Reprint of the section "Part Two of Volume One" from "The Essential Guide to Human Affairs and the Art of Divination in the Heart of Filial Piety and the Unified Tradition of the School of Heart Learning"

江右山人徐善繼述 同著。此篇專論幹龍枝龍。夫龍之枝幹，形勢不一，茍無眞見，則登山汗漫，貿貿莫分。且辨龍枝幹，乃地理第一關鍵。此而不知，則大本已失。如宮牆外望，不得其門，何由升堂以入其室乎？故首論枝幹，蓋亦開關啟鍵意也。

This volume was jointly compiled by Xu Shanji and Xu Shanshu, brothers from Jiangyou (modern Jiangxi). This section specifically discusses "Gan Long" and "Zhi Long." Mountain dragons have both main and branch forms, with a variety of shapes and气势, differing greatly. Without genuine discernment, one would be completely confused upon entering the mountains, unable to distinguish between the main and branch forms. Identifying the main and branch dragons is the first crucial step in the study of geography. If this step is not passed, the fundamental principles have already been lost. It is like standing outside a palace, unable to find the main gate, how could one ever enter the hall and reach the inner chamber? Therefore, this book begins with the distinction between main and branch dragons, intending to open the door for the reader.

夫乾龍枝龍者，乃龍之有大有小，猶木之有幹有枝也。蓋幹為木之身，而枝柯所附以立。枝為木之衍，而條葉所自以蕃。論龍大小，取象莫辨於此。但枝幹之中，又各有大小之別。故有大幹龍、小幹龍，大枝龍、小枝龍。所謂幹中有幹，幹中有枝；枝中有幹，枝中有枝是也。吳國師有云：“枝幹明而嫡庶分，嫡庶分而力量見。”故論龍不可不辨枝幹，論枝幹又不可不辨大小，以審其力量之輕重也。

The terms "dry dragon" and "branch dragon" refer to the fact that mountain dragons can be large or small, just as trees have a main trunk and branches. The main trunk is the body of the tree, and all the branches depend on it to stand firm. Branches are extensions of the main trunk, from which branches and leaves sprout and flourish. To distinguish between large and small dragons, there is no clearer analogy than this. However, within both the main trunk and the branches, there are further distinctions of size, so there are "great main dragons" and "small main dragons," as well as "great branch dragons" and "small branch dragons." This is what is commonly referred to as a main dragon containing another main dragon, and a main dragon containing a branch; a branch containing a main dragon, and a branch containing another branch. Master Wu Jingluan once said: once the distinction between branches and trunks is clear, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate descendants is established; once the legitimate and illegitimate distinctions are fixed, the strength of each branch's dragon pulse becomes evident. Therefore, when discussing dragons, one must first distinguish between branches and trunks, and after distinguishing branches and trunks, one must again distinguish between large and small, only then can the relative strength be measured.

然審辨之法，以水源為定。故大幹龍則以大江大河夾送，小幹龍則以大溪大澗夾送，枝龍則以小溪小澗夾送，小枝龍則惟田源溝洫夾送而已。楊公云“水源亦自有長短，長作軍州短作縣”是也。故觀水源長短而枝幹之大小見矣。然此亦惟舉其大綱言之。至於節目之詳，即其行度形勢，亦自有別。具見下文。

The method of distinguishing between different types of dragon lines depends on the size of the water source that accompanies the dragon line. For a major dragon line, large rivers and streams on both sides serve as its escorts; for a minor dragon line, large streams and gullies provide the escort; for a branch dragon line, only small streams and gullies are present; and for a small branch dragon line, there is merely the water from the fields and ditches that run alongside it. Yang Yunsong said that the water source itself also has length and shortness. A long water source can form a military and administrative center of a state, while a short one can only support a county. This is exactly the principle being explained. Therefore, by observing the length of the water source, one can clearly discern the size of the dragon line. However, this is only a general approach. As for the more detailed classifications, such as the rhythm and form of the dragon line's movement, each has its own particularities, which will be discussed in detail later.

夫乾龍有二，前所云大干小幹是也。所謂大幹龍者，即幹中之幹者也。其祖皆出名山，跨州連郡，延袤幾千百里，乃正氣所聚，鍾靈孕秀，頴異殊常，敻然高廣，而每有雲霧發現。《經》云“先尋霧氣識正龍”，又云“尋龍望氣先尋脈，雲霧多生在龍脊。春夏之交與二分，夜望雲霓生處覓”是也。蓋幹龍之祖極高大，故每有雲霧生其巔。此察識幹龍祖宗之大法也。

The dry dragon comes in two types, namely the great dry dragon and the small dry dragon. The great dry dragon is the dragon within the dry dragon. Its ancestral mountains all originate from famous mountains throughout the land, spanning across several states and connecting several prefectures, stretching for hundreds or even thousands of miles. It is the place where the vital energy of heaven and earth converges, where the land is endowed with extraordinary talents and beauty, different from ordinary mountains. From a distance, they appear high and broad, with clouds and mist often rising from the peaks. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says, "First seek the mist to identify the true dragon," and also says that when searching for a dragon, one should first look for the ridge. Clouds and mist mostly appear on the dragon's back. In the spring and summer, especially around the time of the spring equinox and autumn equinox, one should go to the place where the clouds and霞 rise at night. This refers precisely to this method. The ancestral mountains of the great dry dragon are exceptionally high, so the water vapor in the mountains is blocked by the high peaks, causing clouds and mist to often form on the peaks. Observing where the clouds and mist appear is the most important method for identifying the ancestral mountains of the great dry dragon.

