On the Formation of the Imperial Enclosure by the Northern Dragon

北龍有燕山，即今京師也。以燕然山脈盡於此，故曰燕山。昔昭王築黃金臺以招賢者，因又稱金臺。古冀州地。舜分冀東北為幽州，故又謂之幽都。按邱文莊公《大學衍義補》云：“虞夏之時，天下分為九州島。冀州在中國之北，其北最廣，舜分冀為幽、並、滎，故幽與並、滎皆冀境也。”

The northern dragon mountain is Yanshan, which is today's capital city. Because the mountain range of Yanyan Mountain ends here, it is called Yanshan. In ancient times, Yan Zhao Wang built the Golden Platform here to attract talented people, so it is also called the Golden Platform. This area belongs to the ancient Ji State; Yu Shun divided the northeastern part of Ji State to establish Youzhou, so it is also called Youdu. According to Qiu Jun's "Supplement to the Great Learning," during the time of Yu and Xia, the world was divided into nine states. Ji State was located in the north of China, and its northern part was the largest; Shun divided Ji State into Youzhou, Bingzhou, and Yingzhou, so Youzhou, Bingzhou, and Yingzhou all belonged to the territory of Ji State.

楊公云“燕山最高象天市”，蓋北幹之正結。其龍發崑崙之中脈以華夷共視為中原，蓋鴨綠江外又有大干為護，綿亙數千里，至於闐，歷瀚海，之玄屈曲，出夷入貊。又萬餘里，始至燕然山，以入中國，為燕雲北京為山前曰燕，大同為山後曰云。復東行數百里，起天壽山，乃落平洋，方廣千餘里。

Yang Yunsong said, "Yanshan is the highest and symbolizes Tianshi," showing that this is where the main dragon of the northern dry land converges. Its dragon originates from the central channel of Kunlun. (If we consider both Huaxia and Yidi together, this area is indeed the Central Plains.) There is another major dragon to the north of the Yalu River to guard it. The dragon pulse extends for thousands of miles, reaching Yutian, passing through the Great Desert, winding like a "Z" or "Xuan" character, entering the land of Yidi and Mole, then traveling another ten thousand miles to reach Yanyan Mountain and enter China, becoming "Yanyun" (Beijing is called Yanshan in front of the mountain, Datong is called Yun behind the mountain). Continuing east for hundreds of miles, Tianshou Mountain rises, then the dragon enters the flat land, covering an area of over a thousand square miles.

遼東、遼西兩枝開截黃河，前繞鴨綠，後纏而陰、恆、太行諸山，與海中諸島相應。近則灤河、潮河、桑河、易河並諸無名小水，夾身數源，界限分明。以地理之法論之，其龍勢之長，垣局之美，幹龍大盡，山水大會，帶黃河，扆天壽。鴨綠纏其後，碣石錀其門，最是合風水法度。

The two branches of the Dragon, Liao Dong and Liao Xi, spread out, with the Yellow River cutting through the middle. In front, the Yalong River surrounds it, while behind, the Yin Mountains, Heng Mountains, and Taihang Mountains enclose it. It also corresponds with the islands in the sea. Nearby, the Luan River, Chao River, Sanggan River, Yi River, and many unnamed streams flow on both sides of the Dragon's body, forming several water sources with clear boundaries. According to geographical principles, the length of the Dragon's body and the beauty of the surrounding terrain here mark the great end of the Dragon and the convergence of mountains and rivers. The Yellow River acts as the Dragon's waistband, the Tianshou Mountains serve as its back screen, the Yalong River winds around its rear, and the Jieshi Mountains guard its entrance and exit, perfectly conforming to the principles of风水.

又按《衍義補》云：“《朱子語錄》：‘冀都，天地間好個大風水！脈從雲中發來，前面黃河環繞，泰山聳左為龍，華山聳右為虎，嵩山為前案，淮南諸山為第二重案，江南五嶺諸山為第三重案。故古今建都之地，皆莫過於冀都。’”就朱子所謂風水之說觀之，謂無風以散之，有水以界之也。冀州之中，三面距河處，是為平陽、蒲坂，乃堯舜建都之地。其所分東北之境，是為幽州。

Again, according to the "Supplement to the Great Learning" which cites the "Collected Sayings of Master Zhu," it says: "The capital of Ji is truly a magnificent site of风水! The mountain ranges come from the clouds, with the Yellow River circling in front, Mount Tai standing on the left as the 'Azure Dragon,' and Mount Hua standing on the right as the 'White Tiger.' Mount Song serves as the 'case mountain' in front, while the mountains of Huainan form the second layer of case mountains, and the mountains of the five ridges in Jiangnan form the third layer. Therefore, among all the capitals established throughout history, none surpasses the capital of Ji." From the perspective of the风水 discussed by Master Zhu, it refers to the absence of wind to scatter and the presence of water to divide. In the middle of Ji, the areas facing three rivers are Pingyang and Pusan, which were the sites of the capitals of Yao and Shun; the northeastern part of Ji is the state of Youzhou.

太行自西而來，演迤而北，綿亙魏、晉、燕、趙之境，東而極於醫無閭。重開疊阜，鸞鳯峙而蛟龍走，所以擁護而圍繞之者，不知幾千萬里也。形勢全，風氣密，堪輿家所謂藏風聚氣者，此地有之。其東一帶，則汪洋大海。稍北，乃古碣石淪入海處。稍南則九河既通，所歸宿之地，浴日月而浸乾坤，所以界之者，又如此其直截而廣大焉。堪輿家所謂“得水為上”者是也。

The Taihang Mountains come from the west, winding northward, stretching across the territories of Wei, Jin, Yan, and Zhao, and extending eastward all the way to Yiwulu Mountain. Layer upon layer of mountains and hills stand like a pair of phoenixes facing each other or a dragon rushing forward, surrounding and protecting this land, covering an area of several million miles. The terrain is complete and the atmosphere is dense, fully embodying what geomancers call "concealing wind and gathering qi." To the east, there is a vast ocean; slightly to the north lies the ancient site where Jieshi Mountain was submerged by the sea; slightly to the south is where the nine rivers converge and the water flows to its final destination. The sea bathes the sun and moon and moistens the heavens and earth—thus forming a clear and vast boundary for this land. What geomancers call "having water is the best" precisely refers to this situation.

