Regarding fortune

Taoist Shop Luck Science: Wisdom of Energy Harmony Derived from Classics

The Taoist concept of Qi (vital energy) is not a folk tale; its core theories originate from a thousand-year-old classical tradition, permeating classics such as the *Tao Te Ching*, *Suwen*, and *Zhouyi Cantongqi*, forming a system of energy harmony based on the concept of " unity of heaven, earth, and humanity. " This article, combining orthodox Taoist texts and ritual practices, analyzes the true basis and practical methods of Qi regulation for shop owners.

I. The core concept of Taoist Qi (vital energy): derived from classical understanding of energy.

The core framework of Taoist " Qi Yun " (vital energy) theory is " Five Elements and Six Qi, " first appearing in the " Seven Chapters on Qi Yun " of the *Suwen* (a secret Taoist text added by Wang Bing during the Sui Dynasty). It was later refined by Taoist physicians such as Liu Wenshu of the Northern Song Dynasty and Liu Hejian of the Jin Dynasty, becoming an important component of the Taoist cosmology. Its core definition can be traced back to three classic texts:

1. Classical Interpretations of Qi and Yun

  •   The essence of " qi " : Chapter 42 of the Tao Te Ching states , " All things carry yin and embrace yang, and through the interaction of qi, harmony is achieved, " clearly stating that qi is the subtle substance that constitutes all things. The Huang Ting Jing further explains, " Immortals and Taoist priests are not gods, but accumulate essence and qi to achieve truth, " indicating that qi is the foundation of life activities and energy transformation.
  • The law of " Yun " : The Tianfu Zhengjing (which originated from Rong Chenggong and was passed down by Chisongzi and Chen Tuan) proposed that " the Five Elements operate in the heavens and change once a year; the Six Qi descend to the earth and change once every sixty days " , which clarifies that " Yun " is the periodic change law of Qi in the space-time dimension.
  •   Core Relationship: The Zhouyi Cantongqi (the ancestor of alchemical texts) proposed the theory of the isomorphism between heaven and man, which states that " the human body is a microcosm ." It points out that the essence of a shop's fortune is the triadic resonance of " heaven and earth qi - shop qi - operator qi, " which is the theoretical source of later shop fortune regulation.

2. The orthodox basis of Yin-Yang and Five Elements

The core tool for harmonizing Qi and blood , " Yin-Yang and Five Elements ," originates from the " Hong Fan" chapter of the Book of Documents. Taoism combines it with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches system to form a practical method.

  • The Five Elements and Heavenly Stems: The "Tianfu Zhengjing" records that " Jia and Ji transform into Earth, Yi and Geng into Metal, Bing and Xin transform into Water to bring forth sweet rain, Fire emerges from the South to seek Wu and Gui, Ding and Ren transform into Wood to form forests " , which clearly shows the waxing and waning of the Heavenly Stems in relation to the Five Elements.
  • The Six Qi and the Earthly Branches: The "Suwen · Tian Yuan Ji Da Lun" defines " Zi and Wu as heat, Chou and Wei as dampness, Yin and Shen as fire, Mao and You as dryness, Chen and Xu as cold, and Si and Hai as wind " . The Earthly Branches are in charge of the operation and changes of the Six Qi.

3. Classical calculations of fortune in the year 2025 (Yi Si year).

Based on the " guest and host addition " method of the "Suwen · Liuyuan Zhengji Dalun" (素问·六元正纪大论), the Heavenly Stem Yi of the year Yi Si belongs to Yin Wood (the Metal luck is insufficient), and the Earthly Branch Si belongs to Lesser Yang Fire, forming a " Wood generates Fire " support pattern, which is a variant of the " Yin-Shen Fire-Wind-Wood position " in the "Tianfu Zhengjing" (天符正经), which indicates " civilization and prosperity " (Li Fire corresponds to culture). This is a classic basis for the positive development of the cultural and creative industries and the technology industry.

II. Store Feng Shui Layout: A Classic Practice of Gathering and Concealing Qi

The core principle of shop layout originates from the "Book of Burial" (written by Guo Pu, a classic of Taoist feng shui): " To conceal wind and gather qi, water is of utmost importance. " This is combined with the gua qi theory of the "Zhouyi Cantongqi" to form a systematic method.

