Over the last 3 decades, I have witnessed many phenomenal happenings and miracles that even science sometimes cannot validate nor explain. During my trip to Wudangshan (Wudang Mountain) in April last year, I had a life-changing experience and my desire for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness grew even more than before.
2019 was honestly a time of introspection for me and it was also the year that I started my venture into the 5 arts (五术) of Chinese metaphysics (中华玄学). The 5 arts of Chinese metaphysics comprises of 5 different areas of disciplines, namely, mountain (山), medicine (医), life (命), appearance (相), and divination (扑).
The 5 Arts of Chinese Metaphysics have guided the Chinese people throughout the ages and the content of each of the five arts are complex and very difficult to master. This is why most Chinese Metaphysics Practitioners focus on one or two of the five arts and within the art, focus and specialise only on one or two disciplines within the art.
About the Five Arts of Chinese Metaphysics
1. Mountain (山 – Shan)
“Mountain (山 – Shan)” means Knowledge and Skills that are learned from training in the Mountains because in ancient time, a person need to go up to the mountain to receive such knowledge. Studies that fall under this art includes diet, physical health, martial arts, meditation and self-healing. Taoist Sorcery, Taoist Rituals and Taoist Talismans also belongs to Mountain (山).
2. Medicine (医)
It includes all form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, medical prescriptions and soul healing.
3. Life (命)
The Chinese Art of Destiny Analysis or fate. It includes Eight Characters (子平八字 – Zi Ping Ba Zi ) and Purple Star Astrology (紫微斗数 – Zi Wei Dou Shu).
4. Appearance (相 – Xiang)
The Chinese Study of Appearance/Physiognomy (相) which refers to the study of forms, meaning the study of good or bad of a form. The 2 well-known examples are Palmistry and Face Reading. Feng Shui also belongs to the study of Forms (相 – Xiang), including Feng Shi for Burial (阴宅 – Yin Zhai) and Feng Shui for the living environment (阳宅 – Yang Zhai). The study of Characters of Chinese Names of a person also belong to The Chinese Study of Appearance (相 – Xiang).
5. Divination (扑 – Pu)
Prediction and the Yi Jing (易经 – I Ching) feature prominently in this study. Other popular studies of this art includes Tai Yi (太易), Da Liu Ren (大六壬), and Qi Men Dun Jia (奇门盾甲). They rely on numerical analysis to reveal one’s path and future.
My Experience
I have never felt so much affinity with Taoism and Chinese Metaphysics until last year and since then, I have made the conscious decision and effort to learn each of the 5 Arts and focus on 1 to 2 disciplines within each art.
Apart from learning the 5 Arts of Chinese Metaphysics, I have also studied other systems and modalities such as 9 Star Ki and Greek Astrology. This new Spirituality column will be where I share my innate thoughts and document my journey in the spiritual realm.
If you need some spiritual advise, feel free to drop me a message.