按：此皆以風水之美言之也。若以形勝論，則幽、燕自昔稱雄，左環滄海，右擁太行，南襟河濟，北枕居庸，蘇秦所謂天府百二之國，杜牧所謂王不得不可為王之地。楊文敏謂西接太行，東臨碣石，鉅野亙其南，居庸控其北，勢拔地以崢嶸，氣摩空而崱屴。又云：燕冀內跨中原，外控朔漠，眞天下都會。桂文襄公謂形勝甲天下，扆山帶海，有金湯之固。

Note: All the above are speaking about the beauty of风水. If we discuss it from the perspective of "form and advantage," Yoyang has always been renowned for its strength: on the left it is surrounded by the Bohai Sea, on the right by the Taihang Mountains, to the south it is bordered by the Yellow River and the Jishui River, and to the north it is protected by the Juyong Pass. This is the "Tianfu Country of a hundred and two dangers" mentioned by Su Qin, and the "place where a king cannot rule without it" mentioned by Du Mu. Yang Shiqi (Wenmin) said that Yanyi is west connected to the Taihang Mountains, east adjacent to Jieshi, with Juyeyi stretching across to the south and Juyong Pass controlling the north, the mountain ranges rising abruptly and towering, and the grandeur reaching towards the sky and towering high. He also said that Yanyi spans the Central Plains internally and controls the northern deserts externally, truly being the great hub of the world. Gui E (Wenxiang Gong) said that its geographical advantages are the best in the world, with mountains as a screen and the sea as a belt, possessing the solidity of a golden city and a soup pool.

蓋眞定以北至永平，闗口不下百十，而居庸、紫荊、山海、喜峰、古北、黃花鎮，險隘尤著。會通漕運便利，天津又通海運，誠萬世帝王之都。自昔之都燕者，始於召公，而極於金元。然召公諸侯也，金元乃夷狄雜氣，皆不足以當其大。惟我皇朝，得國之正，同乎堯舜；拓地之廣，過於漢唐。功德隆盛，上當天心，下乘地氣，眞萬世不拔之洪基也。

From Zhending to the north to Yongping, there are more than a hundred passes, among which Juyong, Zijing, Shanhai, Xifeng, Gubei, and Huanghuazhen are particularly famous for their strategic importance. The Huian River facilitates the transportation of grain, and Tianjin can connect with maritime transport, making it truly a capital for emperors throughout the ages. Since ancient times, the Yan region has been the site of capitals, with Zhao Gong being the earliest, and the Jin and Yuan dynasties the most prosperous. However, Zhao Gong was merely a feudal lord, and the Jin and Yuan dynasties were only the mixed influences of barbarian tribes, insufficient to match the grand scale of this land. Only our dynasty has obtained the throne in a just and righteous manner, equal to Yao and Shun, and its territorial expansion surpasses that of the Han and Tang dynasties. Its virtue and merit are abundant, aligning with the will of heaven above and the energy of the earth below, forming an immense and unshakable foundation for all future generations.

而議者乃謂北太近胡，距塞不二百里，無藩籬之固，而天子自為守。不知今之四夷，北虜為急，倏忽來去，邊備須嚴。若畿甸去遠而委守將臣，則非居重馭輕之道矣。故我成祖文皇帝，睿意建都於此，良謨遠猷，豈凡愚之所能及哉！

But those who criticized it said that the capital was too close to the northern barbarian lands, less than two hundred miles from the frontier, without any barrier like a fence, as if the Son of Heaven were personally guarding the border. They did not realize that among the four directions of夷狄, the northern nomads are the most urgent threat, coming and going swiftly, so the border defenses must be strict. If the capital were too far away and all the defense was entrusted to generals and ministers, that would not conform to the principle of "using weight to control light." Therefore, the brilliant decision of the Chengzu Emperor to build the capital here was based on profound strategy, which ordinary and foolish people could never comprehend.

然當時未必慮及風水之說，而默契若此，是蓋聖王之興，動與法合，天地造化，有自然相符之理。昔堯舜禹三聖之都皆北龍。今我朝畿甸亦北龍，而形勝與風水法度又皆邁之，宜其駕唐虞，迫二代，全盛如此，是固我列聖之茂德神功鴻休駿烈之不可及。然地理之應亦或然也。愚何幸，躬逢其盛。

But at that time, they may not have considered the theory of fengshui, yet it coincided with this to such an extent. This is precisely because the sage kings arose, and their every action naturally conformed to the principles of law and order. The natural harmony between heaven and earth inherently corresponds. In the past, the capitals of Yao, Shun, and Yu, the three sages, were all located in the northern dragon position. Now, the capital of our dynasty is also in the northern dragon position, and its geographical advantages and fengshui regulations surpass those of the past. It is no wonder it can surpass the Tang and Yu dynasties and approach the Xia and Shang, reaching such a peak. This is certainly due to the virtuous deeds, extraordinary achievements, and great legacy of the successive sage kings, which are unparalleled. However, perhaps there is indeed a connection between geography and destiny. How fortunate I am to personally witness such a prosperous era.

北龍之次，有平陽、蒲坂、安邑，亦冀境，乃堯舜所都之地。按：朱子曰：“河中地形極好，乃堯舜禹故都。今晉州河中府是也。左右多山，黃河繞之，嵩河列其前。”又曰：“河東、河北皆繞太行山，堯舜禹所都，皆在太行山下。”又曰：“上黨，太行山之極高處。平陽、蒲阪，山之盡頭。”

Among the secondary areas of the northern dragon, there are Pingyang, Pusan, and Anyi, which are also within the territory of Jizhou and were the capitals of Yao and Shun. It is noted that Zhu Xi said, "The area around the Yellow River has extremely good terrain and was the former capital of Yao, Shun, and Yu, which is today's Jinzhou and Hezhong Fu. It is surrounded by many mountains on both sides, with the Yellow River circling around it, and the Song Mountains and the Yellow River arranged in front." He also said, "Both the eastern and western sides of the Yellow River are surrounded by the Taihang Mountains, and the capitals built by Yao, Shun, and Yu were all located below the Taihang Mountains." Furthermore, he said, "Shangdang is the highest part of the Taihang Mountains, while Pingyang and Pusan are at the end of the mountains."

又曰：“堯舜都中原，風水極佳。左河東、太行諸山相繞，海島諸山亦皆相向。右河南繞，直至泰山湊海。第二重自蜀中出湖南，出廬山諸山。第三重自五嶺至明、越。又黑水之類，自北纏繞，至南海。”此皆以其大形勢而言之也。

Zhu Xi also said: "Yao and Shun established their capitals in the Central Plains, where the feng shui is extremely good. On the left, there are the Hedong and Taixiang mountains surrounding it, and the islands also face towards it; on the right, the Yellow River flows southward and reaches as far as the Taishan Mountains approaching the sea. The second layer comes from the Sichuan region, extending through Hunan and Lushan; the third layer comes from the Wuling Mountains to the Mingzhou and Yuezhou areas. In addition, there is the Hei Water, which flows from the north and winds all the way to the South China Sea." These are all talking about its overall situation.