1. Classical Standards for Site Selection and Door Orientation

  •  The basis for avoiding negative influences: The Book of Burial states that " Qi disperses when it encounters wind and stops when it encounters water. " A road intersection ( T -junction) will cause " Qi to disperse and not gather, " so it must be avoided. The existing Song Dynasty book "New Book of Geography" records that " shops facing the street will suffer losses at the end of the year, " which confirms this tradition.
  • The rationale for choosing the best door orientation: According to the "Explanation of the Trigrams" in the Book of Changes, "Xun represents wind, the eldest daughter, and three times the profit." Xun corresponds to the southeast, so the southeast door is the "source of wealth." Zhen ( due east ) represents thunder, dragon, and movement , indicating a lively customer base. These two are classic choices for the door orientation of Taoist shops.
  • The principle of Xuanwu backing: The book "Geographical Records" (a Taoist feng shui book from the Qing Dynasty) states that " a shop with a backing is like an emperor with an assistant, and the qi has a place to return to ." A solid wall or tall building behind the shop corresponds to the Xuanwu direction, forming a stable pattern of " qi gathering and not dispersing " .

2. Application of the trigrams in the store layout

The " Twelve Hexagrams " theory of the *Zhouyi Cantongqi* provides a core framework for store layout, with its " human microcosm " corresponding to the " store microcosm " :

  • The Dragon and Tiger Sand and Water Layout: It originates from the Book of Burial, which states that " the left is the Azure Dragon and the right is the White Tiger. " The Qingnang Aoyu (written by Yang Yunsong) clearly states that " if the Azure Dragon is high and the White Tiger is low, wealth will come from heaven continuously ." Therefore, the left (Azure Dragon) is set up with a display shelf (high and active) and the right (White Tiger) is set up with a cashier counter (low and accumulates wealth).
  • The Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Gather Qi: According to the Nine Palaces of the Luo Shu, the central palace is the " place where earth is prosperous " . The Huang Ting Jing says that " earth resides in the center and is the ruler " . Therefore, a treasure basin (earth attribute) is placed to gather Qi from all directions; the northwest Qian position (corresponding to heaven and career) is set up with the boss's desk, and the southwest Kun position (corresponding to earth and connections) is set up with the reception area, which is in line with the theory of " Qian is the ruler and Kun is the masses " in the Zhouyi · Shuogua Zhuan.

3. The Energy Logic of Detail Enhancement

  • Color matching is based on the "Huangdi Neijing Suwen" which states, " East is green (wood), South is red (fire), Center is yellow (earth), West is white (metal), and North is black (water). " This is combined with the owner's birth chart to supplement any missing elements, achieving a harmonious energy field of " mutual generation of the five elements. " For example, if fire is missing, red (south red) is used.
  • Lighting principle: The Book of Changes states, " When Yang rises, there is light; when Yin descends, there is darkness. " Bright lights correspond to " abundant Yang energy, " which signifies " successful business, " while dim lights indicate " gathering Yin energy and scarce customers. " This is the core Taoist understanding that " Yang governs growth and prosperity. "

III. Taoist Energy Products: The Authentic Lineage of Energy Media

The efficacy of Qi-enhancing products is not fabricated; their core function is as a " carrier of Qi, " conforming to the energy transformation theory of " the three superior medicines: spirit, Qi, and essence " in the *Xin Yin Jing* (Heart Seal Sutra). Furthermore, their production requires adherence to strict rituals.

1. Ritual Standards for Amulets and Charms

The core of the efficacy of talismans lies in the " consecration ritual, " which originates from the " Orthodox Unity Sutras and Official Chapters" in the Daoist Canon.

  • The classic talisman is based on the following: The Five Gods of Wealth Talisman originates from the "Yuanshi Tianzun's Scripture on the True Martial Arts of the North", which clearly states that " each of the five gods of wealth governs the wealth of one direction " ; the Peace Talisman comes from the "Taishang Laojun's Scripture on Constant Purity and Tranquility", which states that " when the way of heaven is peaceful and tranquil, disasters will not occur " , and it needs to be made through three steps: " contemplation, chanting incantations, and stepping on the steps " .
  • Criteria for distinguishing authenticity: The Daoist Canon, specifically the Jade Tablet of the Heavenly Altar, stipulates that genuine talismans must have the " Daoist priest's seal, ordination number, and date of consecration. " Machine-printed talismans, lacking the " infusion of the master's essence, energy, and spirit, " do not meet the requirement of " energy gathering in the talisman " and are therefore counterfeit.

2. Records in classical texts about Feng Shui ornaments

Common Feng Shui Ornaments and Their Uses as Recorded in Classical Texts: 1. Gourd: Classical references include the * Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic) which states " the gourd stores primordial energy, " and the *Tianfu Zhengjing* (Heavenly Talisman Classic) which states "the gourd absorbs turbid energy and preserves pure energy. " The orthodox usage is to hang a copper gourd above the door to ward off evil spirits, and place a wooden gourd in the wealth corner to attract wealth. These gourds must be " blessed and infused with energy " by a Taoist priest. 2. Prayer Beads: The *Zhuangzi* ( Fables) records that " beads can control energy. " The Taoist *Yunji Qiqian* (Seven Tablets of the Cloudy Bookcase) mentions that 108 prayer beads correspond to "108 afflictions. " In orthodox usage, 108 sandalwood prayer beads can purify the energy field, and 28 beads correspond to the twenty-eight constellations, enhancing energy resonance. 3. Bagua Mirror: Based on the * Zhouyi * (Book of Changes) which states " the eight trigrams convey meaning through images and emotions ," and the *Zangshu* (Book of Burial) which states " a mirror can reflect energy and distinguish good and bad fortune ." The orthodox usage is to place a concave mirror in the wealth corner to attract good fortune, a convex mirror at an intersection to ward off evil spirits, and a flat mirror on the main entrance to protect the house.

