This treatise is designed to examine entity of FengShui(風水) in Chosun dynasty with special reference to noble families housing by focused on relation between housing and FengShui. I figure out FengShui as a traditional culture through which look i...
This treatise is designed to examine entity of FengShui(風水) in Chosun dynasty with special reference to noble families housing by focused on relation between housing and FengShui. I figure out FengShui as a traditional culture through which look into contemporary life style and draw out some possibility to apply for today.
Main topic of this study is to figure out entity of FengShui. For this purpose, I took some historical materials through which we can look back and to draw out a prototype of contemporary phenomena in a various angles.
FengShui basically is a thinking way to conform with nature in which men can find spacial freedom. The notion derived from 'Mountain' as an object of worship particularly in Three States Period of Old Corea. Especially 'FengShuiDocham'(風水圖讖) written by Dosun(道詵) in between late 'RaMalReoCho'(羅末麗初) state was deeply noticed by historians. This work created a fresh sensation for those who are studying in effective management of National territory.
Coreo state tried to expand National business by FengShui. Persons who are in charge applied this idea to develop national territory and local domain, from which we can draw out something about geographical features and its architectures of Coreo state. The state, whenever they faced crises, believed the power of FengShui, though its types were changed over time. At the time, benign influence of a site and completing with helps was dearly respected to solve the problem. These solutions were carried out without any confliction or resist, and they settled down as a reference & foundation for FengShui culture.
The period between late 'ReoMalSunCho'(麗末鮮初) state was a watershed for FengShui to move from Coreo FengShui to Chosun Feng shui, due to opening of Chosun & collapse of Coreo. New powers in Chosun, Confucianists welcomed it selectively. For instance, they knew little about 'FengShuiDocham' written by Dosun, and even disregarded. The reason they neglected it was for two facts; one was they felt it is attended by evils, the other was that they as Confucianists won't believed that earthly destiny can determine good & evil not by heavenly command.
For Chosun confucianists, 'fate' meant that all mankind have just to follow heavenly rule. On this perspective, they demean a value of FengShui like junk study or mixture of miscellanies by asking 'Is that really rule everything good & evil of the world'? FengShui insist that every good & evil of human affairs totally depend on configuration of ground. But Confucianists claimed that albeit it is so in some cases, we have not to give all in such an artificially made delusion. There was a big difference between two. However, everyone want to bury their ancestors in a good & comfortable place in name of filial piety regardless of FengShui theory.
Furthermore, in Royal Court, there was a monarch who believed all siblings of Confucianism must have knowledge on astronomy, and geometry to be a true Confucianist.
He persisted one more thing saying every courtesies have to bury ancestors in a good place, and it is truly a courtesy. In another words, it is etiquette not only in between lord and people but also ancestors and descendants. This notion made FengShui to drive further & farther.
There was a conflict in Royal Court regarding FengShui. One is to embrace it with a sight that it is pretty good logic by which all good & bad stuffs depend on. Other one is it is just superstition to lead people into illusion. But they received it in a selective way because it cannot be proved nor disproved.
In moment like conflicting crisis, the Fengshui was spreading rapidly in one or the other. It became so popular in time of King Sejong that even slave group can study it. It was a sort of cultural power. So, some people tried to upgrade their status by using magical function of FengShui. This is another aspect to see through its influence. The work, 'Dongkikameungsul(同氣感應說)' will be a good example to back up this theory.
Any culture system to be continued needs to have a motif to communicate with others who exist beyond time and space, and common ground on which share a common language as universal code. Natural desire of human is to draw a beauty, then it was FengShui back then. According to Chronicles of Chosun Kings, many lords believed FengShui saying it is a basic courtesy for every people to have respect to their parents & ancestors, and keep a peace between heaven & earth. Studying a configuration of ground, chevron, prospect is very helpful to all people. This is a clear evidence to understand the contemporary.
FengShui that respect Nature have existed even today. In this context, FengShui will be available in many ways such as new town development, housing plan, and landscape setting. Without this foundation, nobody can apply it into modern architecture. That's why this study is to search a possibility of it.
To get actual data, I examined historical records statistically to find any continuity between FengShui and modernity. As a method tool, I chose a way to count statistical indexes. In terms of location, spacial layout, 50 houses were chosen for the case. And then I tried to draw out some principle from the statistics. Especially houses in Royal Court have a lot of strength regarding FengShui. It could be applied into modern construction.
To get objective and systematic data, I applied theory of shape-spirit and theory of principle-spirit. The first one affected in selecting venue, the latter one affected for internal layout.
In selecting venue & internal layout, I referred to the shapes & stance of JuSan(主山), AnSan(案山), ChungRryong(靑龍), BackHo(白虎). In choosing a location, AnSan is more helpful than JuSan. In internal layout, I classified Gates(門), Pillars(主), and Kitchens(灶) in 「Yangtaksamyo(陽宅三要)」. Then the notion of pillar was heavily applied into inner room than outer guest hall.
Throughout this research, I found that FengShui notion in Korean people is rooted as a folklore. Accordingly, I believe that FengShui was not completed in the past, it is still working even today. One more thing I found was a possibility to apply FengShui into modern space where human and nature breath together. This is a tremendous lesson taken from history. FengShui left many legacies, especially for those who want to learn something valuable from the History.