張子微曰：“河中之地，右則西河，左則東河，前則南河。逾河而為壺口，近河而為覃懷，入河而為衡漳。三面距河，一面背山，所背恆山，相去甚遠，逶迤而下，其平如砥。方廣千里，夾水之外，四面皆有名山巨鎮迎送護衛。但堂局寬闊，非凡俗所能檢點。

Zhang Ziwei said: "This land in the middle of the river, on its right is the West River, on its left is the East River, and in front is the South River. Beyond the river is the Hukou, near the river is Tanhuai, and the river flows into Hengzhang. It is surrounded by rivers on three sides and backed by mountains on one side; the mountain it is backed by, the Hengshan, is far away, with its mountain ranges stretching down gradually, and the ground is flat like a whetstone, covering an area of a thousand li. Outside the water, there are famous mountains and great towns on all four sides to welcome and guard it. However, the layout of the Bright Hall is too vast, not something ordinary people can examine one by one."

若兩腋無水夾截，即是水不交會，大龍如何得住？故夾身之左有小東河，右有西恆河。南有小南河闗截於內，而大河經之，龍將焉往？其它橈棹手腳，得無名之水界夾分明者，又不可數計。但眼目難於檢點，舉其堂局，形勢可以周知。此則以其親近者而言之也。雖然，堯舜禹聖人，道化天下，未必繫於風水。然天造地設，亦自然默契之理，有不可誣者。但今風水變遷，王氣銷竭，無復可都矣。

If there is no water between the two sides, the water does not meet, so how can the dragon stay? Therefore, on both sides of the dragon's body, there is a small eastern river on the left and a western river on the right, with a small southern river inside the inner gate blocking it, and a large river outside passing through—where else can the dragon go? As for the other branches, like the oar and hands and feet, which are divided clearly by unnamed small streams, they are countless. However, it is difficult to examine them all with the eye, but by pointing out their main features, the overall situation can be roughly understood. This is talking about the details nearby. Although this is so, Yao, Shun, and Yu were sages who governed the world with the Way, and they did not necessarily rely on fengshui. However, the natural formation of heaven and earth also has an inherent harmony that cannot be denied. But now, the fengshui has changed, the royal aura has exhausted, and it is no longer possible to build a capital there.

中龍有關中曰豐、曰鎬、曰咸陽、長安，皆今陜西地，通曰關陜，古雍州也。楊公云“關中原是太微垣”，又曰“長安落在垣宿中。”蓋中幹之尊也。其龍發於崑崙。《經》曰：“黑水綿絡西河，橫山始起祖宗，轉滎、貊、澤，自西而東，盡於雍州。”

The central dragon is associated with the area around Zhong, including Feng, Hao, Xianyang, and Chang'an, all located in today's Shaanxi province, commonly referred to as Guan-Shan. This region is known as the ancient Yongzhou. Yang Yunsong said, "The area of Guan is originally part of the Taimei constellation," and also said, "Chang'an lies within the constellation of the Host." This shows that this is the most prestigious convergence of the central dragon. Its dragon originates from Kunlun. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon states: "Black water flows continuously along the western river, with the mountain range beginning to form the ancestral origin, turning through the regions of Xing, Mo, and Ze, moving from west to east, ending at Yongzhou."

張子微曰：“長安之龍起於橫山，其山皆黃石，綿亙八百餘里，不生草木。及至雍州之地，涇水出安定，在雍州之西，自西而南入渭水。而北是為渭、汭。渭水出鳥鼠同穴，西為雍州之西山。至涇水所屬之地則為北。惟此依山挾水，號為天府之國。”

Zhang Ziwei said, "The dragon of Chang'an originates from Hengshan. The mountains there are all of yellow stone, stretching for more than eight hundred li, without any vegetation. When it reaches the territory of Yongzhou, the Jing River flows out from Ding'an, located to the west of Yongzhou, flowing from west to south into the Wei River, while to the north is the area of Wei and Rui. The Wei River flows out from the Niao Shu Tongxue Mountain, and to the west of that is the western mountain of Yongzhou. When it reaches the territory of the Jing River, it is considered the northern side. Only this area relies on mountains and is flanked by water, and is known as the land of the heavenly treasury."

又曰：“秦都咸陽，非長安。以宮屬渭，跨渭為飛橋複道，以象天闕道而屬阿房。如驪山溫泉，又長安之枝龍也。長安之下則有岐、梁、荊諸山為護，灃、涇、漆、沮、河水界限為衛。”蔡文節公曰：“咸陽之地，龍合之玄格，前後左右，諸山包護。”此皆謂其風水之美也。

Zhang Ziwei also said: "The Qin dynasty established its capital at Xianyang, not Chang'an. It connected its palaces along the Wei River, built flying bridges and elevated paths across the Wei River, symbolizing the celestial gallery in the sky, extending all the way to the Afang Palace. The area around the Lishan hot springs is also considered the branch dragon of Chang'an. Below Chang'an, there are the Qishan, Liangshan, and Jingshan mountains serving as guards, while the Feng River, Jing River, Pi River, Ju River, and the Yellow River form the boundaries and protect it." Cai Yuanding (Wenjie Gong) said: "The land of Xianyang has a dragon pulse conforming to the 'zigzag' and 'dark' pattern, with mountains surrounding and guarding it on all sides." These are all talking about its favorable aspects in terms of fengshui.

若以形勝言之，則婁敬所謂“被山帶河，四塞為固。”張良所謂“左殽函，右隴蜀，沃野千里。南有巴蜀之饒，北有胡宛之利，阻三面而守，獨以一面東制諸侯，乃金城千里，天府之國”者是也。故史稱關中“阻山帶河，四塞之險，東有函關，西有散關，南有武關，北有蕭關。”呂成公亦謂關中是形勢之地。欲據形勢，須都關中。桂文襄公謂其山河四塞，形勢甲天下。《易》曰“天險不可升”。地險山川丘陵，王公設險以守其國，惟此為然耳。

If we consider it from the perspective of "form and advantage," it is what Lou Jing mentioned: "surrounded by mountains and accompanied by rivers, with all four sides blocked and secure." Zhang Liang also said, "to the left is the Xiaoshan Mountains and the Hangu Pass, to the right is Longdi and Shuyu, with thousands of miles of fertile land; to the south is the richness of Bashu, to the north is the convenience of Hu land and the breeding of horses; three sides are dangerous and secure, controlling the feudal lords only from the east, this is a thousand-mile golden city and a land of abundance." Therefore, historical records call Guanzhong "blocked by mountains and accompanied by rivers, with all four sides blocked and secure: to the east is the Hangu Pass, to the west is the Dashanguan Pass, to the south is the Wuguan, and to the north is the Xiaoguan." Lu Zuxian (Chenggong) also said that Guanzhong is a place with favorable terrain, and to rely on such terrain, one must establish the capital in Guanzhong. Gui E (Wenxiang Gong) said it is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with the best terrain in the world. The Zhou Changes say, "heavenly danger cannot be climbed," while earthly danger refers to mountains, rivers, hills, and ridges. Kings and princes set up dangerous positions to defend the country, and only here is it worthy of such description.