知其祖，又當於離祖分行，審其出身。聳拔雄偉，氣勢宏大，規模尊重，如王者駕出而百職咸隨，如大將赴敵而三軍聽命，巍峨卓異，豈若枝龍之出身，惟以細嫩活動，逶迤磊落為美哉！及其出身以來，則多牽連而行，不起星峰，惟兩旁枝腳、護衛、關峽等山，則星峰聳拔。俗眼不識幹龍形體，惟以星峰秀麗為愛，縱有所得，不過枝葉小穴而已。豈知正幹龍稟氣渾厚，不起正體星辰。

After identifying the ancestral mountain, one must examine the "origin" of the dragon ridge where it departs from the ancestral mountain and branches off. The great main dragon's origin is lofty and majestic, with grand momentum and solemn scale, like an emperor traveling with all officials accompanying him, or a general rushing to battle with the entire army obeying his command, towering and upright, distinct from others. How different this is from the origin of a branch dragon, which is considered beautiful only for being delicate and flexible, winding and open. After the great main dragon leaves its origin, it mostly proceeds in a continuous line, without itself rising into a "star peak." Instead, it is the side branches, protective mountains, and key passes along the way, these subordinate mountains, that rise into high star peaks. Common people cannot recognize the form of the main dragon, they only favor the beauty of delicate star peaks. Even if they gain something, it is only a small opening on the branches. They do not know that the main dragon receives a thick and simple qi, and itself does not manifest "main body stars."

《經》云：“尋龍何處使人疑，尋得星辰卻是枝。枝葉亂來無正穴，眞龍到處又疑非。只緣不識兩邊護，卻愛飛峰到腳隨。飛峰斜落是龍腳，腳上生峰一邊卓。眞龍平處無星峰，兩邊生峰至難捉。”又云：“疑龍何處最難疑，尋得星峰卻是枝。關峽從行並護托，矗矗旗槍左右隨。乾上星峰全不作，星峰龍法盡虛辭。”

The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: What most causes doubt when seeking a dragon? Often one finds a beautiful star peak, but it is merely a branch dragon. The branches spread out in disorder, and there is no true穴 in them; when the true dragon comes close, people doubt it is not. This is because one does not recognize the protective mountains on both sides of the dragon's body, but instead favors those flying peaks that follow the dragon's feet. One must know that the flying peaks that slope down are actually the dragon's feet, and the peaks that arise from the feet stand alone on one side. The true dragon does not produce star peaks in its gentle parts, but instead has dense mountain ranges on both sides, which are hard to grasp. It also says: Where is the hardest place to distinguish a dragon? It is also when one finds a star peak but it belongs to a branch dragon. The pass follows the dragon, and the protective mountains accompany it on both sides, standing tall like flags and spears, following left and right. The true main dragon does not have star peaks on its body. If one insists on using star peaks to fit the dragon method, all those statements will be invalid.

又云：“凡有好山隨幹去，枝龍盡處有旗槍。旗槍也是星峰作，圓凈尖方高更卓。就中尋穴穴即無，幹去未休枝早落。”又云：“問君州縣大幹龍，似浪橫江那有峰？起峰皆是兩邊腳，去為小穴為村落。”又云：“兩邊起峰為護從，正龍低平最貴重。”又云“幹龍身上不生峰，有峰皆是枝葉送”是也。故凡幹龍，不可以星體拘之。

The Classic of Shaking the Dragon also says: all good mountains follow the main dragon's path, and at the end of the branch dragons, there are often peaks resembling flags and spears; these flags and spears are also transformed from star peaks, either round and clean or sharp and square, and especially tall and prominent. However, when searching for a site, there is no site, because the main dragon has not yet finished, while the branches have already ended. It also says: asking about the great main dragons that form states and counties, their shape is like waves spreading across the river surface; where would there be high peaks? All peaks arise from the side branches, which extend out only to form small sites and villages. It also says: the mountains that rise on both sides are the protective attendants, while the main dragon is actually low and flat, which is most valuable. It also says: the main dragon does not have peaks, and any peaks are formed by the branches to guard it. Therefore, whenever encountering the main dragon, one must never rigidly apply the forms and shapes of stars.

惟是崇山大壟，如白浪湧波，層巒疊嶂，牽連而行，或百餘里，或七八十里，或二三十里只一斷。而斷處必是驛路通衢，人跡絡繹不絕之處。古人以人跡往來多寡驗峽之大小，以峽之大小定龍之大小，誠為有理。蓋幹龍脊脈，多為疆域界限，故其過峽斷處，必是省郡通衢。

The form of the dry dragon is characterized by high mountains and continuous ridges, resembling surging white waves, with layered peaks extending continuously. It may travel over a hundred li, or seventy to eighty li, or twenty to thirty li before breaking off. The places where it breaks off are always at important crossroads of postal roads, where people come and go continuously. Ancients used the number of people passing through to determine the size of the "over ridge" (over峡), and then judged the size of the dragon based on the size of the ridge. This approach is indeed reasonable. Because the backbone of the dry dragon is often the boundary between states and prefectures, the places where it breaks off must be the main thoroughfares between provincial and prefectural cities.

然其斷亦有一伏或十餘里，或數十里平坦，了不知其去，而蹤跡詭異。或穿田渡坂，而有藕斷絲連；或石樑渡水，而為崩洪過脈；或拋蹤閃跡，而有馬跡蛛絲；或撒落平田，而藏形隱跡。前去忽起高山，又復牽連而行。行而又斷，斷而復起，延蔓廣袤，橫亙連綿，極其長遠，或千餘里，或數百里。

However, its interruption can also occur in another way: when it sinks down, it covers several tens or even hundreds of miles of flat land, making it completely impossible to see where the ridge goes, and its path is extremely mysterious. Some pass through fields and cross hills, leaving only "藕断丝连" (a metaphor for a faint connection) like traces. Some cross rivers by stone bridges in the water, forming "崩洪" (a sudden flood-like) ridges. Some flicker back and forth, leaving traces like "马迹蛛丝" (horse tracks and spider threads). Others simply scatter in flat fields, hiding their traces entirely. Then, ahead, it suddenly rises into high mountains, reconnecting and continuing. It goes, then breaks; breaks, then rises again, spreading widely and stretching continuously, extremely long, some traveling over a thousand miles, others hundreds of miles.

