spine. Open the golden well deep and set the coffin, then fill and make up the Bright Hall, so as to complete the creation of this ground.

來龍峻急入穴，須有情而堂氣迫狹，外山外水左右交結，橫觀外堂，寬展氣脈，側受穴用，提起扦之。開井不淺不深，酌中裁剪，容土培就，貼身雌雄，扯後拿前。葬過一紀，世出富豪特達之士也。

The incoming dragon charges steeply and urgently into the site of the point; though it has feeling, the qi of the Bright Hall is cramped and narrow. Fortunately the outer mountains and outer waters meet and gather on left and right; looking across at the outer hall it is broad and easy, and the qi-vein has a remainder. On this kind of ground one should receive from the side to take the point, lifting the point up to plant it. Open the golden well neither shallow nor deep, weigh and cut to the mean, and use guest earth to heap it into form. At the place that clings to the body one must distinguish female and male (hollow and bulge); hold behind and grasp in front. After burial has passed one cycle—twelve years—generations will produce the wealthy and persons of outstanding talent.

來龍高岡脈緊，穴情似有似無，登□□望龍，方明端的。巒頭須金水帳脫下平中小結，入首有鋪茵停車駐馬之驛也。十字之中，深開金井，高砌墳成，依法裁剪，自有妙理。

The incoming dragon runs on a high ridge; the vein-qi is held tight, and the feeling of the point looks as if it were there and as if it were not. One must climb to a high place (here two characters are missing in the base text) and look far at the incoming dragon before the true pattern can be told. The ridge-head should be what has unloaded from beneath a curtain of metal-star and water-star, gathering a small gathering on the level; the place of entry is flat like a post-station spread with a cushion, where one may halt the carriage and rest the horse. The method is to open the golden well deep at the exact center of the crossing of the cross, build the mound somewhat high, and cut and settle according to the method; it naturally has its wondrousness.

直龍枕險又無纏護，左右前後卻有鬼曜，翻身橫作，連山取水，以接生氣，情如斗斧拱揖。前朝不許，時師妄為測度，蓋出勢直來橫受，故知之難也。

A dragon that comes straight pillows on a steep place, and on the four sides there are no wrapping surrounding hills; yet left and right, before and behind, there are ghost stars and shining stars (leftover branches trailing behind the point, and pointed stones at the feet of the surrounding hills). On this kind of ground one should turn the body and make the point across, joining the mountain-force to receive the water, and thereby receive the living qi. The feeling of the form is like an axe-head joining its handle, bowing with hands clasped. Even if there is no proper courting mountain in front it does not matter; commonplace masters often guess wildly here—because the outgoing vein comes straight and the point must be received across, it is the hardest to recognize.

來龍橫過轉跌降脈，穴情有若蜂腰之勢，合天財兩頭金樣，後有正托，樂於仰掌中直扦。開井不用太深，吞棺三分之一，太深則反傷穴也。前關住堂氣不洩，發福永久，若砂水真去為凶，此天財相似也。

Where the incoming dragon passes across it turns, drops, and sends a vein down. The feeling of the point is drawn in fine like a wasp's waist; at each end a metal star swells, matching the pattern of 'Heavenly Wealth' (an earth star with metal at both ends). Behind there is a regular supporting mountain. The point is planted in the exact middle of that palm-like level ground. The golden well need not be opened too deep; one third of the coffin's body swallowed in is enough—too deep instead injures the point. In front surrounding hills bar and hold, the hall-qi does not leak, and the issuing of blessing lasts long. If the surrounding hills fly and the waters run, truly flowing away without turning back, that is inauspicious. This pattern is very similar to the Heavenly Wealth pattern.

來龍上急下緩，雌雄交度，堂氣分明，應案秀出，龍虎面前迫逼扦穴可要上穿龍虎腰，下取交合水，橫抱如人抱兒之狀也。

The incoming dragon is urgent in the upper stretch and gentle in the lower; hollow and bulge, yin and yang, pass into each other. The qi of the Bright Hall is clear; the answering case in front stands out elegant. Only, the two surrounding hills of Azure Dragon and White Tiger press very close before the point. In planting the point one should pass above through the waists of the two surrounding hills of dragon and tiger, and below take the place where the two waters join, letting the surrounding hills embrace the site of the point across—the form like a person holding a child in the arms.