故關陜之地，形勝全，龍局美，王氣攸萃，而文武周公列聖篤生。自文王都岐徙豐，武王遷鎬京，成王實都於鎬，以據天下形勢。當西周全盛時，特往來朝諸侯於洛邑。至平王避犬戎，始遷都於洛陽，號曰東周，則周日微弱，而雍州王氣為秦得之。

Therefore, the area around Guan and Shang had a complete strategic advantage, with a beautiful dragon formation, and the royal aura gathered there, so that sages such as King Wen, King Wu, and the Duke of Zhou were born consecutively. After King Wen established his capital at Qishan and later moved to Feng, King Wu moved to the Hào capital, and King Cheng actually established his capital at Hào, using it to control the strategic situation of the whole country. During the height of the Western Zhou, the court only came to Luoyi to receive the homage of the feudal lords. It was not until King Ping moved the capital to Luoyang to escape the Qun Rong that the Eastern Zhou era began, and from then on, the royal house gradually declined, while the royal aura of Yongzhou was taken by the state of Qin.

蓋秦先世有非子者，善育馬，為周孝王主馬。馬大蕃息，分土為附庸，邑居秦。歷三世，至秦仲始大。歷莊襄，犬戎弒周王，襄公救周有功，封為諸侯，賜以西周畿內八百里之地。秦即其地，日以強盛，兼併天下，統一區宇。然無功德，肆暴虐，不足以當其地王氣之大。漢與，以婁敬、張良之議，遂因其故都而都之，傳十二帝，厯二百一十四年。其後，唐又都之，傳十八帝，厯二百六十九年。

During the time of the Qin dynasty, there was a man named Feizi in their ancestral lineage who was skilled in raising horses. He managed the horse breeding affairs for King Zhao of the Zhou dynasty. Because the horses multiplied greatly, King Zhao granted him land as a vassal state, with its capital at Qin. After three generations, it was during the time of Qin Zhong that the state became strong. Later, the Qiong Rong killed King You of Zhou, and Qin Xianggong rescued the Zhou dynasty and thus was granted the status of a feudal lord, receiving a territory of 800 li within the western capital of the Western Zhou dynasty. Qin occupied this territory and gradually grew powerful, eventually conquering the whole world and unifying the realm. However, Qin lacked virtue and acted tyrannically, unable to sustain the great momentum of the land. The Han dynasty rose to power, adopting the suggestion of Lou Jing and Zhang Liang, and established its capital at the former Qin capital. This lasted for twelve emperors and 214 years. Later, the Tang dynasty also established its capital there, ruling for eighteen emperors and 269 years.

宋人亦嘗議欲都此，而以橫山未入版圖，故都大梁，以經營橫山。蓋橫山當宋時，諸戎所依，為戎夏必爭之地，不得之則不可都，故爾。邱文荘公曰：“秦地被山帶河，四塞以為固。所謂金城千里，天府之國，得天下之百二者也。周人初起於邠，繼都豐鎬，天下形勢之地，蓋莫有過焉者也。至平王東遷而棄其地與秦，秦地始大。戰國之世，山東之國六而秦居其一。六者為縱，而秦獨為衡焉。卒能以少制眾，並而有之，非獨人力，亦地勢然也。自高帝用婁敬言，西都關中，後世言形勝者必歸焉。唐起晉陽，亦都於斯。自宋人都汴之後，王氣消歇者五六百年於今矣。”

In the Song dynasty, people also discussed the idea of building the capital here, but they first established the capital at Daliang because the Hengshan Mountains were not yet under their control. They wanted to manage Hengshan first. During the Song dynasty, Hengshan was a key area relied upon by various ethnic groups, and it was a crucial territory contested between the Rong people and the Han Chinese. Without controlling it, it was impossible to establish the capital here, hence the decision. Qiu Jun (Master Wen Zhuang) said, "The land of Qin is surrounded by mountains and rivers, with natural barriers on all sides, making it strong and secure. It is called a thousand-li golden city and the land of abundance, possessing two-thirds of the strategic advantages of the world. The Zhou people first rose in Bin, then established their capital at Feng and Hao, and there was no place in the world with a better geographical advantage than this. When the Son of Heaven moved east to Luoyi, this area was given to the state of Qin, and thus the land of Qin began to expand. During the Warring States period, the eastern part of the崤 Mountains had six states, while Qin controlled one of them. When the six states formed alliances against Qin, Qin alone adopted the strategy of connecting with others, eventually being able to overcome the majority with fewer forces and conquer the six states — this was not only due to human effort, but also due to the terrain. Since Han Gaozu adopted Lou Jing's suggestion to establish the capital in Guanzhong, later generations who discussed geographical advantages always pointed to this area. The Tang dynasty began in Jin Yang and also established its capital here. Since the Song dynasty established its capital in Bianjing, the imperial aura of this area has declined for more than five hundred years."

詳究文莊茲論，確有所見，而議者乃謂漕運不便。不知周與漢唐各數百年，而其儲積豈無其道？且《禹貢》“若雍州，厥田惟上上”，史稱沃壤千里，可以儲貯。而秦號富強，顧所處之如何耳！大抵雍州非直形勢險固，風水融聚為美已也。且其水深土厚，民性質樸，易於從化，尤為可嘉。

Careful examination of Qiu Wen Zhuang's argument indeed reveals his insightful perspective. However, those who criticize it say that the Grand Canal transportation in the Guanzhong region is inconvenient. They do not realize that the Zhou, Han, and Tang dynasties each ruled for hundreds of years, yet they surely had methods for storing grain. Moreover, the Classic of Yu says, "It reaches the Yongzhou region, where the fields are of the highest quality," and historical records call it a vast fertile land, sufficient for storage. The state of Qin was renowned for its wealth and strength, indicating that the key lies in how people manage and cultivate the land. Generally speaking, Yongzhou not only has a strategic and secure location with favorable geographical features, but also has deep water, thick soil, and a populace that is simple and easy to educate, which is especially valuable.

朱子曰：“岐豐之地，文王用之以興，二南之化，如彼其忠且厚也。秦人用之未幾，而一變其俗，尚氣概，先勇力，忘生輕死，悍然有招八州，朝同列之氣。其故何哉？誠以雍州土厚水深，其民重厚質直，無鄭、衛驕惰浮靡之習。以善道之，則易興起而篤於仁義；以猛驅之，則其強毅果敢之資，亦足以強兵力農而成富強之業，非山東諸國所及也。後世欲為定都立國之計，誠不可不監乎此。而於導民之路，尤不可不慎其所之。旨哉言乎！

Zhu Xi said: "The land of Qi and Feng, King Wen used it to establish the royal cause. The moral teachings of the Zhou Nan and Zhao Nan were loyal and sincere. The Qin people used it for a short time, yet they changed the customs to value spirit and strength, to value bravery and disregard death, and to have the boldness to attract the eight states and make the vassal states come to court. Why was this so? It is really because the land of Yongzhou has thick soil and deep water, and its people are honest and straightforward, without the idle and frivolous customs of Zheng and Wei. If guided by virtue, they would easily rise up and earnestly practice benevolence and righteousness; if driven by severity, their strong and resolute nature would be sufficient to strengthen the military and cultivate agriculture, achieving a prosperous and powerful state, which no other state east of the Xiang Mountains could match. Later generations who plan to establish a capital and a country must surely not fail to take this as a lesson; and in guiding the people, they must especially be cautious about where they lead them." These words are truly insightful!