《經》云：“尋龍千里非迢遞，其次五百三百里。”子微云：“大龍千里費推尋，一二百里作郡邑。”廖氏云“幹龍住處分遠近，千里為大郡。二三百里可為州，過此即封侯。百里只堪為縣治，下此為鎮市”是也”。故幹龍之行度，極其長遠，愈長遠則力量愈大。其分去之龍，亦隨其正幹之大小而有差別。

The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: Seeking a dragon trail that spans thousands of li is not considered far, while the next level may be five hundred or three hundred li. Zhang Zimei says: A great dragon often spans thousands of li, requiring much effort to analyze, while a dragon trail of one or two hundred li can form a prefecture or county. Liao Jinjing says: The resting place of a main dragon should be judged by the distance it has traveled. A dragon that travels a thousand li can form a large prefecture, while one that travels two or three hundred li can form a state capital. If it exceeds these distances, it can produce families of marquises, while a dragon that travels only one hundred li is sufficient for a county, and shorter distances can only form towns and markets. This shows that the journey of a main dragon is extremely long, and the farther it travels, the greater its power. The branch dragons that branch off along the way also differ in rank according to the size of the main dragon itself.

如正幹龍去作京師，則其龍身分去小幹為省城，而省城龍身分去為郡邑，郡邑龍身分去為鄉村市井之類。《龍髓經》云“大龍行度自非常，離祖生來手腳長。橫亙鋪舒千百里，至微三百里中藏。一彎一觜皆開廣，終日循行尚未央。細葉猶為府州縣，巨枝畿甸植君王”是也。

For example, if the main dragon mountain ultimately forms the capital city, then the smaller branches of this dragon will form the provincial capitals. From the body of the provincial capital dragon, further branches will form prefecture and county towns, and from the body of these smaller dragons, further branches will form villages and towns, each level descending step by step. The "Dragon Essence Classic" says: the movement of a great dragon is inherently extraordinary. From the moment it leaves its ancestral mountain, its limbs and branches extend far and wide. It spreads out over hundreds or even thousands of miles, and even the smallest scale is at least three hundred miles. Every bend and every mountain turn of this dragon is broad and open, and it takes the whole day to traverse just a part of it. Even the smallest branches and twigs can form the administrative centers of prefectures and counties, while the larger branches support the imperial capital and foster the emperor's rule. This is exactly what is meant.

且其從山及枝腳橈棹，皆有融結。爰是幹龍，氣勢雄大，佈置精巧，故隨從之龍，與本身透漏，皆能有穴。子微云“手腳橈棹皆有穴，此是大龍多餘氣”是也。然此等大龍，亦有行至將結穴處無手足橈棹，撒落平陽，單行獨出。而一屈一曲，動數十里，隔州隔水之山，遠來迎接，在數十里外，自相照應。

Moreover, the accompanying mountains of the great dragon ridge, as well as the 「branches」 and 「oars」, each have their own formations. Because the main dragon ridge is grand in scale and meticulously arranged, the accompanying dragons along with the residual qi emanating from it can formsite everywhere. Zhang Zimwei said that there aresite on the hands, feet, branches, and oars, which are transformations of the excess qi of the great dragon, referring precisely to this situation. However, such great dragons sometimes fail to show hands, feet, branches, or oars when approaching the point of forming asite: they fall onto flat and fertile land, moving alone and distinctly, bending and twisting for dozens of miles. They are supported by distant mountains across rivers and states, which come to meet and support them from dozens of miles away.

《龍髓經》云：“不知大龍百十里，臨到作穴如蛇虺。單單灣環數十程，無手無腳如流水。若論纏護隔溪港，一望遮來數十里。若拘纏托與橈棹，不知此龍何者是。”故幹龍入首，必是外山隔水為迎為送，為纏為托。子微云：“小地結果論迎送，大地迎送隔江水。”楊公云：“大凡幹龍行盡處，外山隔水來相顧。”

The Long Bone Classic says: People do not know that a great dragon travels hundreds of miles, and when it comes to the point of forming a burial site, its shape is like a snake. It winds alone for dozens of turns, without hands or feet, flowing like water. If we talk about wrapping and supporting, it is a mountain across a stream, which can block the view for dozens of miles. If one insists on looking for wrapping and support nearby, one would not be able to recognize where the dragon is. Therefore, when a great dragon "enters the head," it must be supported by outer mountains that are separated by water, serving as welcoming, sending, wrapping, and supporting. Zhang Zimai said: Small sites form their shapes near by, while large sites have their welcoming and sending across rivers. Yang Yunsong said: Whenever a great dragon reaches its end, it is always supported by outer mountains that are separated by water, mutually supporting each other.

《發揮》云“譬之大貴人將至，不是自己帶來護衛，乃是千百里外係指揮。部屬之人，翕然聚集，刻日限時，罔敢不至”是也。《雪心賦》云：“求吾所大欲，無非逆水之龍。”此特枝龍而已。幹龍兩水夾送，安有逆水？惟是將及入首，翻身逆水，數十里或數里數節結穴為妙。所謂“順勢翻成逆勢”是也。

The "Fa Hui" uses an analogy: imagine a great nobleman is about to arrive, and his attendants are not those he brings along himself, but subordinates stationed hundreds of miles away under his command, who upon receiving orders gather quickly, arriving by a set time and place without hesitation. The escort and welcoming of a dry dragon is exactly like this. Bu Ying Tian's "Xue Xin Fu" says: when considering what I most desire, it is nothing but a dragon going against the current of water. But this refers only to branch dragons. A dry dragon is originally carried along by water on both sides, so how could it go against the current? Only when it is about to "enter the head" does it turn back and go against the water flow, for a few tens of miles or a few miles, passing through several sections to form a climax, which is considered excellent. This is called "changing from a favorable trend to an adverse one."