其來龍勢直落斜，擺屈睜受，穴法宜吞入，開井以聚真氣，後應其樂，前迎其朝，此乃大富不絕佳城也。穴情雖高，葬於前面，再立一虛壎，名吞下，須要有應托為吉。

The incoming dragon's force falls straight and then turns aslant; only after swinging and bending does it open its eyes to receive a point. The method of the point on this kind of ground should use 'Swallow': take the coffin in, and open the golden well to gather true qi. Behind there should be a music-mountain answering; in front there should be a courting mountain receiving. This is a fine grave-ground of unbroken great wealth. Though the feeling of the point leans high, one should bury in front and separately raise a dummy earth-heap as a mark; this is called 'Swallowing Down,' and there must be an answering mountain and a supporting mountain before it counts as auspicious.

來龍降勢，狀若草露流珠之情，為吐息露珠，侵損則真氣散矣。只可粘蹤，小開金井，低壘磚城。若水不流泥，前有秀應，必為鉅富貴之地。

The incoming dragon comes down, shaped like a drop of dew on a blade of grass that is about to fall and has not yet fallen; this is called 'spitting-breath dew-pearl.' The moment one moves earth and injures it, the true qi scatters at once. Therefore one can only Adhere-bury, clinging to the track of the vein; the golden well is opened very small, and the brick grave-wall is also heaped very low. If the site of the point does not put forth muddy water, and in front there is further an elegant answering mountain, it is sure to be a ground of great wealth and great honor.

其來龍入手，情勢低平，夾輔高出，穴中必有曲窠，藏其真氣，四水不拂，八風不吹，宜淺開金井，正放其棺，法不待饒。用客土添培，厚築其墓，使暖氣相接，真脈沖融，則富貴立至。

Where the incoming dragon is taken in hand the configuration is low and level, while the flanking surrounding hills on both sides stand higher than the site of the point. In the point there is sure to be a small bent nest hiding the true qi; the waters on four sides do not scour, and the winds of the eight directions cannot blow in. On this kind of ground one should open the golden well shallow, set the coffin upright, and there is no need to use yielding and reducing to shift the point. Then add guest earth and build the mound thick, so that the warm qi in the ground joins the coffin and the true vein runs through in harmony; wealth and honor arrive at once.

來龍情高護矮，降氣必然深入，聚氣朝應有情，關闌未甚周密，其穴打低平下夾輔方為是法。開井吞棺三分之一，四旁築實，可免八風動搖之病，真為綿遠之地也。

The incoming dragon itself is high and the protecting surrounding hills are low; the qi that comes down is sure to sink deep into the earth. The gathering of qi and the courting answer both have feeling; only the enclosure is not very complete. On this kind of ground one should drive the point low and level, settling it beneath the flanking surrounding hills, before it accords with the measure. After the golden well is opened, swallow one third of the coffin, and pack the four sides solid; then one may be spared the affliction of the eight winds shaking it. It is indeed a ground whose blessing lasts long and far.

土星行龍結穴，入首頓起兩頂，左右之山伸出二臂，交度重聳。朝迎有情，兩般行度，深淺高低，依法宜開成方，金井放棺，借取兩傍，應樂分肩合腳，如土牛之合牽也。陰陽妙理，人罕識之，一突情可兩穴，如麒麟頭上品字是也。

An earth-star mountain travels as a dragon and gathers a point; at the place of entry two crowns suddenly rise, and the mountains on left and right each put forth an arm, crossing and measuring, rising in layers, the courting mountain receiving with feeling. Since there are two paths of travel, depth and height each have their distinction. According to the method one should open the golden well square and set the coffin, borrowing the force of the surrounding hills on both sides, letting the answering mountain and the music-mountain share the shoulders with the point and join the feet, like two earth-oxen yoked and led together. The wondrous principle of yin and yang here is recognized by few—the feeling of one and the same bubble-bulge can hold two points, like the pattern of three dots on a qilin's head arranged as the character 'pin.'

來龍氣緩，雖結珠塊坡穴，大小不均，小面有牙爪緊密，不成局段。大邊飽滿而有分合，玄微可就。飽處而扦之，廣開金井，深入其棺，墳城小壘，裨補小邊。取堂氣坦夷，雖曰就飽而不飽也。

The incoming dragon's force of qi is gentle; though on a slope it gathers a pearl-shaped point, the two sides are uneven in size. The small side, though it has surrounding hills like teeth and claws protecting it tightly, cannot form a section of a pattern; the large side is full, and has dividing water above and joining water below—the dark and wondrous place may precisely be taken. Therefore plant the point on the full side: open the golden well somewhat wide, set the coffin somewhat deep, and heap the grave-wall only small, to make up the small side, striving for the qi of the Bright Hall to be level and open. Thus though one speaks of 'taking the full,' it does not in fact appear lopsidedly full.

