Di Li Xing Xin Lu (地理醒心錄) · Volume 1

龍勢住，看左右，一手不回終有咎。左龍右虎兩邊齊，兒孫興旺多田土。

When the dragon vein (longmai, 龍脈) arrives here, stops, and forms a point (xue, 穴), first examine the protecting sands on left and right of the site: the left arm is called the “Azure Dragon,” the right arm the “White Tiger.” So long as the sand-hand of either side refuses to turn back and embrace, disaster will in the end be left. When left dragon and right tiger are even and matching on both sides, descendants will flourish in numbers and fields and estates will be many.

左有龍，右有虎，此地須教厚福久。左右龍虎有凹風，寡母主家男夭壽。

Azure Dragon sand on the left, White Tiger sand on the right, both arms complete: such land will necessarily have blessing deep and lasting. If between dragon and tiger a concave gap is left, and wind pours into the site through the gap—form-school practitioners call this “concave wind”—it governs short life for the men of the household and a widow managing the family.

龍要隆，虎要伏。虎馴龍蟠方是福，若還龍虎不相饒，兄弟相爭難共屋。

Azure Dragon sand should rise with spirit; White Tiger sand should bow and lie low. White Tiger tame, Azure Dragon coiled, host and guest in order: this alone counts as blessed land. If dragon and tiger contend in height and neither yields, brothers in the household will quarrel at the wall and find it hard to live under one roof.

虎要灣，龍要關。龍虎包藏似玉環，此是福龍來結穴，家中金玉積如山。

White Tiger should curve and embrace inward; Azure Dragon should bar and close the mouth. The two arms wrap each other, turning as round as a jade ring; the site stores wind and does not leak. This is a blessed dragon coming to form a point, and it governs gold and jade piled like mountains in the household.

龍要昂，虎要降。穴如閨女守蘭房，此是真龍來作穴，下之必定出朝郎。

Azure Dragon should rise loftily with force; White Tiger should lower and submit. The site, guarded by the two sands, is as deeply hidden as a girl in the inner chambers quietly keeping the orchid room. This is a true dragon coming to form a point; bury there and one will necessarily produce men who serve as officials at court.

龍首低，虎雄欺。虎高龍矮不相宜，長子貧窮小子富，蓋緣山水不相齊。

The dragon’s head lies low, yet the White Tiger is mighty and oppressive. By the sand method, Azure Dragon answers the eldest branch, White Tiger the youngest; tiger high and dragon low is originally unsuitable, so the eldest son is poor and the youngest wealthy, all because left and right mountains and waters are not even.

虎如弓，龍如峰。龍虎灣灣似有容，更得財祿山勢徤，其家富貴福興隆。

White Tiger sand curves like a bow; Azure Dragon sand rises like a peak. The two sands curve and embrace, the atmosphere ample and accommodating; add to this that the mountain peak governing wealth and emolument has a vigorous configuration, and this household will have both wealth and honor, blessing flourishing.

龍為瓠，虎為匙。左右環抱一兩枝，此是橫財山作勢，其家厚積旺蠶絲。

Azure Dragon sand is round and fat like a gourd-ladle; White Tiger sand is slender like a soup-spoon. Left and right each send out one or two small sands to embrace the site: this is a mountain form that governs unexpected wealth; the household can accumulate thick resources, and silkworms and silk-weaving are especially flourishing.

青龍貴，起峰尖。迭迭排來勢插天，產出子孫多富貴，為官食祿位三公。

The noble configuration of Azure Dragon sand lies in raising a sharp, towering peak-head. Peaks arranged in layer after layer come, their force thrusting straight into the clouds: it governs descendants mostly wealthy and noble, and in office they can rank among the “Three Dukes,” that is, Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, and Grand Guardian, the highest grades.

青龍高，起樓臺。兒孫官職此中來，定出長房人及弟，馬前喝道狀元回。

Azure Dragon sand rises high, and on its summit is born a square peak-form like a tower. Official ranks of sons and grandsons answer from here; necessarily a man of the eldest branch will pass the examinations, and when he returns in brocade there will be runners shouting the road clear in front—the zhuangyuan returning in glory to his native place.

