5 ARTS OF CHINESE METAPHYSICS (中华玄学五术)

Chinese Metaphysics is a result of the development in human civilization throughout the history of China for thousands of years. This arts has existed since the prehistoric era, starting from around 1,200 BC and is a result of research and statistics from ancient scientists. Why is this arts still able to survive and develop in the modern era? Because every person feels the real benefits when practicing it in their daily lives, making it a part of their cultural tradition. In the modern era, these five arts have been studied and spread throughout the world, providing good benefits for the quality of life for all human beings. The essence of these five arts is about Yin-Yang (阴阳) and the five elements (五行), as well as the relationships (生克) between the elements. The goal is only one, which is to find a point of balance. When everything is in balance, humans will be healthy, productive, happy, and prosperous. The theory of balance is the basis for how the universe works and how we should live our lives correctly.

What are the 5 Arts Of Chinese Metaphysics?

MEDICINE (医)

The Eastern Medical Science, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been widely known. The essence of Chinese medical science is to divide the human body organs into Yin-Yang and the five elements. When the five elements in the body are balanced, humans will be healthy, and vice versa, if they are unbalanced, they will become sick. This medical science can use various therapies, such as acupuncture (针灸), acupressure (指压), massage (足部按摩), and the use of herbal medicine (中药). It focuses on the quality of the body’s innate essence (精), energy (气), and spirit (神) to achieve optimal health. Eastern medical science also relates a person’s emotional or mental state and lifestyle and dietetics to the quality of their life. All of these are known as “Life Cultivation Science” (养生术).

ASCETICISM (山)

This art studies various life cultivation (修养) methods using different techniques such as meditation (静坐), breathing techniques (气功), martial arts (武功), Divine Art (道法术), and others. If one can cultivate their life using these methods, their life will be balanced, have eternal inner happiness, prolong life and youthfulness (长生不老). This arts also focuses on how humans should view and live their lives properly, to create a peaceful world. The essence is to improve one’s physical and mental condition to achieve a perfect life and when they have died can reach Immortality.

DESTINY (命)

This field of study focuses on various approaches to analyzing a person’s fate (算命) by using calendar calculations to analyze the movements of planets and stars as well as the interactions between Yin-Yang and the 5 elements. There are several methods for analyzing a person’s fate, with the most commonly known being Bazi (八字) or the 8-character destiny reading, which involves looking at the year, month, day, and hour of birth to assess the strength of the 5 elements in the chart. Another popular technique is Ziwei Doushu (紫微斗数) or Purple Star Astrology, which analyzes a person’s fate based on the virtual star positions at the time of their birth on a specific year, month, day, and hour based on Lunar calendar. Other techniques for calculating fate include Qizheng Siyu (七政四餘), Heluo Lishu (河洛理數), Gui Guzi Destiny Analysis (鬼谷子算命), Tie Pan Shen Shu (铁板神术), and others. The essence of Destiny Analysis is to examine the quality of a person’s energy (气) and to gain a sense of their life image (像) in order to predict events that will occur in the future (数). By understanding these elements, individuals are expected to become aware of their potential, identify their weaknesses, and determine what they must do to seize opportunities and solve problems in the future.

DIVINATION (扑)

This field of study focuses on predicting events in the future based on the actions we take. All events that occur in the future are a result of cause and effect from the actions we take now. This is different from Destiny Analysis, such as Bazi, which looks at a larger picture of a person’s life from beginning to end. Divination is often used to predict short-term events, which are typically within 1 to 5 years in the future. There are two types of divination: static and dynamic. Static divination results cannot be changed, while dynamic divination results can still change. In the past, this knowledge was used by advisers to emperors to help them make important decisions. In modern times, we can use this knowledge to predict future events based on the decisions we make today, allowing us to plan and maneuver effectively. However, to accurately predict future events, there must be a factor of AFFINITY between the questioner and the one answering. There are various methods of divination, such as Yi Jing Oracle (卜卦), Plum Blossom Divination (梅花易数), Tai Yi Shen Shu (太乙神数), Qimen Dunjia (奇门遁甲), and Da Liu Ren (大六壬).

PHYSIOGNOMY (相)

Physiognomy is the Chinese Metaphysics art of analyzing the good and bad of an object, shape or appearance. Face reading and Palmistry are art that are well-known in our society. By looking at the shape of someone’s face or the lines on their palm, we can determine their character, potential, and luck. In the history of human civilization, this art has an ancient history and has been used in various nations and cultures. In China, this art was used to analyze someone who wanted to become an official, whether that person had integrity and could assist the emperor. If Bazi analysis can lie because someone can give a false birth date, then Face reading cannot lie. Feng Shui is also included in this category because Feng Shui also looks at the topography such as the position of mountains, hills, rivers, seas, and others. In addition to what is visible, Physiognomy also looks at the energy that is not visible (气色) such as the color of the radiance on the face. From this radiance, we can tell if someone is lucky or unlucky. Nowadays, we can use the art of Face Reading when interacting with someone, for example in business. Or we can use Feng Shui to maximize our luck by arranging our home or business according to good principles.