龍來過脈，節節分明，蓋下有金，金下有橫土，似上非上，中有灣凹或曲池，不淺不深，庸術狐疑必矣。苟有賓主相投，穴雖有病，葬亦有法：貼脊扦之，小井納棺，築後培前，以補造化，雖曰傷飢而不飢也。

The dragon comes and the passing vein is clear section by section; beneath the cover-mountain there is a metal star, and beneath the metal star a further stretch of transverse earth. The point seems to be in the upper stretch and is not entirely in the upper stretch; in the middle there is a bent hollow or a winding small pool, neither shallow nor deep. A commonplace hand arriving here is sure to hesitate. So long as the guest mountain and the host mountain join each other, though the point has a fault, burial still has its method: plant the point close against the ridge-line, open a small golden well to take the coffin, pack behind and heap earth in front, making up creation by human work. Thus though one speaks of 'injured hunger' (the qi somewhat lean), it does not in fact appear hungry and lean.

來龍情峻，堂淺坐下，去水撮腳，牽飛到此，多生疑竇。情勢可取，須別立法度，開鉗廣撞入吞棺而下撞穴，蹲而視之，只見外堂寬展，外砂周密，避凶就凶，假也靈塋。

The incoming dragon's feeling is steep and urgent; the Bright Hall is thin; at the sitting place the departing water pours straight, the water mouth pinched tight as if drawing in the feet, and the forms of the surrounding hills pull and fly. Seeing this, one will mostly give rise to doubt. But so long as the feeling and force can still be taken, one must set up another measure: open it in a pincer shape, Strike in wide, take the coffin in by Swallowing, and lower it as a Strike point. Crouch and look level, and one sees only that the outer hall is broad and easy and the outer surrounding hills wrap complete. Thus one avoids the inauspicious place and takes the usable place (the base text here reads 'avoid the inauspicious and take the inauspicious'; the second 'inauspicious' is suspected to be 'auspicious'; we record it as it stands and do not change it). It looks like a false point, yet it can become a grave-mound that answers.

來龍直木插下亦謂之玄武嘴長。縱有正佐，切不可扦，當頭盡脈，一扦則敗，絕其中停，必有節木。須於肥厚處開井放棺，挑饒三分，自有生芽之意，仍須客土培實端正，則根本固而枝葉榮矣。

The incoming dragon is like a straight piece of wood inserted downward; this is also called 'the Dark Warrior's beak long.' Even if left and right have regular assisting surrounding hills, one must not plant a point lightly: the moment one plants at the very head where the vein ends, it fails. At the place where the middle stretch pauses the vein-qi is cut off, and there is sure to be another section of wood star generated. The method is to open the golden well and set the coffin at the fat, thick place, yielding three fen to the side; it naturally carries the generating intent of putting forth a shoot. One should still pack guest earth solid and upright; thus the root is firm, and the branches and leaves naturally flourish.

來龍頂欹轉凹，側尋肥突放送取龍左右臂灣環，有如牽弓發箭之勢，中應分明，於鼠肉處開淺井放棺，有若靶搭正箭，力能遠發，應居兩旁，棺頭必合，棺腳必分，借倚護弦之力。極為至理，務要前案，灣如張弓方吉，反弓便凶。

The incoming dragon's crown slants and turns into a hollow; go to the side to find that fat bubble-bulge, and send it down following the force. Take the dragon's left and right arms embracing in a bend, the form like a bow drawn full to loose an arrow, the answering in the middle clear. The method is to open the golden well shallow at that patch soft and full like rat's flesh and set the coffin, as when a target is set true to the arrow, so that the force can shoot far. The answering surrounding hills sit on the two sides; the coffin's head must join and the coffin's foot must part, borrowing the force of relying on the bowstring's protection. This principle is the most essential. The case-mountain in front must further embrace in a bend like a drawn bow to be auspicious; if the case-mountain turns its back outward in a reverse bow, it is inauspicious.