中龍之次有洛陽，即周營洛邑之地也。前值伊闕，後據邙山，左瀍右澗，洛水貫其中，以象河漢。此紫微垣局也。張子微曰：“洛邑是飛龍格勢，腳手本自分明，迎送卻從外假合。凡大地，迎送皆取諸外而不取諸本身。所謂本身手腳，一曲屈縈迴輒五六十里，或七八十里，故人不見其為手足。況遠外迎送，其得見乎？此其平夷之地，一望無際，惟審其水源而後識之也。

In the middle of the dragon-like terrain, the next level is Luoyang, which was the site of the Western Zhou Dynasty's capital, Luoyi. It faces directly the Yique Pass in front, relies on the Mang Mountain behind, has the Chanyin River on its left and the Jian River on its right, with the Luo River flowing through the center. This layout symbolizes the celestial Milky Way, forming the pattern of the Purple Micro Enclosure. Zhang Zimo said, "Luoyi has the 'Flying Dragon' pattern. The dragon's limbs are originally distinct, but the welcoming and sending ridges are borrowed from outside. In general, for large landforms, the welcoming and sending ridges are taken from outside rather than from the land itself. The original limbs of the land, when they curve and turn, can extend for fifty to sixty li or even seventy to eighty li, so people cannot easily recognize them as the dragon's limbs. Moreover, the welcoming and sending ridges far away are even less recognizable. This area is flat and vast, so one can only recognize it by examining its water source."

然洛邑居天下之中，為大龍之腹，四望平夷，近則熊耳居其右，西京在其左。取諸遠則上洛在其西，太華在其東，終南惇物在其北，內方則在河南。周公所以取制天下之中，猶腹為人身都會之所也。以水而言，則洛水自西而經其前，瀍、澗界其東，汾、 繞其後，伊水陳其面，最合風水法度。

However, Luoyi is located in the center of the world, being the belly of the great dragon, with flat terrain all around: near it is the Bear Ear Mountain on its right, and the western capital Chang'an on its left; looking further, Shangluo is to its west, Taishan is to its east, the Zhongnan Mountains and Dunwu Mountains are to its north, and Neifang Mountain is in Henan. The Duke of Zhou chose it to control the center of the world, just as the belly is the gathering place of all parts of the body. In terms of water, the Luo River flows from the west passing in front of it, the Cian River and the Jian River cut off its east side, the Fen River and other rivers encircle its back, and the Yi River is arranged in front of it, which is most in accordance with the principles of fengshui.

但以形勝論之，則平夷無險，四面受敵，故周營洛邑，特以宅中圖治，道里適均之故，乃於此以朝諸侯，非建都也。按《大學衍義》，陳大猷曰：“成王實都鎬京，特往來朝諸侯，祀清廟於洛。故鎬京謂之宗周，以其為天下所宗也。洛邑謂之成周，以周道成於此也。

But considering the geographical advantages, the area is flat and lacks natural defenses, so the Zhou dynasty built Luoyi mainly because it is centrally located, convenient for governance, and equidistant from all directions. It was here that the feudal lords came to pay homage and the ancestral worship took place. It was not made the capital. According to The Great Learning Derivation, Chen Dayou said: "King Cheng actually established his capital at Haojing, visiting Luoyi only to receive the homage of the feudal lords and to hold the ancestral worship in the Qingtemple. Therefore, Haojing is called Zongzhou, because it is the center of the world's reverence; Luoyi is called Chengzhou, because the Way of the Zhou dynasty was completed here."

洛邑天下之至中，豐鎬天下之至險。成王於洛邑定鼎，以朝諸侯，所以成天地中和之氣。宅中以蒞四海，其示天下也公。於鎬京定都以壯基本，所以據天下形勝，據上游以制六合，其慮天下也遠。”誠哉言也！後平王避犬戎，徙都於洛，則周室日衰，馴至不可為矣。

Luoyi was the most central place in the world, while Feng and Hao were the most strategic locations. King Cheng placed the Nine Tripods in Luoyi and received the homage of the feudal lords, aiming to achieve the harmonious balance of heaven and earth; ruling from the center and governing the four seas, he demonstrated to the world the concept of "publicness." Establishing the capital in Haojing was to occupy the strategic advantages of the land, to be in a superior position and control the Six Harmonies, considering the long-term interests of the world. This statement is indeed accurate! Later, when King Ping moved the capital to Luoyang to escape the Qianrong, the Zhou dynasty gradually declined, eventually reaching a point from which there was no recovery.

漢初，高祖亦欲都洛，以婁敬、張良之言，都於關中。光武中興，始於洛建都，謂之東都洛陽。卻在周都河南，又隔伊水，有諸水在後，而地方之備差完，頗為可取。然皆平夷，曠洋無蔽，有德易以王，無德易以亡，不可用也。

In the early Han dynasty, Emperor Gaozu wanted to build his capital in Luoyang, but after the advice of Lou Jing and Zhang Liang, he decided to establish the capital in Guanzhong. Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han revived the dynasty and began to build the capital in Luoyang, calling it the Eastern Capital. Its location is in Henan, the former capital of the Zhou dynasty, and it is separated by the Yi River, with several rivers behind it, making the defense of the area somewhat complete and having some merits. However, the surrounding area is flat and open, with no natural barriers, so a virtuous person may easily achieve a kingdom here, but a person without virtue may also easily lose power here, so it is not advisable to adopt this location.

故東周都洛而能延數百年之久者，誠以文武之德，民不忍忘故爾。溫公《厯年圖》曰：“周自平王東遷，日以衰微。至於戰國，又分而為二。其土地人民不足以比強國之大夫。然天下猶尊而事之，以為共主，綿綿然久而不絕，其故何哉？文武之德植，本固而發源深也。不然，以區區數邑，處七暴國之間，一日不可存，況數百年乎？”此確論也。

Therefore, the Eastern Zhou dynasty was able to establish its capital in Luoyang and last for several hundred years, truly because of the deep virtue of King Wen and King Wu, and the people's unwillingness to forget it. Sima Guang's "Years Diagram" says: "Since the Eastern Zhou dynasty moved its capital eastward under King Ping, it has gradually declined, and by the Warring States period it had split into the Eastern and Western Zhou. Its territory and people were even less than those of a single minister in a powerful state. Yet the world still revered and served it, treating it as the common sovereign, and it lasted long without interruption. Why was this so? Because the virtue planted by King Wen and King Wu was deep-rooted and had a long source. Otherwise, with just a few city-states surrounded by seven powerful states, it could not have survived even a single day, let alone several hundred years." This is a correct statement.