其結穴際，必然山水大會，或山大曲，水大轉，而水口交固，明堂平廣，左右周迴，內局團聚，外陽寬暢，水朝山拱。有此形勢，即可尋穴。《經》云：“凡山大曲，水大轉，必有王侯居此間。”又云“到此先看水口山，水口交牙內局寬。便就寬容平處覓，左右周迴無空閒。斷然有穴在此處，更看朝水與朝山”是也。

When a dragon mountain (dry dragon) forms a burial site, it must be where many mountains and waters gather together: either the mountain trend makes a large bend or the water flow makes a significant turn, with the water mouth flanked by mountains that lock tightly together, the bright hall flat and wide, and the surrounding mountains encircling it on both sides, forming a compact and gathered area. The outer area should be open and spacious. Water comes to embrace and mountains surround it. With such a situation, one can search for the burial site within. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: wherever there is a large bend in the mountain or a significant turn in the water, there must be a noble family residing there. It also says: when arriving at such a place, first look at the mountains at the water mouth. If the mountains at the water mouth interlock tightly and the inner area is flat and wide, then look for the site in that flat and wide area. If the surrounding mountains encircle it without any gaps, then there must be a burial site there. Further examination should consider the converging water and the surrounding mountains that come to pay homage.

然幹龍正脈，將及結穴，必然連斷幾斷，脫卸殺氣，方有融結。不然，則撒落平洋結聚為佳。皆須依近大河耳。雖是依近大河，卻不暴頭露面，必居擁從之中。《龍髓經》所謂“萬卒影從成禁衛，千官環列是朝廷。”諺語云“好地如閨中美女”是也。

But when the main line of a dragon mountain is about to form a burial site, it must necessarily break off several times, shedding layer by layer the coarse and fierce energy, only then can a true formation be created. If not like this, it is better to gather into a burial site after scattering over flat land, and they all need to be near a big river. Although near a river, it should not be overly exposed, but must be hidden among surrounding mountains. The "Dragon Essence Classic" says, "Ten thousand soldiers follow in shadow, forming a guard; thousands of officials line up, forming the court," and the folk saying, "Good land is like a beautiful maiden in her chamber," all refer to this principle.

亦有翻身朝祖而結穴者，《經》云“請君看水交纏處，水外有山來會聚。翻身顧母顧祖宗，此是回龍轉身處。宛轉回龍似掛鉤，未作穴時先作朝。朝山皆是宗與祖，不拘千里遠迢迢”是也。亦有不迴轉而直受結穴者。《經》云“也有幹龍來兩水，更不回身直為地。只是兩護必不同，定有纏關交結秘”是也。亦有橫落入首，借鬼安穴者。《經》云“幹龍若是有鬼山，橫轉一邊寛處安”是也。

The heavenly stem is Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui. The earthly branch is Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai. The trigrams are Qian (Heaven), Dui (Lake), Li (Fire), Zhen (Thunder), Xun (Wind), Kan (Water), Gen (Mountain), Kun (Earth). The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: Look at where the water flows together, outside the water there are mountains gathering; the dragon turns back to look at its mother mountain and ancestral mountains, this is where the "returning dragon turning around" occurs. The returning dragon twists and turns like a hook, before forming the site, it first prepares the facing mountains; these facing mountains are originally its ancestors, regardless of being thousands of miles apart, it is fine. There are also cases where the dragon does not turn back but directly accepts the coming pulse to form the site. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: There are also dry dragons sandwiched between two waters, without turning back, directly forming the site; only the surrounding protective mountains are certainly different, there must be hidden secrets of winding and protecting, locking and connecting. There are also cases where the dragon spreads laterally to the front, using the "ghost mountain" to form the site. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: If the dragon has a ghost mountain, it turns sideways to a wide area to form the site.

雖是數等結穴不同，要之，皆必以兩河交劍處為盡。而其正受之穴，又不可以大窮盡處求索。《經》云：“君如尋得幹龍窮，二水相交穴受風。風吹水刦卻非穴，君如到處是疑龍。”又云：“大地皆從腰裡落，迴轉餘枝作城廓。”范越鳳云“大貴大富之地，必不在大窮盡處。大窮盡處多是風吹水刦”是也。

The various methods of determining the site of a dragon's termination are different, but in the end, they all must take the place where two rivers meet like two swords crossing as the dragon's final resting place. However, the true site of a good location cannot be found at the very end of the dragon's path. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: if you find the end of the main dragon, where two waters meet, the site will be exposed to wind, and will be robbed by water, thus not being a good site; if you search in this way, everywhere will become a doubtful dragon. It also says: the great land comes down from the dragon's waist, and the returning branches form the city walls. Fan Yuefeng says, the places of great wealth and honor are certainly not at the very end of the dragon, and the very end is mostly where wind and water damage occur. They all speak of the same thing.

故幹龍氣勢雄盛，結穴之外，必有餘氣之山，或去數十里，或去數里，皆暗拱，為正穴用神，或作下手，或作托樂，或反繞於身為關峽，或奔走於水口為門戶之類。其間又各有小穴，隨其力量，皆有發越，然莫得與正結比耳。

The dragon ridge is strong and majestic, and beyond the main hill there must be other hills formed by the residual energy. Some are far away, dozens of miles, while others are only a few miles away. They secretly encircle and support the main hill, acting as the "useful god" for the main hill. They may serve as the hand hills to receive water, or as the back hills to support and comfort the main hill, or they may reverse around the dragon ridge to form a pass, or rush to the water mouth to act as the gate. Among these residual hills, there are also small hills hidden, each capable of bringing blessings according to their strength, but they cannot be compared with the main hill's formation.