3. The Logic of Five Elements Ornaments for Compensating for Imbalances

Based on the principle of " supplementing what is lacking and draining what is excessive " in the "Suwen · Wuchangzheng Dalun" and combined with the theory of " five elements matching five phases " in the "Tianfu Zhengjing": those who lack metal wear silver (metal of the west), those who lack wood wear jade (wood of the east), those who lack fire use ruby ​​(fire of the south), those who lack water choose aquamarine (water of the north), and those who lack earth wear topaz (earth of the center), so as to achieve the effect of " the five elements in balance, so that the qi flows smoothly " .

IV. Product Selection and Qi Regulation: A Guide to Orthodox Methods

1. A classic tool for matching the Eight Characters and Five Elements

The seasonal Five Elements judgment originates from the "Suwen · Treatise on Regulating the Spirit in Accordance with the Four Seasons": Spring (when wood is strong) is prone to a lack of metal; Summer (when fire is strong) is prone to a lack of water; Autumn (when metal is strong) is prone to a lack of wood; Winter (when water is strong) is prone to a lack of fire. This is the theory of " the waxing and waning of the Five Elements in the four seasons, " which is the basis for quickly matching products. For precise matching, it is necessary to calculate the Eight Characters (Ba Zi) according to the "Sanming Tonghui" (a classic of Taoist fortune telling) to clarify the strength and weakness of the Five Elements.

2. The authoritative basis for the guide to avoiding pitfalls

Authoritative basis for avoiding scams: Three major characteristics of counterfeit products: 1. Claims of " immediate effect " violate the gradual change principle of " reversal is the movement of the Tao " in the *Tao Te Ching*; 2. " Amulets " without consecration certificates do not comply with the *Taoist Canon*'s rule that " without ritual, there is no gathering of qi " ; 3. " Consecrated items " with abnormally low prices ignore the cost logic of Taoist " masters expending energy and spirit to infuse qi ." Legitimate selection criteria: Prioritize shops with " Taoist Association registration, " talismans must provide " Taoist lineage certificate + consecration video, " and ornaments must indicate materials and manufacturing processes, complying with the *Regulations on Religious Affairs*' requirements for Taoist products.

3. Practical conditioning methods from classical texts

  • The breathing method is based on the heel breathing method, which comes from the " Great Master" chapter of Zhuangzi, which states that " the true man breathes with his heels. " The Huangting Jing explains its principle as " pure qi rises from Yongquan (Kidney 1) and turbid qi descends from Baihui (GV20), " which can harmonize the energy field of the shop owner.
  •  Dietary regulation logic: The Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic states, " Eat seasonal grains to follow the seasonal qi ." In spring, eat spinach (wood); in summer, eat red peppers (fire); in autumn, eat pears (metal); and in winter, eat black beans (water). By regulating the five elements of the business owner through diet, the energy of the store can be indirectly affected.
  • The opening ceremony is a tradition: on the first and fifteenth of each month, water is purified with pomelo leaves, which originates from the folk custom of " pomelo leaves dispelling foul air " recorded in the Qing Dynasty's "Notes on Guangdong". Later, it was incorporated into the " purification ritual of the first and fifteenth of each month " by Taoism; the clear water in the wealth position corresponds to the principle of " water is the best " in the Book of Burial to gather energy.

V. Conclusion: The Core Truth of Harmonious Qi and Fortune

The essence of Taoist fortune regulation is just as the Tao Te Ching says , " Cultivate oneself, and one's virtue will be genuine "—the foundation of a shop's fortune lies in the moral cultivation of the operator (virtue is the commander of qi), while layout and products are merely " tools to assist qi. " In 2025 , the fire element is strong, requiring the balance of water elements (such as flowing water ornaments). This aligns with the theory in the Tianfu Zhengjing that " when water and fire are in harmony, qi is in balance, " and also implicitly conforms to the Taoist wisdom of " overcoming strength with gentleness. "

True prosperity lies in making a shop an energy field where " the energy of heaven and earth is in harmony and people and machines are in accord ." This is not only a continuation of Taoist culture but also an ancient testament to the modern business concept of " people-oriented " .