青龍灣，似樓船。宛轉如弓欲上弦，定主因商得財寶，家中萬頃置莊田。

Azure Dragon sand curves and embraces with feeling, its form like a storied boat. Winding and turning like a bow about to be strung: it governs this household obtaining goods through trade, and being able to acquire ten thousand qing of manor fields.

青龍尖，如按劍。橫在面前人惡見，兒孫定主法場下，尺出割喉人不善。

Azure Dragon sand produces a sharp form, like a sword pressed and waiting to leave the sheath. Such sand lying across before the point, seen, makes the heart feel disgust; it governs descendants inevitably dying at the execution ground, and the household producing people who cut throats and commit violence, of unkind hearts.

龍山凶勢粗惡，帶石巉巖似牛角。長房必定出凶人，年紀週年瘟火作。

The mountain force on the Azure Dragon side is coarse, stupid, and fierce, carrying jagged strange stones, sharp as an ox horn. Such sand governs the eldest branch necessarily producing violent people, and year after year without cease plague and fire breaking out.

青龍竄，擺轉頭。向外隨流水不收，定生兒孫離鄉土，三年五載走他州。

Azure Dragon sand flees and will not stay, even swinging its sand-head outward. It goes out following the flowing water and will not gather back: it governs descendants abandoning their native soil, and within three to five years drifting to other prefectures.

龍上路縱橫行，定主年年災禍生。兒孫定主懸樑死，只因龍上有人行。

Azure Dragon sand is cut across by roads running lengthwise and crosswise, and walkers come and go trampling it: it governs disaster arising year after year, and among descendants someone hanging himself from a beam. The root of the calamity is only that the dragon sand is broken by a road, with people walking upon it.

龍尖斜，似茅葉。此是神龍帶鬼劫，家招盜賊此中生，更出凶敗家業。

Azure Dragon sand is sharp and leaning, its form like a blade of thatch. This is inauspicious sand of the dragon’s body carrying “ghost robbery”: it governs the household attracting thieves, and further producing violent men who ruin the family estate.

青龍倅，三兩片。崩碎切忌穴前見，兒孫貧之受孤寒，定主提籮覓食遍。

Azure Dragon sand is scattered and broken, only two or three remnant pieces left. Collapsed and shattered sand is most to be dreaded appearing before the point: it governs descendants poor, solitary, and cold, even carrying a bamboo basket to beg food everywhere.

白虎貴，牛角灣。又似銀匙搭飯山，此是官砂人罕見，佐輔佐社稷入朝班。

The noble configuration of White Tiger sand is curving like an ox horn, and again like a silver spoon laid on a rice-mountain, full and round. This is “official sand” that governs official nobility, rarely seen in the world; it governs descendants assisting the altars of soil and grain, ranking in the court ranks.

虎山鳯如半月，又似銀梳來向穴。此是貴砂人罕識，三房及第朝金闕。

The mountain on the White Tiger side curves like a phoenix wing into a half-moon, and again like a silver comb with its teeth facing the site. This is a sand-form that governs nobility; people of the time mostly do not recognize it. It governs descendants of the third branch passing the examinations and entering court to face the ruler at the golden palaces.

白虎吉，有秀峰。磊磊排來似覆鍾，定主小房人發積，門闌喜氣鬧匆匆。

The auspicious configuration of White Tiger sand is carrying a refined, elegant peak-head. Peaks arranged one after another come, round and full like an inverted bell: it governs the youngest branch’s descendants founding the family and accumulating wealth, with joyful affairs at the gate without cease, very lively.

虎山雄，三貓兒。回頭望穴欲銜凡，定主兒孫遭虎咬，時師遇此要先知。

The mountain force on the White Tiger side is mighty, crouching with three cat-shaped sand-heads, turning the head to stare at the site as if about to open the mouth and swallow. Such sand governs descendants being wounded by tigers; contemporary masters who site land, meeting it, must first distinguish it before giving judgment.

白虎觜，如人指。災生官非來點紙，兒孫賭傅賣田園，又主婦人花酒苑。

The mouth of White Tiger sand sticks out like a finger pointing at a person. This is a form that invites disaster and lawsuits; someone will submit a complaint paper to the yamen. Descendants indulge in gambling and sell fields and gardens; women also lose their lives through affairs of flowers and wine.