但此等幹龍正結之穴，天珍地秘，多是丑拙隱怪，或在高山而結仰高天巧，或落平地而結藏龜沒泥，或為騎龍，或為石巧，奇蹤異跡，隱晦殊常。或有沙水飛走，或有殺氣錯雜，或有曜星奔竄，或有氈褥鋪展，或有元辰直長，故多有不利初代，及公位不均，離鄉遠去等事。

However, such true convergence points of dry dragons are treasured secrets hidden by heaven and earth, often appearing clumsy and located in obscure and strange places: some form the "Looking Up to High" or "Heavenly Skill" type of site on high mountains; others form the "Hidden Turtle" or "Submerged Mud" type on flat land; some form the "Riding Dragon Site" by sitting on the dragon's back; others form the "Stone Skill Site" by relying on the oddity of stones. Their traces are peculiar and extremely obscure. They may have sand and water flying away externally, or mixed with unclean killing qi, or have "Shooting Stars" scattered everywhere, or have a large carpet-like area in front of the site, or have the "Original Star Water" in front of the site flowing straight away. Therefore, such sites often result in adverse effects for the first generation, uneven blessings among different branches, and descendants leaving their homeland.

惟龍眞而不可舍，穴的而不可移，乃是造化無全功，亦須扦葬，不必以小嫌而去大地。但此又當詳審精察，切勿被圖大所惑。蓋庸師多以龍眞穴拙之說籍口，亂下有龍無穴凶惡假地，悞人最甚。

But if the dragon is indeed a true dragon, it should not be abandoned, and if the site is indeed a proper site, it should not be moved. This is because the natural formation is inherently difficult to be perfect in all aspects. Therefore, it is still appropriate to proceed with burial and tomb construction, without letting a minor flaw prevent us from utilizing the great land. However, here it is also necessary to examine repeatedly, and one must never be misled by the notion of 'seeking for great land'. Because ordinary fortune-tellers often use the phrase 'true dragon but poor site' as an excuse, and recklessly bury the deceased in false sites that have dragons but no proper site, which are extremely dangerous and misleading.

大抵幹龍眞穴，雖是隱怪，卻是穎異，如玉蘊山輝，珠藏淵媚，自然秀氣迸露，門戶迥別。或龜蛇交結，或獅象盤旋，或日月捍門，或劍戟羅列，或羅星重疊，或旗鼓把截。或華表聳於雲霄，北辰鎮居地戶；或樓臺鼓角列於羅城，金箱玉印塞於水口；或石筍游魚之忽見，平湖秀水之汪洋；或禽星獸星蹲居於水口，天關地軸佈置於局內。自有許多貴秀證佐，異於尋常。識者見之，則知其中融結不凡。

In general, the true site of a dry dragon (dry dragon refers to a type of dragon in geomancy) may be obscure and strange, yet it has its own extraordinary features. It is like a beautiful jade hidden in a mountain, making the whole mountain shine; or a pearl hidden in a deep pool, making the water particularly graceful and elegant, naturally displaying its beauty. The entrance and layout of such a site are entirely different from others. Around it, there may be turtle-shaped hills and snake-shaped hills meeting, or two mountains shaped like a lion and an elephant circling and guarding it, or mountains shaped like the sun and moon standing at the entrance. Or there may be peaks like swords and spears arranged in rows, or "Luoxing" hills piled up repeatedly. Or there may be hills shaped like flags and drums crossing and blocking the way. Or there may be high hills shaped like "Huabiao" reaching the clouds, and "Beichen" hills guarding the water outlet. Or there may be buildings and drums and horns-shaped hills arranged on a "Luocheng" (a type of defensive structure), and hills shaped like golden boxes and jade seals blocking the water outlet. Or there may suddenly appear stone笋 (bamboo shoots) and fish-shaped hills, with a vast and peaceful lake in front. Or there may be hills shaped like flying birds and running animals sitting at the water outlet, with "Tian Guan" and "Di Zhou" hills distributed within the site. All these are extraordinary signs of wealth and elegance. A skilled practitioner can immediately recognize that the formation here is of exceptional quality.

但此等正幹大龍，其所結作，力量極大，或為畿甸，或結禁穴，或結省城藩鎮，或為名賢墓宅。雖有遺穴，天珍地秘，鬼神呵護，以俟有德，不可強求，不可妄指，況非時師所能尋曉。楊公云：“圖大不得且思次。”是故又當加意於小幹龍焉。

This kind of main dragon line with a strong formation has great power, possibly becoming the central area of the capital, or forming a royal tomb, or the location of a provincial city or a regional governor's seat, or the burial place and residence of famous ministers and virtuous men. Even if there are still unused sites left, they are heavenly treasures and earthly secrets, protected by ghosts and gods, waiting for those with virtue. They should not be sought after forcefully, nor should they be carelessly pointed out. Moreover, they are not something that ordinary geomancers can understand. Yang Yunsong said, "If you cannot seek the great, think instead of the secondary." Therefore, those seeking land should focus more on the smaller dragon lines.

夫小幹龍者，即幹中之枝也。亦自大幹龍分來。分龍之際，必有大星辰、崇山高壟為祖宗。張子微云“分龍定起大星辰”是也。自此離祖而行，辭樓下殿，迢遞奔走，亦與夫大幹龍氣勢相類，特長短不同。大幹龍極長，動踰千里，或數百里。小幹龍只二三百里，或百餘里。又其次者，或七八十里。

The so-called "small dry dragon" refers to the branch of the main dry dragon, which also originates from the main dry dragon. At the point where the dragon branches off, there must be a great star or a high mountain serving as its ancestral mountain. Zhang Zimei said, "The branching of the dragon determines the emergence of a great star," referring precisely to this. The small dry dragon starts from the ancestral mountain, "leaves the palace and departs the hall," and travels far away, with an aura similar to that of the main dry dragon, though differing in length. The main dry dragon is extremely long, often exceeding thousands of miles or hundreds of miles. The small dry dragon, however, is only two or three hundred miles, or one hundred and several miles. The next level is only seventy to eighty miles.

