San He School Feng Shui Guide: Twelve Stages of Life and Four Water Patterns
## San He School Overview The San He School (三合派, Sān Hé Pài) is one of the major branches of the Compass School (Li Qi Pai, 理气派), built upon the core theories of the Three Harmony Patterns of Earthly
San He School Feng Shui Guide: Twelve Stages of Life and Four Water Patterns
San He School Overview
The San He School (三合派, Sān Hé Pài) is one of the major branches of the Compass School (Li Qi Pai, 理气派), built upon the core theories of the Three Harmony Patterns of Earthly Branches and the Twelve Stages of Life Palace. Combined with water methods, these tools are used to evaluate the auspicious and inauspicious qualities of a Feng Shui site.
With a long history and a complete theoretical system, the San He School holds unique advantages especially in Yin Dwelling Feng Shui (阴宅风水) and water method applications.
Cultural Context: "San He" literally means "Three Harmony" — a concept drawn from Chinese astrology where every three Earthly Branches form a harmonious group sharing the same elemental energy. This idea extends into Feng Shui as a way to classify landscapes and water flows into four elemental categories.
"Three Harmony" refers to four groups of three Earthly Branches that combine to form a pattern:
- Shen-Zi-Chen (申子辰) form the Water Pattern
- Hai-Mao-Wei (亥卯未) form the Wood Pattern
- Yin-Wu-Xu (寅午戌) form the Fire Pattern
- Si-You-Chou (巳酉丑) form the Metal Pattern
Theoretical Foundations of the San He School
Twelve Stages of Life Palace
The Twelve Stages of Life Palace (十二长生宫) is the core analytical tool of the San He School. It describes the twelve phases through which all things pass — from birth to death — and applies them to evaluate the energetic quality of water flow and site orientation.
| Stage | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Life (长生) | Sprouting, full of vitality |
| 2 | Bathing (沐浴) | Youthful growth, still tender |
| 3 | Crowned (冠带) | Maturing, ready to take responsibility |
| 4 | Officer (临官) | Adulthood, career achievement |
| 5 | Emperor's Peak (帝旺) | Prime of life, at the strongest |
| 6 | Decline (衰) | Beginning to fade |
| 7 | Sickness (病) | Signs of illness appear |
| 8 | Death (死) | Life ends |
| 9 | Tomb (墓) | Returned to the grave |
| 10 | Extinction (绝) | Complete severance |
| 11 | Embryo (胎) | New life conceived |
| 12 | Nourishment (养) | Fetal development |
How the Twelve Stages Are Arranged
The arrangement of the Twelve Stages depends on the Five Elements attribute of the Heavenly Stem. Taking Yang Stems as an example:
Jia Wood (甲木) Twelve Stages:
- Long Life at Hai (亥), Bathing at Zi (子), Crowned at Chou (丑)
- Officer at Yin (寅), Emperor's Peak at Mao (卯), Decline at Chen (辰)
- Sickness at Si (巳), Death at Wu (午), Tomb at Wei (未)
- Extinction at Shen (申), Embryo at You (酉), Nourishment at Xu (戌)
Bing Fire (丙火) Twelve Stages:
- Long Life at Yin (寅), Bathing at Mao (卯), Crowned at Chen (辰)
- Officer at Si (巳), Emperor's Peak at Wu (午), Decline at Wei (未)
- Sickness at Shen (申), Death at You (酉), Tomb at Xu (戌)
- Extinction at Hai (亥), Embryo at Zi (子), Nourishment at Chou (丑)
Yang Stems proceed forward; Yin Stems proceed backward — this is the fundamental principle governing the Twelve Stages arrangement.
The Four Major Patterns
The San He School divides Feng Shui into four major patterns, corresponding to the four Three Harmony groupings:
| Pattern | Three Harmony | Element | Double Mountain Five Elements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Pattern (水局) | Shen-Zi-Chen (申子辰) | Water | Kun-Ren-Yi (坤壬乙) |
| Wood Pattern (木局) | Hai-Mao-Wei (亥卯未) | Wood | Qian-Jia-Ding (乾甲丁) |
| Fire Pattern (火局) | Yin-Wu-Xu (寅午戌) | Fire | Gen-Bing-Xin (艮丙辛) |
| Metal Pattern (金局) | Si-You-Chou (巳酉丑) | Metal | Xun-Geng-Gui (巽庚癸) |
San He School Water Methods
The San He School places particular emphasis on water methods, holding that "water is the blood and essence of the mountain household" (水是山家血脉精). The direction from which water comes and departs directly determines the auspicious or inauspicious nature of a Feng Shui site.