白虎頭，似縄長。主人自縊吊高梁，若是斷坑頭落水，子孫遭溺喪鄉泉。

The White Tiger sand-head is dragged like a long rope. Such a form governs the head of the household hanging himself beneath a high beam. If the rope-form breaks in the middle and sinks into a pit, and the sand-head further falls into water, descendants will drown and die in the countryside.

虎山竄，如反手。又似娥眉風擺柳，婦人淫亂有風聲，花酒喪身人夭壽。

The mountain on the White Tiger side flees and will not stay, like a hand turned over, and again like a moth-eyebrow so slenderly curved, like a willow branch swung by the wind. Such sand governs women being licentious, rumors rising outside, and also people losing their lives and dying young through affairs of flowers and wine.

虎嘴長，似持鎗。兒孫破敗盜凶強，鎗頭向外外鄉苑，向內家中自殺傷。

The mouth of White Tiger sand stretches very long, like a spear raised. It governs descendants ruining the family, producing bandits and violent men. If the spear-head points outward, people die in foreign parts; if the spear-head points inward, the household kills and wounds one another.

白虎尖，如把筆。切忌尖隨流水出，兒孫把穴賣田莊，婦女隨人逃走失。

White Tiger sand sticks out sharp, like a brush held in the hand. Most to be dreaded is this sharp head going straight with the current and not looking back: it governs descendants selling ancestral grave-ground together with manor fields, and women eloping and fleeing with others.

虎山高，生惡石。穴內見時終不吉，兒孫掛甲去投軍，必在中子房中出。

The mountain on the White Tiger side presses high over the site, and further produces fierce evil stones. If in the point one can see it at a glance, it is inauspicious in the end: it governs descendants donning armor and joining the army, and the verification necessarily falls on the second son’s branch.

龍虎兩平正，富貴天然定。龍虎似樓舡，典積放生錢。龍虎兩分飛，父子各東西。

Dragon and tiger sands even and matching: wealth and honor are naturally certain. The two sands shaped like storied boats side by side: household resources accumulate thickly, and one can even put out money for good deeds such as releasing living creatures. The two sands each fly outward and do not regard each other: father and son scatter, each going east or west.

龍虎兩直處，兒孫損妻室。龍虎兩純和，子息便登科。龍虎兩尖射，兒孫遭樹打。

Dragon and tiger sands straight and hard, without feeling, refusing to curve and embrace: descendants lose their wives. The two sands pure, thick, and harmonious: sons pass the examinations. The two sands each send out sharp heads shooting at each other: descendants are struck and injured by falling trees.

龍虎兩低落，賣田無坵角。龍虎兩腰低，子媳受孤恓。龍虎屈曲去，遊食路死是。

Dragon and tiger sands low, sunken, and collapsed: one sells fields and cannot keep even a corner of a plot. The two sands concave at the waist: sons and daughters-in-law are solitary and wretched. The two sands wind and flow away, refusing to look back: descendants wander outside seeking food, and in the end die on the road.

龍虎尖射墳，內返自家迍。龍虎欺玄武，子孫常受苦。龍虎兩排衙，富貴達京華。

Sharp heads of dragon and tiger sands shoot straight at the grave: inauspicious qi turns and bites within the point, and the household first suffers hardship. The two sands instead oppress the “Dark Warrior” host mountain behind the point: guest strong and host weak, descendants long suffer bitterness. The two sands arrayed layer after layer like the ceremonial ranks before a yamen: wealth and honor are illustrious in the capital.

龍虎拳頭起，搥胸應哭子。龍虎兩交鎗，法死命湏償。龍虎如垂掌，乞食常遊蕩。

Dragon and tiger sand-heads round and protruding like clenched fists: it governs beating the breast and weeping, the correspondence of losing a son. The two sands crossing like two spears laid together: household members commit crimes and are put to death, paying with their lives. The two sands hang low like palms spread and drooping: descendants beg from door to door and wander everywhere.

龍虎兩門丫，賭博不歸家。龍虎似連珠，家門富有餘。龍虎如瓜瓠，資才常追取。

Dragon and tiger sands open like a forked door-gap, unable to bar and hold: sons and younger brothers gamble outside and do not return home. The two sands linked as round mounds like a string of pearls: the household gate has wealth to spare. The two sands full like gourds: resources and wealth continually increase.