而其龍身行度，大略皆與大幹龍無異。所分枝腳，亦多結鄉村市井。其水源有長短不同，大聚小聚亦別。《經》云“水源亦自有長短，長作軍州短作縣。枝枝節節是鄉村，乾上時時斷復斷。分枝擘脈散亂去，幹中有枝枝有幹”是也。其龍稟氣亦自渾厚，亦不可以星體拘之。

The way the small dry dragon moves is largely the same as the great dry dragon; its branches and offshoots mostly form villages and towns. However, the water sources vary in length, and the scale of convergence of mountains and water differs between large and small gatherings. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: water sources have long and short ones; long ones form military states, short ones form county seats; branches and offshoots form villages. The main dragon continuously breaks and reappears; its branches and pulses scatter away in disorder, with branches within the main body and main body within the branches. This precisely describes the small dry dragon. It also inherits a thick and solid qi, which cannot be rigidly applied with star patterns and body forms.

必多延蔓廣袤，橫亙牽連，行五六十里，或二三十里，其次者或十餘里始一斷。而斷處亦是大關峽、大道路。而枝葉之山甚蕃衍，擁從護應峽場。此處龍氣甚旺，枝葉間必有融結小穴。《口訣》云“峽前峽後去尋地”是也。

It is mostly extensive and sprawling, stretching across fifty or sixty li, or twenty or thirty li, and the next level is only a dozen li before it breaks off. The places where it breaks off are also major gorges and main roads. The mountain sides on both sides are very lush with branches and leaves, clustering around and protecting the area where the ridge passes through. This area has extremely strong dragon qi, so there must be small graves formed among the branches and leaves. The geographical mnemonic says, "Seek land before and after the gorge," referring exactly to this place.

其龍行盡處，必以水大會為止，兩河交劍處為盡。《經》云“百里各有小幹龍，兩水生來尋曲岸。曲岸隨水抱龍頭，抱處好尋氣無散”是也。亦是兩水夾送，不可必其逆水。惟是結作之際，翻身曲轉，逆勢作穴，故有曲岸之水抱其龍頭耳。

A small dragon ridge comes to an end necessarily where a gathering of waters meets. The meeting point is where two rivers converge like two swords meeting. The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: within a hundred li, each has its own small dragon ridge; between two waters, one should look for a curved river bank. The curved bank follows the water's flow and embraces the dragon's head. The place where it is embraced is exactly where the site is found, and the energy there does not disperse. This is also the pattern of two waters enclosing, and it is not necessary to require the dragon to go against the water flow. However, when the formation is completed, the dragon turns back and bends against the water flow to form the site, hence the appearance of the curved bank embracing the dragon's head.

其穴亦不在大窮盡處，亦多隱怪。將及結作之間，亦必連有脫卸，閃跌度峽，或連起峰巒，開帳穿心，而其手腳橈棹亦皆融有小穴。迎送護托之山亦是隔水相衛，遠來聚會。水口之山亦有數十里之遠。而門戶亦須穎異，有華表、北辰、游魚、石曜、龜蛇、獅象等沙。

The small dry dragon's nest is not located at the far end, and its form and appearance are mostly hidden and strange. When it is about to form, it will certainly successively shed off, flashing and falling through the pass, or successively rise as mountain peaks, opening up and emerging from the center of the account. Its hands, feet, paddles, and oars each have their own small nests. The mountains that welcome, send off, and protect are also separated by water to guard, coming from afar to gather together; the mountains at the water mouth are also far away, dozens of miles distant. The portal sands must be outstanding, with 'Huabiao' (ornamental pillars), 'Beichen' (North Star), as well as sand forms such as 'youyu' (swimming fish), 'shiyao' (stone lights), 'guishe' (tortoise and snake), and 'shixiang' (lion and elephant).

入局之際，亦必山水大會，朝案特達，左右周迴明堂舒暢，內局緊固，外陽寬闊，羅城秀列，禽曜出現，多結郡邑市鎮、衝要繁劇衙門，及王侯極貴基址。若結為陰地，則主分茅胙土、出將入相、皇親國戚、文武全材、忠臣烈士、清修賢儒、神童狀元，及鉅萬之富。子孫蕃衍，世代榮顯，滿門朱紫，與國同休，身後英靈，血食百世。

When entering the site of a good burial ground, there must be a gathering of mountains and waters, with the facing mountains and the case mountains particularly prominent. The surrounding hills embrace it on both sides, the bright hall is open and spacious, the inner area is tight and solid, and the outer area is wide and bright. The city walls are beautiful and neatly arranged, and the birds' stars and bright stars are visible. Such a site is mostly formed as the foundation of towns, cities, important military and administrative centers, and the estates of princes and high-ranking nobles. If used as a burial ground, it indicates the person will be granted fiefdoms, become a general or a minister, produce royal relatives and distinguished officials, talented individuals who are both literary and military, loyal ministers and heroic martyrs, virtuous scholars, prodigies, and wealthy men with vast fortunes. Their descendants will multiply, and their family will be honored generation after generation, with all members holding high official positions wearing red robes and purple sashes, sharing peace and prosperity with the country. After death, their spirits will remain, enjoying sacrifices and worship for generations.

又有一等幹龍，稟氣凶惡而不清，本身帶殺而可畏。雖經脫卸，不改粗頑；雖見變剝，愈見雄悍。卻亦開帳穿心，分牙布爪，諸般貴格備具，亦有融結，但大福大禍，每每相半，或貴如淮陰而卒夷其族，或富如季倫而不善其後。

There is also another type of dragon known as the dry dragon, which carries a fierce and unrefined energy. The dragon itself naturally carries a killing aura, making people fear it. Although it has undergone shedding and transformation, its rough and stubborn nature remains unchanged; although it has experienced changes and transformations, it appears even more fierce and powerful. Nevertheless, it still exhibits various noble forms such as opening its account, passing through the heart, dividing its teeth, spreading its claws, and possesses all the qualities of noble dragons. It is indeed capable of forming land. However, this kind of land brings great fortune and great misfortune equally: some become as powerful as Han Xin, the Marquis of淮阴, but eventually meet a tragic end with their entire family destroyed; others become as wealthy as Shi Chong, whose courtesy name was Jilun, yet do not end their lives peacefully.