中龍之又其次者，有汴梁。其龍自熊耳至此，平坦萬里。大河在其北，淮河在其南，亦天苑垣也。五代梁、漢、晉、周皆都於此，年代不永。宋都之，傳九帝，厯一百六十七年而南遷臨安。是時汴梁在河之南，猶差可取。今河水沖決而在於河之北，無復當時風水形勝矣。

The second best place for a dragon ridge is Bianliang. Its dragon ridge comes from the Xiong'er Mountains and extends here, where the terrain is flat and stretches for ten thousand li. The Yellow River lies to its north, and the Huai River to its south, forming a layout similar to the celestial constellation Tianyuan Yuan. The Later Liang, Later Han, Later Jin, and Later Zhou dynasties all established their capitals here, but none lasted long. The Song dynasty established its capital here, passing through nine emperors and lasting one hundred and sixty-seven years before moving south to Lin'an. At that time, Bianliang was on the south side of the Yellow River, and its auspicious terrain was still acceptable. Now, however, the Yellow River has changed its course, and Bianliang is on the north side of the river, no longer possessing the former favorable geographical features.

舊黃河在開封城北四十里。宋元以來，河徙穿淮。馴及我朝洪武二十四年，河決原武，東經開封城北五里，又南行至項城，經頴川以入淮。而舊河故道遂淤。正統十三年，又決滎陽，過開封城之西南，而城北之新河又淤。自是汴城在河之北，龍脈經河穿壞，形勝亦無，河繞可恃不可用也。

The old Yellow River was forty miles north of the Kaifeng city. Since the Song and Yuan dynasties, the Yellow River changed its course and flowed into the Huai River. By the 24th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty, the river broke through at Yuanwu and flowed eastward five miles north of the Kaifeng city, then southward to Xiangcheng, passing through Yingchuan and flowing into the Huai River. The old river course thus silted up. In the 13th year of the Zhengtong era, another breach occurred at Xingyang, with the river flowing southward past the southwest of the Kaifeng city, and the new river to the north of the city also silted up. Since then, the Kaifeng city has been located to the north of the Yellow River, with its dragon vein disrupted by the river's erosion, and its favorable geographical features destroyed. The pattern of the Yellow River encircling the city to provide defense is no longer applicable.

蓋河源於崑崙星宿海，又入地伏流數百里，不見其派。禹之所導，始於積石，初未曾窮河源也。河至於此，其勢橫放沖溢。外則涇、渭、漆、沮之會於渭、汭，又有伊、洛、瀍、澗、汾、 之會於底柱，所洩惟汝、泗二流。

The Yellow River originates from the Star Mansion Sea in the Kunlun Mountains, then flows underground for hundreds of miles, with its tributaries invisible. The great Yu was the one who diverted the river, starting from the Jishi Mountains, and he did not trace the source of the river. When the Yellow River reaches this area, its water spreads out widely and overflows. Outside, the Jing River, Wei River, Qi River, and Ju River converge into the Wei and Rui, while the Yi River, Luo River, Chan River, Jian River, and Fen River converge into the Dizhu. However, only two rivers, the Ru River and the Si River, can discharge the water.

內則淡、濟內河，滹沱、恆、洚從而益之，至於九河逆河，勢雖遠而愈勝。故有河患，非人所能制者。自三代已然。由漢、唐、宋、元迄今，頻年沖決，而沿河之民悉魚鱉矣，況可都乎？

Inside there were rivers such as the Freshwater River and the Jishi River, and then the Hetu River, the Heng River, and the Jiong River kept adding to the flow. By the time it reached the area of the Nine Rivers and the Reverse River, although the water flowed far, its power became even stronger. Therefore, the flood of the Yellow River could not be controlled by human effort; it has been this way since the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. From the Han, Tang, Song, Yuan dynasties up to the present day, the river has broken through its banks every year, turning the people living along the river into fish and turtles. How could it be possible to build a capital there?

南龍有金陵，即今之南畿，我太祖高皇帝建都之地也。戰國楚威王時，以其地有王氣，埋金以鎮之，故稱金陵。漢改曰秣稜。吳曰建業。晉曰建康。其形勢，前輩謂與洛陽同。廖氏云：“建康形勢洛陽同，王氣古云鍾。”蓋紫微垣局，南幹之盡也。

Nanlong has Jinling, which is today's Nanjing area, the place where the present dynasty's Taizu Gaohuangdi established his capital. During the Warring States period, the Chu Wei Wang, because he thought this place had royal aura, buried gold to suppress it, hence it was called Jinling. In the Han dynasty, it was renamed Maoling, and during the Wu kingdom it was called Jianye, and during the Jin dynasty it was called Jiankang. Its terrain, as said by predecessors, is the same as Luoyang. Liao Yu said, "The terrain of Jiankang is the same as Luoyang, the royal aura was said to be concentrated here." This area belongs to the structure of Ziwēi Yuan, and is the final convergence of the southern dry dragon.

蘇伯衡謂劉迪簡云：“金陵地脈，自東南朔長江而西，數百里而止。其止也，蜒蜿磅礴，既翕復張。中脊而下，降為平衍。所謂土中於是乎在。西為雞籠、覆舟諸山，又西為石頭城。而鐘山峙其東，大江回抱，秦淮、玄武湖左右映帶，兩淮諸山合沓內向，若委玉帛而朝焉。

Su Boheng told Liu Di Jian: "The land ridge of Jingling runs from the southeast against the Yangtze River towards the west, for hundreds of miles until it stops. Where it stops, it winds and stretches broadly, first gathering in and then spreading out; the central mountain ridge descends into a flat area, which is called 'the central land'. To the west are the Jilong Mountain and Fuzhou Mountain, and further west is the Shitou City; while the Zhongshan Mountain stands towering to its east. The Yangtze River winds around it, and the Qinhuai River and the Xuanwu Lake lie on both sides, forming a surrounding. The mountains from both Huai regions come in layers towards the center, like presenting jade and silk to pay homage."

