What is Luo Shu 落書
Luo Shu the Magic Squares in Feng Shui Studies
“The Luo Shu is a base mathematical model that incorporates the factors of Direction, the Elements and all other pertinent information on the same platform of the chart. This is one of the core models of Classical Feng Shui studies, with an interesting legend attached to its origins.” — Joey Yap, Feng Shui Academy, 2018.
Luo Shu Breakdown
To understand Luo Shu, we will need to know the content of Luo Shu, how Luo Shu works, and finally the usages and application of Luo Shu.
The Shape and Construction
Luo Shu is a three-by-three box which each box representing a direction. Inside the box there is a specific number which represents certain attributes. For easy reference, we call the number as Star. There are nine Stars in total and each Star stand for certain qualities.
Think about you are having nine different friends who are having different personalities.
We might want to call Luo Shu as the Home Base of each Star. Since, it is the original position of each Star.
Interesting facts: if you sum up all numbers in the same row or column, you will get 15 as the total number. Example: the first row, 4+9+2=15. Second column, 9+5+1=15. How about diagonally? Try 8, 5, and 2. Still, you get 15 as the result! Magic box indeed.
The Nine Palaces
Each box as you see in the image above, have their own Element. Star #5 in the middle seems like having no directions, right? It is actually the Centre direction, and we still consider it as ‘Palace’.
In Feng Shui, the word sector, location or Palace is being used interchangeably. The Palace means nothing special, as it is simply point out a certain sector or location.
The Star and Element on each box will never change. Therefore, for anyone who is interested in learning and practicing Feng Shui deeper, I really encourage you to remember Luo Shu box and it’s contents.
Usage and Practical Application of Luo Shu
Now, how do the Luo Shu actually works?
In any Chinese Metaphysics studies, there is a concept of Five Elements and Three cycles. Productive cycle, Weakening cycle and Controlling cycle. We also can see that within each box in Luo Shu stands for certain Direction/Location and Element.
Let’s put everything in context now. By standing in the middle of the house, taking out of the compass and note certain sectors of the house, then we will analyze the connection and relationship between sectors using Luo Shu.
Let say, your house is missing Southeast [SE] sector. Then what does it mean? Southeast [SE] has the Wood element. Therefore, we can generally say that the resident of the house might be having problem with self-improvement or having progress in life.
Another example. If let say, there is a bad structure in your South [S] sector of the house. Bad structure here means any shape or ugly sight within the South [S] sector of your house. This could be your internal South [S] sector or external South [S] sector. When a certain sector is being disturbed by bad structure, the quality of that sector is being compromised. South [S] sector is Fire element and Fire represents hope, the ability to innovate and also beauty, for some. Therefore we could say that the resident of the house might be having a quite pessimistic outlook in life and feeling the lack of creativity.
Here are only the tip of iceberg regarding Luo Shu and its application within the Feng Shui studies. But at least for now, it will give you a general view and overall importance of Luo Shu.
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