其最凶者，或如王莽之纂位，或如趙高之擅權，或為割據偏方之偽主，或為草冦大盜之頭目。雖皆有富貴權爵、烜赫威名，一時榮耀而不得其正，不令其終，反得罪於天地間，遺臭無窮，君子不取也。此幹龍之不美者，尋幹龍者又須識此。

Among them, the most dangerous ones are those who seize the throne by force, like Wang Mang, or those who monopolize power in the court, like Zhao Gao, or those who become regional usurpers, or those who become the leaders of bandits and outlaws. Although these people may possess wealth, status, and great prestige, enjoying a moment of glory, their means are unjust and they do not end well. Instead, they incur the wrath of heaven and earth, leaving behind endless disgrace. This is not the path of a gentleman. These are the bad types found in the dry dragon lines, and those who seek dry dragon lines must be able to recognize them.

上幹龍雖有大幹龍小幹龍之不同，然其體勢亦多相似，但以水源夾送之長短而驗其大小。故除中國三大正幹外，其幹龍之大者猶至千餘里，次者數百里，又其次者或百餘里，或七八十里，皆以山之發祖，水之大會，原其起止也。

The dry dragon mentioned above, although distinguished as great dry dragons and small dry dragons, generally has similar appearance and气势. Its size can only be determined by the length of the water source it accompanies. Therefore, aside from the three major central dry dragons in the country, large dry dragons can still extend for more than a thousand li, the next level hundreds of li, and the next level perhaps a hundred li or seventy to eighty li. The method of judgment is always based on the origin and the convergence of the water to determine its starting and ending points.

然大龍則論大祖宗，小龍則論小祖宗。《玉髄經》云“祖宗勢大子亦大”是也。大龍論大纏護，小龍論小纏護。故曰“大龍迎送隔江水”，曰“外州外縣山為伴”。又曰“護纏亦自有大小，大小隨龍長短來。龍長纏護亦長遠，龍短纏山亦近挨”是也。

However, the great dragon must be assessed based on the great ancestral mountains, while the small dragon is judged by the small ancestral mountains. The "Jade Spleen Classic" says, "If the ancestral mountains are grand, the offspring will also be grand," which is exactly this principle. The great dragon is evaluated by the large surrounding mountains, while the small dragon is judged by the small surrounding mountains. Therefore, there is a saying, "The great dragon is welcomed and sent off across the river," and another saying, "Mountains from other regions and counties accompany it." It is also said that the surrounding mountains themselves have sizes, which are determined by the length of the dragon body; if the dragon is long, the surrounding mountains are also extensive; if the dragon is short, the surrounding mountains are close by.

大龍論大水源，小龍論小水源。故曰“水源亦自有長短，長作軍州短作縣”。如中國三大幹龍，則論長江、黃河、鴨綠江之水以為夾送也。大龍論大關攔，小龍論小關攔。故曰“大龍關攔數十里”。又曰“大地必有大關攔”。其規模愈大，則堂局愈闊。堂局愈闊，則關攔愈遠。如冀州關攔，乃在碣石；長安關攔，乃在荊山；洛邑關攔，乃在泰華之類是也。舉此為論，其它大小，皆可以類而推矣。

The great dragon must be considered with a great water source, while the small dragon is considered with a small water source. Therefore, water sources also have long and short ones. Long ones form military states, while short ones form counties. For example, the three major dry dragons of the country must be accompanied by great rivers such as the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, and the Yalu River. The great dragon must be considered with a great "obstruction," while the small dragon is considered with a small obstruction. Therefore, it is said "the great dragon's obstruction is dozens of miles away," and also "great land must have a great obstruction." The larger the pattern and scale, the more open the hall and site; the more open the hall and site, the farther the obstruction mountains are. For example, the obstruction of the Ji Zhou is far away at Jieshi Mountain, the obstruction of Chang'an is far away at Jing Mountain, and the obstruction of Luo Yi is far away at Taishan Mountain and Huashan Mountain, all belonging to this category. These examples are given for illustration, and other various cases of large and small can be inferred in the same way.

故凡幹龍入局之際，山水大聚，或結為垣，或結為局，大者為京畿，為禁穴，為聖賢之地；次者為省城、藩鎮，為郡邑市井，為王侯極貴之穴。所謂陽基則立郡建都，陰地則分茅胙土，惟幹龍為然，枝龍之地，斷然無此力量也。

Therefore, whenever the dry dragon enters a converging area, the mountains and waters gather on a large scale, either forming a pattern like the celestial enclosure or creating a local hall-like formation. The grand ones become the capital region, the royal forbidden ground, or the burial sites of sages and virtuous men; the next level becomes provincial cities, fiefdoms, or prefectures and towns, or the burial grounds of kings and dukes of supreme rank. It is said that a yang dwelling site can establish a prefecture or capital, and a yin burial site can be granted land and titles, and only the dry dragon can achieve this; the branches of the dragon cannot form such powerful sites.

然其行度之間，穿落傳變，出帳入帳，亦不計其重。辭樓下殿、聚講疊雲、屯蜂聚蟻、尊極帝座、生龍紫微、天弧、天角、龍車、鳳輦、鼓角、樓臺、負扆、御屏、霞帔、雲錦、鶴駕、鑾輿、華蓋、寶蓋、冠蓋、芙蓉、罣罳、金花、飛蛾、三臺、九腦、冕旒、玉尺、千絲墜、萬石倉、金橋、仙橋、展誥、展帳、玉枕、玉屏、玉幾、頓笏、連璧、御階、幞頭、席帽、金鐘、玉磬、寶幢、降節、龍樓、寶殿、帝釋、堆甲、疊帳、穿珠、走馬、飛絲、捲簾、玉陛、飛帛、舒練、拋梭、佩珂、蘆花、蘆鞭、樓船出峽、紅船出海、閣門傳宣、推車進寶、天駟出廄、仙鶴垂喙、玉蟬脫殼、群仙出洞、群羊出棧、群雁穿云，諸般貴格，靡所不有。