諸葛孔明謂鐘山龍蟠，石城虎踞，眞帝王都。昔始皇見金陵有王氣，東遊以壓之。其後三國吳都之，傳四世。東晉又都之，傳十一世，歷百餘年。南朝宋、齊、梁、陳、南唐皆都之，而年代不永，蓋以其雖合垣局，而垣氣多洩，故爾。楊筠松云“長江環外有三結，垣前中水列。垣中已是帝王都，只是垣城氣多洩”是也。

Zhuge Liang said that Zhongshan is like a dragon coiling and the Stone City is like a tiger crouching, truly forming a capital fit for an emperor. In ancient times, Qin Shi Huang saw that Jinling had the aura of a king, so he specially toured eastward to suppress it. Later, the Wu Kingdom of the Three Kingdoms established its capital here, passing through four generations; the Eastern Jin Dynasty also established its capital here, passing through eleven generations, lasting over a hundred years; the Southern Dynasties' Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, as well as the Southern Tang, all established their capitals here, but none lasted long. This is probably because although the city conforms to the layout of the terrain, the aura of the city leaks too much. Yang Yunsong said, "The Yangtze River encircles with three converging points, with water arranged in the front and center. The city in the middle is already a capital of an emperor, but the aura of the city leaks too much," which exactly refers to this point.

若以形勝論之，則江限南北，古今恃為天險。朱子曰：“東南論都，必要都建康者，以建康正諸方水道所湊，一望則諸要會地都在面前，有相應處。”劉誠意謂“襟帶長江，勢甚險固。”桂文襄謂“金陵，江北則有徐、穎二州，地跨中原，瓜連數省，並稱雄鎮，為藩離，有控扼之勢。江南則有安慶，當長江委流，西控全楚，為江表門戶。”

If we consider it from the perspective of "shape and advantage," the Yangtze River separates the north from the south, and throughout history, capitals have relied on it as a natural barrier. Zhu Xi said, "When considering the establishment of a capital in the southeast, it must certainly be Jiankang, because Jiankang is where all the waterways converge. From a single view, all the strategic points are in sight, and they can support each other." Liu Ji (the Marquis of Chengyi) said it "has the Yangtze River as its sash and belt, with an extremely secure and formidable terrain." Gui E (the Marquis of Wenxiang) said, "Jingling has Xu Zhou and Ying Zhou in the north of the river, spanning the Central Plains, connected to several provinces, all of which are strongholds, serving as its barriers, with a controlling position; in the south, it has Anqing, located at the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, controlling all of Chu to the west, and serving as the gate of the Jiangbei region."

按諸君子所論形勢，是誠英雄用武之地，可以駕馭四方，號令天下而興王業者。我太祖高皇帝以之定鼎，良有以也。但以地理家言之，雖合紫微垣局，奈垣氣多洩，故成祖文皇帝再建燕京，為萬世不拔之基，豈偶然哉！蓋天眷皇朝，故二祖動即合法，而非有意於地理之說也。猗與盛哉！

According to the views of the various gentlemen, this place is indeed a land where heroes can display their talents, capable of controlling all directions and commanding the world to establish a great cause. The High Ancestral Emperor established his capital here, which had its own reasons. However, from the perspective of geography, although it conforms to the Purple Micro Constellation arrangement, the energy of the constellation leaks too much. Therefore, the Wenxiang Emperor rebuilt the capital at Yanjing, establishing an unshakable foundation for future generations. Is this not a coincidence? Perhaps it is the heavens favoring our dynasty, so the two ancestors' every action conforms to the principles, not intentionally focusing on geomancy. How magnificent!

南龍之次有臨安今浙江杭州府。其龍脈自天目山入錢塘，而海門有龍赭二山在其中。郭景純紀云：“天目山前兩乳長，龍飛鳳舞到錢塘。海門更點巽風起，五百年間出帝王。”《經》云：“海門環合似天市，天目天池生侍衛。萬里飛來垣外挹，海外諸峰補垣氣。”廖氏云：“大江以南天目峙，海門似天市。”故臨安亦天市垣耳。

South Dragon of the second rank is Lin'an (now Hangzhou Prefecture in Zhejiang Province). Its dragon vein comes from Tianmu Mountain into Qiantang, with Longshan and Zhesan mountains forming a narrow passage at the sea gate. Guo Pu wrote: "Before Tianmu Mountain, two peaks stretch long, the dragon flies and the phoenix dances to Qiantang. At the sea gate, the wind of Xun rises, and emperors emerge every five hundred years." The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: "The sea gate forms a ring like the celestial market, the Tianmu Heavenly Lake produces attendants. A dragon vein comes from ten thousand miles, outside the wall, it is embraced by the celestial market's energy." Liao Yu said: "To the south of the great river, Tianmu stands, and the sea gate resembles the celestial market." Therefore, Lin'an also belongs to the pattern of the celestial market wall.

若以形勝論之，則僻處一隅，子朱子謂“如入屋角房中，坐視外面，殊不相應。”宋高宗南遷建都於此，其卜相京畿國師，吾邑傳公少華伯通也。有臨安行在表，謂其地只可駐蹕，不宜建都，不過偏安之地。且主奸相弄權，武臣多咎。後宋竟未能恢復，而奸相如秦檜、賈似道諸人迭出，皆操弄國柄，武臣多不善終，果符傅公之言。

If we consider it from the perspective of "shape and location," it is situated in a corner, and Zhu Xi said it is "like sitting in a small room at the corner of a house and looking out, which is very inappropriate." When the Song Emperor Southern Song moved his capital here, the imperial astrologer who was responsible for selecting the capital area was Fu Botong, a man from our county, who was known as Shaohua. Fu submitted a document called "The Memorandum on the Southern Capital," stating that this place was only suitable for temporary residence, not for establishing a capital, and that it was merely a place of temporary security. Moreover, it would lead to the dominance of corrupt ministers and many military officials suffering misfortune. Later, the Song dynasty was unable to recover the Central Plains, and corrupt ministers such as Qin Hui and Jia Shidao appeared one after another, seizing power, while many military officials did not end well, which indeed fulfilled Fu's prediction.

其表畧曰：顧此三吳之會，實為百粵之沖。錢氏以之開數世之基，郭璞占之有興王之運。天目雙峰屹立乎斗牛之上，海門一點橫當乎軫翼之間。臨安集秀氣於軒轅，吳會孕祥光於樞府。會稽、北固，堂堂乎天外之山；京口、姑蘇，眇眇兮域中之澤。四神具足，八景寬容。山勢北來，有朝海拱辰之象；水流東去，無鬼刼凌奪之憂。

The passage roughly says: This place is where the three Wu regions converge, and indeed it is a vital passageway of the hundred Yue. The Wu-Yue Qian氏 relied on it to establish dynastic foundations for several generations. Guo Pu predicted that it possesses the fortune for the rise of a king. The two peaks of Tianmu Mountains stand high above the celestial regions of Dou and Niu. The single point of Hai Men lies between Zhen and Yi constellations. Lin'an gathers the refined essence to the position of Xuan Yuan star, while Wu Hui nurtures auspicious light in the position of Shu Fu star. Mount Kuaiji and Mount Beigushan are grand mountains beyond the heavens; Jingkou and Gusu are vast lakes within the world. The four divine creatures (Qinglong, Baihu, Zhuque, Xuanwu) are all present, and the eight directions offer broad scenery. The mountain ranges come from the north, displaying the grandeur of facing the sea and surrounding the northern star; the waters flow eastward, without the worry of being robbed or oppressed by ghost stars.

