The fact that our ancestors treated the mountain(land) prudently as if they were treating live organism, and extremely limited artificial change of the mountains and rivers, proves that the theory of divination based on topography has been maintained ...
The fact that our ancestors treated the mountain(land) prudently as if they were treating live organism, and extremely limited artificial change of the mountains and rivers, proves that the theory of divination based on topography has been maintained based on the ecological thinking to pursue coexistence between the human and the nature. Also, people’s thinking on appearance theory may be regarded as relatively positive. This is because appearance theory was spread out to all over the country after mid-Chosun dynasty, and not only particular negative grave position and positive grave position, but also village or region names are difficult to be interpreted without applying appearance theory. Ultimately, this can be regarded as because the people acknowledged universal diversity rather than one special aspect on geomancy.
In the villages and towns at Gongju(公州) area, the traces of appearance and supplementation are still scattered here and there. These traces are regarded as proving that Korean ethnic group recognized our appearance geomancy and supplementation geomancy as a philosophy in life. What the author felt in the course of studying the cases with the origin of a word appearing at village and town names from geomancy was that the theory of divination based on topography is not the geomancy of blue dragon(靑龍), white tiger(白虎) compass that emphasizes genuine geomancy. Koreans have been engaged in the geomancy with situation theory and Bibo(裨補) as the mainstream, by emphasizing compatibility between mountain and water, and giving names to particular topographies.
It is true that most contemporary people living in these days mistakenly recognize theory of divination based on topography as superstition. This is the situation that occurred as geomancy theory in Chosun dynasty became widely utilized by not only the royal family and noblemen, but also rank and file citizens based on the concept of ancestor worship and filial duty, contrary to the buddhism in defense of the fatherland in Coryo dynasty. From last Chosun dynasty, the spacial application of geomancy theory was mostly centered on small space of graves, with large space of national or regional geomancy almost disappeared. This is because, most Koreans were egoistically accepting geomancy theory based on individualism, contrary to the national geomancy of social groups.
In early Chosun dynasty, geomancy had firm academic position, with high social status of beaurocrats in charge of geomancy and geomancy was renamed as geography. But entering into mid Chosun dynasty, geomancers’ social status fell to middle class, Also as geomancers made their living by providing geomancy service in the same manner as other miscellaneous specialists by examination, geomancy concept was prevalent but became low-grade. Accordingly this phenomenon made Korean people aware of geomancy but gave them very wrong idea that if they emphasize grave geomancy selecting good grave position for ancestors, they could live a good life without efforts.
The words, village name, geography, topography, environment, society, custom etc. comprising the theory of divination based on topography shall not be neglected or disregarded any more. To prevent the people from getting this notion, followers of geomancy shall avoid crafty geomancy or grave-selecting geomancy biased to efrain from theory of mental power using compass.
Now, theory of divination based on topography is a study that shall have wider viewpoints, systemic and reasonable scientific ground shall be presented more than anything else. To present scientific ground for theory of divination based on topography, ecological approach on nature shall follow as well.
This study reviewed the position characteristics appearing at the villages of Gongju area, and seeked to analyze the meaning that reflects the traditional geomancy appearing at the villages. What the author felt wile analyzing the spaces limited in numbers of 10 in Gongju area, was that the geomancy practiced by our ancestors were not the theory of divination to find a good grave position and making individual fortune, but to seek the common prosperity of the whole village. This was impossible if villagers did not have genuine geomancy mind, so Korean villagers shall be regarded as very well recognizant of genuine geomancy.