The Geomancer

[Yi Eui-sin was a specialist in Geomancy. His craft came into being

evidently as a by-product of Taoism, but has had mixed in it elements

of ancient Chinese philosophy. The Positive and the Negative, the

Two Primary Principles in Nature, play a great part; also the Five

Elements, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. In the selection of a

site, that for a house is called a "male" choice, while the grave is

denominated the "female" choice.

Millions of money have been expended in Korea on the geomancer and

his associates in the hope of finding lucky homes for the living and

auspicious resting-places for the dead, the Korean idea being that, in

some mysterious way, all our fortune is associated with Mother Earth.]

The Story

There was a geomancer once, Yi Eui-sin, who in seeking out a special

mountain vein, started with the Dragon Ridge in North Ham-kyong

Province, and traced it as far as Pine Mountain in Yang-ju County,

where it stopped in a beautifully rounded end, forming a perfect

site for burial. After wandering all day in the hills, Yi's hungry

spirit cried out for food. He saw beneath the hill a small house, to

which he went, and rapping at the door asked for something to eat. A

mourner, recently bereaved, came out in a respectful and kindly way,

and gave him a dish of white gruel. Yi, after he had eaten, asked what

time the friend had become a mourner, and if he had already passed

the funeral. The owner answered, "I am just now entering upon full

mourning, but we have not yet arranged for the funeral." He spoke in

a sad and disheartened way.

Yi felt sorry for him, and asked the reason. "I wonder if it's because

you are poor that you have not yet made the necessary arrangements,

or perhaps you have not yet found a suitable site! I am an expert

in reading the hills, and I'll tell you of a site; would you care to

see it?"

The mourner thanked him most gratefully, and said, "I'll be delighted

to know of it."

Yi then showed him the end of the great vein that he had just

discovered, also the spot for the grave and how to place its compass

points. "After possessing this site," said he, "you will be greatly

enriched, but in ten years you will have cause to arrange for another

site. When that comes to pass please call me, won't you? In calling

for me just ask for Yi So-pang, who lives in West School Ward, Seoul."

The mourner did as directed, and as the geomancer had foretold, all

his affairs prospered. He built a large tiled house, and ornamented

the grave with great stones as a prosperous and high-minded country

gentleman should do.

After ten years a guest called one day, and saluting him asked, "Is

that grave yonder, beyond the stream, yours?" The master answered,

"It is mine." Then the stranger said, "That is a famous site, but

ten years have passed since you have come into possession of it,

and the luck is gone; why do you not make a change? If you wait too

long you will rue it and may meet with great disaster."

The owner, hearing this, thought of Yi the geomancer, and what he had

said years before. Remembering that, he asked the stranger to remain

as his guest while he went next day to Seoul to look up Yi in West

School Ward. He found him, and told him why he had come.

Yi said, "I already knew of this." So the two journeyed together to the

inquirer's home. When there, they went with the guest up the hill. Yi

asked of the guest, "Why did you tell the master to change the site?"

The guest replied, "This hill is a Kneeling Pheasant formation. If

the pheasant kneels too long it cannot endure it, so that within a

limited time it must fly. Ten years is the time; that's why I spoke."

Yi laughed and said, "Your idea is only a partial view, you have

thought of only one thing, there are other conditions that enter." Then

he showed the peak to the rear, and said, "Yonder is Dog Hill,"

and then one below, "which," said he, "is Falcon Hill," and then the

stream in front, "which," said he, "is Cat River. This is the whole

group, the dog behind, the falcon just above, and the cat in front,

how then can the pheasant fly? It dares not."

The guest replied, "Teacher, surely your eyes are enlightened, and

see further than those of ordinary men."

From that day forth the Yis of Pine Hill became a great and noted

family.

Anon.