Twelve Stages Water Method
The San He School uses the direction of water flow and its corresponding Twelve Stages position to judge fortune:
Auspicious Water:
- Long Life Water (长生水): Incoming water from the Long Life direction brings enduring wealth and nobility
- Crowned Water (冠带水): Incoming water from the Crowned direction brings early success in life
- Officer Water (临官水): Incoming water from the Officer direction brings career achievement
- Emperor's Peak Water (帝旺水): Incoming water from the Emperor's Peak direction brings great wealth and honor
Inauspicious Water:
- Decline Water (衰水): Incoming water from the Decline direction brings family downfall
- Sickness-Death Water (病死水): Incoming water from the Sickness-Death direction brings illness and disaster
- Tomb-Extinction Water (墓绝水): Incoming water from the Tomb-Extinction direction brings loss of heirs and ruin
Direction-Setting Principles for the Four Water Patterns
The San He School teaches that each Water Pattern has an optimal orientation — one that places incoming water and outgoing water in alignment with the auspicious positions of the Twelve Stages.
Water Pattern (申子辰) Directions:
- Life Direction (生向): Face Kun-Shen (坤申) to gather Long Life water from Gen-Yin (艮寅)
- Prosperity Direction (旺向): Face Ren-Zi (壬子) to gather Officer water from Kun-Shen (坤申)
- Tomb Direction (墓向): Face Yi-Chen (乙辰), with water returning to the proper storage
Wood Pattern (亥卯未) Directions:
- Life Direction (生向): Face Qian-Hai (乾亥) to gather Long Life water from Xun-Si (巽巳)
- Prosperity Direction (旺向): Face Jia-Mao (甲卯) to gather Officer water from Qian-Hai (乾亥)
- Tomb Direction (墓向): Face Ding-Wei (丁未), with water returning to the proper storage
Fire Pattern (寅午戌) Directions:
- Life Direction (生向): Face Gen-Yin (艮寅) to gather Long Life water from Kun-Shen (坤申)
- Prosperity Direction (旺向): Face Bing-Wu (丙午) to gather Officer water from Gen-Yin (艮寅)
- Tomb Direction (墓向): Face Xin-Xu (辛戌), with water returning to the proper storage
Metal Pattern (巳酉丑) Directions:
- Life Direction (生向): Face Xun-Si (巽巳) to gather Long Life water from Qian-Hai (乾亥)
- Prosperity Direction (旺向): Face Geng-You (庚酉) to gather Officer water from Xun-Si (巽巳)
- Tomb Direction (墓向): Face Gui-Chou (癸丑), with water returning to the proper storage
Twelve Stages Water Method: Auspicious and Inauspicious Table
| Incoming Water Direction | Water Pattern (申子辰) | Wood Pattern (亥卯未) | Fire Pattern (寅午戌) | Metal Pattern (巳酉丑) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Long Life (长生方) | Great Auspice | Great Auspice | Great Auspice | Great Auspice |
| Officer (临官方) | Great Auspice | Great Auspice | Great Auspice | Great Auspice |
| Emperor's Peak (帝旺方) | Great Auspice | Great Auspice | Great Auspice | Great Auspice |
| Decline (衰方) | Inauspicious | Inauspicious | Inauspicious | Inauspicious |
| Sickness-Death (病死方) | Very Inauspicious | Very Inauspicious | Very Inauspicious | Very Inauspicious |
| Tomb-Storage (墓库方) | Neutral (Auspicious for Outgoing Water) | Neutral (Auspicious for Outgoing Water) | Neutral (Auspicious for Outgoing Water) | Neutral (Auspicious for Outgoing Water) |
Practical Applications of the San He School
Yin Dwelling Feng Shui Applications
The San He School is most widely applied in Yin Dwelling Feng Shui:
- Seeking Dragon and Pointing Acupoint (寻龙点穴): Locate the spot where the Dragon Vein (龙脉) culminates
- Determine the Water Pattern: Identify the pattern based on the direction of incoming water
- Select the Sitting and Facing Direction (坐向): Choose the optimal orientation based on the water pattern
- Audit Incoming and Outgoing Water: Ensure incoming water flows from an auspicious direction and outgoing water departs toward an inauspicious or tomb-storage direction
Yang Dwelling Feng Shui Applications
The San He School can also be applied to Yang Dwellings (阳宅, homes for the living):
