Dear Cecil/Robert:
I?m pretty confused as to how many Flying Star Schools that we may have.
Recently, I came a cross a Chinese book called ?Case Studies of House Destiny? published in China in 1994. According to this book, flying stars are plotted based on, among other factors, the direction of the FRONT of the house. For ex: If the house faces West and its main door is located in another compass direction, say, North; the Water star of the West , direction will be used for the house?s natal chart, rather than the star number of the North.
Whereas, according to the Flying Star School currently practised by Feng Shui masters, flying stars are plotted based on the direction of the MAIN DOOR.
This is the critical difference since it will give a very different natal chart between the above two methods.
Could you kindly advise me on the above. Many thanks.
Best regards,
Tam

Dear Tam,
From what I can understand from what you wrote, essentially, what you describe is the Flying Star by taking the Frontage of the house or building rather than based on the main door.
This is often considered the `macro' version of the Flying Star Theory where it is often used to analysing a big plot of land e.g. bungalow house or large building where the exterior of the building can also be analysed by the Flying Star i.e. the stars of that direction can be extended out to that direction.
You can say that most of the books or the few english books out there are meant more for urban locations where space is limited or where we are analysing a single unit/apartment as compared to the entire building.
For this reason, the micro version is often used. As most people nowadays are more interested in the internal influences of a flat or apartment rather than `external' factors. For example, in Asia, due to space constraints, even most bungalows, terrace houses are considered too small to apply the `macro' version of the Flying Star.
This means that one can apply a macro or micro version of the house:
1. If one only wants to take into account the interior influences such as the interior of the house, one uses the more popular method i.e. determine the exact compass direction of the main door.
2. For larger buildings, complexes inclusive of houses with large plot of land especially in Western countries (which is similiar to the large locations as in China of the past).
When one wants to locate important water features (external influences) with Flying Star than use `macro' method as described by you.
3. This method is quite similar to the `Nong Ming Xuan Kong' or some like to call it Water Classics Flying Star Theory i.e. applied to `huge' land e.g. agricultural, commercial land.
In English the word `Nong Ming' means `Farmer' where in China there are quite alot of farm land and the entire interpretation is also known as `Farmer Flying Star' and some of the key factors of this concept was included in the Water classics which is now used to analyse external land or water features.
4. If you are well versed in the Shapes and Form particulary the Four Symbolic animal concept, there is no real need to apply these factors. For example, the common denominator are:
a. The Phoenix or Bird in front i.e. ideally a water position at the frontage so that there is clear space.
b. A Solid backing at the back.
The above are key essence of the `macro' theory that everyone can understand and apply easily.
Frankly, Feng Shui is a very complex theory altogether with many sub, sub theories. We do not need to get `too worried' when we find differences in what we read.
Often there are reasons for it or whenever, an author writes, he/she writes for a particular reason or situation so he/she cannot cover every aspect of a particular theory.
Alternatively, as you can see like other fields of study, there are many who specialise in specific areas due to their nature of work. For example, if he/she common handles such situations, they become specialist in that field. For example, for a doctor, he can be a general practioner or a heart or lung specialist etc...
What is more important is that we should not only read but find out the purpose of each theory, analyse them and see if they are relevant to modern situation. Such as in Flying Star, there is one chapter to analyse breeding ground (For example pig style, chicken den etc...) However, in our modern society, many homes do not breed pigs or chicken. So this portion is no longer applicable for most of us.
Hope the above helps.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 10/30/99 7:52:32 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Cecil/Robert:
I?m pretty confused as to how
many Flying Star Schools that
we may have.
Recently, I came a cross a
Chinese book called ?Case
Studies of House Destiny?
published in China in 1994.
According to this book, flying
stars are plotted based on,
among other factors, the
direction of the FRONT of the
house. For ex: If the house
faces West and its main door
is located in another compass
direction, say, North; the
Water star of the West ,
direction will be used for the
house?s natal chart, rather
than the star number of the
North.
Whereas, according to the
Flying Star School currently
practised by Feng Shui
masters, flying stars are
plotted based on the direction
of the MAIN DOOR.
This is the critical
difference since it will give
a very different natal chart
between the above two methods.
Could you kindly advise me on
the above. Many thanks.
Best regards,
Tam