龍虎直下坑，少死入黃泉。有虎又無龍，長子受孤窮。有龍無虎應，路死茅叢定。

Dragon and tiger sands go straight down into a pit: early death in youth, the life returning to the Yellow Springs. Only White Tiger and no Azure Dragon: the eldest branch loses its support, the eldest son solitary and poor. Only Azure Dragon and no White Tiger answering: host and guest unmatched, the person dies in a clump of thatch by the roadside.

龍長虎直促，賣田並賣屋。龍短虎直長，賣屋及賣塘。龍畔三尖入，三子命中急。

Azure Dragon long and White Tiger short, stiff and straight, the lengths far apart: fields and houses are sold together. Azure Dragon short and White Tiger stretching straight too long: one sells houses and ponds. On the Azure Dragon side three sharp sands insert into the site: the third son has many sudden hardships in his destiny.

虎畔三尖長，媳婦受災殃。龍畔山微出，家有鼠頭賊。虎畔見微微，常被賊人欺。

On the White Tiger side three sharp sands stretch long: the daughter-in-law meets calamity. On the Azure Dragon side a small hill slightly puts out its head: the household produces petty thieves like rats. On the White Tiger side a faint sand-head vaguely shows: one is often bullied by thieves.

虎低龍頃黏，衣食其家貴。龍眠虎口高，口舌鬧嘈嘈。龍尖來射虎，刺面他鄉去。

White Tiger lying low, Azure Dragon slightly tilting and close to the site, host and guest in order: this household has abundant clothing and food and is distinguished. Azure Dragon lying low as if asleep, White Tiger raising its mouth high: quarrels of the tongue in the household without cease. The sharp head of Azure Dragon shooting back toward White Tiger: descendants are tattooed on the face and sent into exile, going far to other lands.

虎尖射龍頭，還是配他州。龍外一山隨，養子定□非。虎外一山隨，養女被人迷。

The sharp head of White Tiger shooting back at Azure Dragon’s head: likewise the person is tattooed and exiled to another prefecture. Outside Azure Dragon another mountain follows: one adopts another’s son, and there will necessarily be something unclear and improper in it (this sentence is missing a character in the original). Outside White Tiger another mountain follows: an adopted daughter is led astray by someone.

青龍若直去，斷定賣田筸。虎出似拖鎗，暗地被人傷。龍上尖筆起，子息登科第。

If Azure Dragon sand goes straight away and will not turn its head, one judges that fields will be sold out. White Tiger sand stretching out like dragging a long spear: the person is wounded by someone in a hidden place. On Azure Dragon sand a peak rises sharp and elegant like a brush: sons pass the examinations.

虎上兩尖峰，無子把孫拱。只可龍欺虎，不可虎欺龍。龍畔重重起，長男多富貴。

On White Tiger sand two sharp peaks are born: no son at the knee, and one can only be held and served by grandchildren. In the sand method it is better that Azure Dragon slightly press White Tiger; it is not permissible that White Tiger press Azure Dragon in reverse. On the Azure Dragon side peaks rise in layer upon layer: men of the eldest branch are mostly wealthy and noble.

虎畔迭峰高，小子盡英豪。青龍隨白虎，連並賣田莊。白虎趕龍行，何虎有營生。

On the White Tiger side peaks pile up and rise high: the youngest sons are all heroes. Azure Dragon instead runs after White Tiger, host and guest inverted: manor fields are sold one after another. White Tiger chasing Azure Dragon away, neither sand keeping the point: of such land, what livelihood is there to speak of?

龍山回抱虎，尊卑淫慾事。白虎抱龍頭，淫慾不知羞。青龍生惡石，長子遭惡死。

The Azure Dragon mountain turns back and embraces White Tiger: high and low take liberties with each other, governing licentious affairs in the household. White Tiger in reverse embraces Azure Dragon’s head: lust without measure and without shame. On Azure Dragon sand fierce evil stones are born: the eldest son dies an unnatural death.

白虎頭昂藏，小位主瘟蝗。龍上起尖峰，長子結錢籠。虎上起尖峰，養女似芙蓉。

White Tiger sand-head raised high and squatting, oppressing the host position: the youngest branch meets plague and locusts. On Azure Dragon sand a sharp peak rises: the eldest son gathers wealth into boxes and cages. On White Tiger sand a sharp peak rises: adopted daughters have faces beautiful as hibiscus.