As the grand dragon proceeds along its path, four kinds of transformations—passing through, falling, transmitting, and changing—alternately appear. It emerges from one layer of enclosures and enters another, with the number of layers countless. The grand dragon possesses numerous noble forms and dignified patterns, such as descending from the palace terrace, gathering clouds in layers, gathering bees and ants, occupying the supreme throne, and the celestial dragon with purple micro. It also includes heavenly bow, heavenly horn, dragon carriage, phoenix sedan, drum and horn, tower and platform, carrying the imperial screen, wearing a cloud robe, dragon carriage, gilded carriage, gongs and bells, precious banners, lowering the imperial decree, and spreading the pavilion. It also includes jade pillow, jade screen, jade table, holding the imperial tablet, connected jade discs, imperial steps, the headgear, silk hat, golden bell, jade磬, precious banner, lowering the decree, dragon palace, precious hall, celestial deity, stacked armor, layered pavilions, passing through pearls, galloping horses, flying silk, rolling curtains, jade steps, flying silk, spreading silk, throwing the shuttle, wearing the jade beads, lotus flowers, lotus whips, and also includes grand ships leaving the gorge, red ships leaving the sea, gate doors announcing the emperor's will, pushing carts bringing treasures, heavenly horses leaving the stable, immortal cranes lowering their beaks, jade cicadas shedding their shells, groups of immortals emerging from caves, groups of sheep leaving the stable, and groups of geese flying through the clouds. These numerous noble forms and dignified patterns are all present on the grand dragon.

剝變骨節，過峽脫卸，穿田度坂，橫亙擺折，樓閣逶迤，珠絲馬跡，藕斷絲連，偷藏脈絡，奇蹤異跡，崩洪怪石，天漢天潢、左侍右衛、養蔭靈泉，諸般巧妙，無所不備。而其橈棹枝腳，虎踞龍翔，鸞飛鳳舞，頓旗列鼓、垂簾掛幙、文官武庫、天以太乙、列屏列幙、帶印帶劍、垂珠垂纓、排倉排庫、侍人從馬、金童玉女、旌節旗旄，諸般擁從，無所不具。分牙布爪，脫骨換胎，自尊而卑，自粗變細，千形萬狀，難於畢舉。

As for its "peeling and transforming" of its bones and joints, crossing fields, passing over slopes and ridges, winding and twisting like a pagoda, leaving behind traces like pearls connected by threads or lotus roots still connected, it hides its pathways secretly, with an unusual course. It also features strange water scenery such as collapsing floods and strange rocks, the Milky Way and celestial rivers, with protective mountains on both sides and nourishing springs that provide blessings. All these ingenious features are fully present. Its branches and offshoots resemble a tiger crouching and a dragon soaring, phoenixes flying and dancing. There are formations like a flag raised and drums beaten, curtains hanging and pavilions set up; there are officials and warriors, celestial generals and great generals; there are screens and pavilions, with seals and swords, hanging pearls and缨, warehouses and granaries; there are attendants and horses, golden children and jade girls, banners, flags, and staffs. All kinds of accompanying hills are present without exception. It branches out and transforms, gradually descending from noble to humble, from coarse to delicate, with countless changing forms that cannot all be described.

蓋其行度之遠，故能備具諸格之奇；氣勢之宏，故能發現英華之妙；垣局之廣，故可受乎眾山眾水獻奇列秀之繁華；纏送護從之多，故能盡乎重岡疊帳、揷戟列屏、交結門戶、開鎖羅城之完美。

This is because its journey is long, allowing it to encompass all kinds of unique formations; its grand scale enables the full expression of its inner essence; its wide enclosure can accommodate numerous mountains and waters presenting a splendid array of wonders; and with many protective mountains surrounding it, it can fully display the perfect arrangement of repeated hills and ridges, spear-like peaks, screen-like formations, interconnected gates, and the opening of a walled city with a lock.

《葬書》所謂“貴若千乘，富如萬金”，又云“若懷萬寶而宴息，若具萬膳而潔齊”。卜氏所謂“三千粉黛，八百煙花”；子微所謂“萬卒影從成衛禁，千官擁護是朝廷”；范越鳳所謂“若相公之升堂，若大將之登營”，此皆幹龍結作之規模耳。故其力量宏大，發福悠久，不可限量。

Guo Pu's "Zang Shu" says, "The noble is as if possessing a thousand chariots, the wealthy as if possessing ten thousand gold pieces," and also describes a situation like embracing ten thousand treasures while resting in peace, or preparing ten thousand kinds of food while purifying oneself; the "Bo Yin Tian" mentions "three thousand beauties and eight hundred fireworks"; Zhang Ziwei says, "Ten thousand soldiers following in formation form the guard, a thousand officials supporting form the court"; Fan Yuefeng describes a scene like a chancellor entering the hall or a general entering the military camp—these all refer to the grandeur and scale of a dry dragon forming a site. Therefore, the power of a dry dragon is great, its blessings enduring and boundless.

《經》云：“凡言大地多大話，下士聞之心已怕，中士聞之心信疑，上士聞之心欲為。何不觀之富貴家，子孫累世享榮華。蓋緣祖龍勢力大，食祿襲爵名世家。小地雖然亦小發，未及三世即歇滅。到此方知小易衰，大地富貴世不絕。”此幹龍之所以為貴也。

The Classic of Shaking the Dragon says: When discussing great land, people often speak in grand terms. Those with shallow understanding are immediately frightened, while those of average insight are doubtful. But those of superior discernment are inspired to take action. Why not look at the wealthy families, whose descendants have enjoyed prosperity for generations? This is because the power of the ancestral dragon is great, allowing them to inherit titles and enjoy honor, becoming prominent families. Small land may bring temporary success, but often fades away within three generations. At this point, one realizes that small land is prone to decline, while great land brings enduring wealth and status. This is why the great dragon is so valuable.