- Measure the Incoming Water: Observe the direction of water flow around your property
- Determine the Door Position: The main door should open toward an auspicious direction
- Garden Water Feature Placement: Pools and fountains should be positioned according to water method principles
- Drainage Direction: Drainage outlets should be placed in inauspicious or tomb-storage directions
Case Study Analysis
Suppose a Yin Dwelling is located in a Water Pattern (申子辰) site:
- Incoming water from the Gen-Yin direction (艮寅, Long Life direction) → Great Auspice, indicating enduring wealth and nobility
- Outgoing water toward the Yi-Chen direction (乙辰, Tomb-Storage direction) → Auspicious, with water returning to the proper storage
- Best orientations: Kun-Shen facing (坤申向, Life Direction) or Ren-Zi facing (壬子向, Prosperity Direction)
If incoming water comes from the Bing-Wu direction (丙午, Emperor's Peak for Fire Pattern but Embryo position for Water Pattern):
- The pattern classification must be reassessed
- Or remedial measures should be applied
Strengths and Limitations of the San He School
Strengths
- Complete Theoretical System: The Twelve Stages, Four Patterns, and water methods are interconnected with rigorous logic
- Unique Water Method Expertise: Exceptionally refined analysis of water flow directions
- Yin Dwelling Strength: Particularly effective results in burial Feng Shui applications
- Clear Lineage: Well-defined teacher-student transmission that prevents deviation from authentic practice
Limitations
- Steep Learning Curve: Requires memorizing complex content including the Twelve Stages and Four Patterns
- Limited Application Scope: Primarily used for Yin Dwellings and water methods; less applicable to Yang Dwellings
- Dependence on Water Presence: Difficult to apply in locations without water features
- Conflicts with Other Schools: Occasionally produces conclusions inconsistent with Xuan Kong Flying Stars (玄空飞星) analysis
How to Apply San He Water Methods in Modern Homes
Even without a flowing river or burial site, you can adapt these principles:
- Identify your "incoming water": Roads, driveways, and pathways leading toward your home represent water energy
- Map your property's directions: Use a compass to determine the Eight Trigrams (Bagua) orientation of your home
- Position your entrance favorably: If possible, align your main door with an auspicious water-pattern direction
- Direct "outgoing water" properly: Drainage, exit pathways, and the back of your property represent outgoing water — place them in less favorable directions
Quick Tips:
- Curved pathways are considered more auspicious than straight ones — gentle bends allow Qi to meander and accumulate
- If your front door faces an "incoming water" direction, keep the path clear and welcoming
- Avoid placing water features (fountains, pools) at the back of your home, as this may represent wealth flowing away from you
San He School Classic Texts
| Book Title | Author | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Di Li Wu Jue (《地理五诀》, Five Essentials of Geography) | Zhao Jiufeng (赵九峰) | The classic introductory text for the San He School |
| Shui Long Jing (《水龙经》, Water Dragon Classic) | Jiang Dahong (蒋大鸿) | Specialized treatise on water methods in flatland Feng Shui |
| San He Feng Shui (《三合风水》) | Anonymous | Systematic exposition of the San He School |
| Ru Di Yan Quan Shu (《入地眼全书》, Complete Book of Earth-Entering Eye) | Shi Ru Yu (释如玉) | Practical guide for Yin Dwelling Feng Shui |
| Qian Dan Zi (《铅弹子》, Lead Pellet) | Zhang Jiuyi (张九仪) | Secrets of water methods |
With its distinctive water method theory and complete system, the San He School occupies an important position in the study of Feng Shui. For those learning Yin Dwelling Feng Shui and water method applications, the San He School is an indispensable tradition.
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