鳳閣龍樓，正當辛地；捍門華表，恰值星河。上合東宮天市之垣，下接揚州禹貢之域。然而金匱凌雲，雖少府有積年之聚；廉貞妬主，必大臣多持柄之虞。昴日星虧，武臣多咎；鬼金位起，閹寺施權。文曲多山，俗尚虛浮而詐；少微積水，人多文飾而貪。雖云自昔稱雄，實乃形局兩弱。只宜為一方之巨鎮，不宜作百祀之京畿。駐驆暫足偏安，建都難奄九有。

"The 'Phoenix Pavilion and Dragon Tower' type of precious terrain should be located at the Xin position, while 'Guardian Gate' and 'Floral Pillar' should face the Milky Way directly. Above, they connect with the Eastern Palace and the Tian Shi Yu (Celestial Market) constellation, and below, they link to the territory of Yangzhou as defined in the Yu Gong (Book of Yu). However, the 'Golden Chest' rises high into the clouds, although it may indicate a long accumulation of treasury resources; the 'Lianzhen' star is envious, inevitably causing concern about long-term control by ministers. The昴 star (昴日星) is lacking, leading to many troubles for military officials; if the position of the Ghost Metal rises, eunuchs will gain power. The area around the Wen Qu (Literary Merit) star is mountainous, with a local custom of being superficial and deceitful; where the Shaomie star is located, there is water accumulation, and people tend to be hypocritical and greedy. Although this place has been renowned since ancient times, both its form and structure are weak, suitable only for being a major stronghold, not for being the capital of a hundred generations. It can勉强 serve as a temporary residence for the emperor, but it is not suitable to be the capital encompassing the whole country."

按：傅公表上，乃升杭州為臨安府而稱行在，遂寢建都之義。又數年，秦檜專權，建和議而無恢復之志。當時諸臣亦有議都建康者，竟如檜議，定都臨安。而有宋卒不能克復舊物，令人有餘憾。雖然，天下事莫不有數。《宋史》記徽宗夢吳越武肅錢王鏐入宮而誕生高宗，則臨安之都，豈非數有預定者？吳錢王鏐，唐末封吳越王，梁篡唐，鏐遂據杭州。

Note: After Fu Gong's memorial was submitted, the court elevated Hangzhou to the status of Lin'an Prefecture and called it "xingzai" (the provisional capital), thus abandoning the plan to establish the capital. A few years later, Qin Hui held power, advocating for peace talks without the ambition to recover the Central Plains. At that time, there were also ministers who suggested establishing the capital at Jiankang, but ultimately the decision was made to set the capital in Lin'an according to Qin Hui's opinion. The Song dynasty ultimately failed to recover its former territories, which was deeply regrettable. Nevertheless, the affairs of the world are not beyond the influence of fate. The "Song Shi" records that Emperor Huizong dreamed of Wu Yue Wu Su Wang Qian Liu entering the palace and then gave birth to Emperor Gaozong. Therefore, establishing the capital in Lin'an was not a matter of choice, but fate predetermined. (Wu Yue's Qian Liu was granted the title of Wu Yue King during the late Tang dynasty; after the Later Liang usurped the Tang throne, Qian Liu controlled Hangzhou.)

已上建都之地，其概如此。唐虞之都，以河溢為患。周洛邑以備守之難。大梁平夷無險。臨安僻處一隅。金陵形勝雖優，而垣氣多洩。兩淮龍氣大盡，而地勢卑下。東魯中幹雖尊，而已鍾孔聖。且今河水穿龍，皆非建都之宜。他如許昌、成都、南粵等處不足論矣。惟我京師為上，而關中次之，東漢所都之洛又次之。

The various places mentioned above for establishing a capital are roughly as follows: The capitals of the Xia and Shang dynasties suffered from frequent floods of the Yellow River; the Western Zhou capital Luoyi was difficult to defend; Daliang was flat and lacked natural defenses; Lin'an was located in a remote area; Jinling had good geographical advantages, but the qi was leaking too much; the two Huai regions had strong dragon qi but were low-lying; Eastern Lu was a noble place for the central dragon, but the spiritual energy had already gathered and produced Confucius; and moreover, the Yellow River has now cut through the dragon's meridian, making these places unsuitable for a capital. Other places such as Xuchang, Chengdu, and Nan Yue are even less suitable. Only the current capital is the best, followed by Guanzhong, and then the Western Han capital Luoyang.

雖然，聖帝明王，要必有所重也。昔魏武侯浮西河而下，中流顧謂吳起曰：“美哉！山河之固，魏國之寶也。”起對曰：“在德不在險。昔三苗氏左洞庭，右彭蠡，禹滅之。桀之居，左河濟，右太華，伊關在其南，羊腸在其北，湯放之。紂之國，左孟門，右太行，恆山在其北，太河經其南，武王殺之。若不修德，舟中之人皆敵國也。”武侯善之。

Although this is true, a wise ruler must surely value something else. Once, Wei Wu Hou was traveling by boat down the Xi He River. When they reached the middle of the river, he turned around and said to Wu Qi, "How beautiful! The strength of the mountains and rivers; this is the treasure of the State of Wei." Wu Qi replied, "The safety of the state depends on virtue, not on natural barriers. In the past, the San Miao people had on their left the Dongting Lake and on their right the Peng Li Lake, yet King Yu still destroyed them. The residence of King Jie of Xia was on the left with the Yellow River and Ji River, and on the right with Mount Tai Hua, with Yique to the south and Yangchang to the north, yet King Tang still exiled him. The territory of King Zhou of Shang had on its left the Mengmen and on its right the Taixing Mountains, with Mount Heng to the north and the Yellow River flowing to the south, yet King Wu of Zhou still killed him. If virtue is not cultivated, all those on the same boat will become enemies of the state." Wei Wu Hou thought his words were correct.

愚謂君子不以人廢言。起雖不足道，若斯者誠確論哉！不然，秦、隋嘗都關中矣，金、元嘗都燕京矣，風水之美，形勝之固，何獨於彼不驗哉！是故風水之說在於地，固有國者所當擇。而禍福得喪之機存乎人，尤有國者所當慎也。

I think a gentleman should not discard someone's words merely because of his character. Though Wu Qi's character was not commendable, his remarks were indeed accurate. Otherwise, why did the Qin and Sui dynasties establish their capitals in Guanzhong, and the Jin and Yuan dynasties in Yanjing, where the风水 was so good and the strategic position so strong? Why did the fortune not come true for them? Therefore, the theory of风水, when applied to the land, is something that rulers should choose carefully; but the key to fortune and misfortune lies in people, which is something rulers should be even more cautious about.