TALISMAN

The history of Chinese Taoist talismans stretches back over 5000 years into the mists of time. The symbols that cover the talisman contain the secrets of the Universe.

Although they were conceived thousands of years ago they are based on sound scientific principles of the creative and destructive processes of the

universe and the psychological makeup of the human race. The symbols are pictorial representations, e.g. one stroke equals one heaven; one dot equals one universe.

To explain how Talismans work, we must first explore the theories and concepts behind them:

When the first caveman drew the first stick figure on a cave wall, he was using a symbol. He was using a symbol to represent part of his world. Ever since then, Man has used symbols not only to illustrate concepts, but to manipulate his reality. Because our world is constantly changing, we have used words and names to record what has happened. Every name is a symbol; your name written down symbolises you. Where and when your name is written has an effect on your life and reality.

Everything on Earth is just like a symbol, for example the Tai Chi sign represents the whole Universe; One straight line represents Yang, the male energy of the Universe, and a Broken line represents Yin the female energy of the Universe.

For instance the Pa Qua represents the 8 Directions, different people, parts of your body, elements, seasons, natural phenomenon (like Fire, wind, Earth, Forests, Sun, Moon, lake, thunder, Earth etc.), family relationships etc, it also represents change and non-change.

The talisman uses the whole universal form, transformed into a symbol and changes the way things are.

The Application of Talisman in Feng Shui
Original writer (Chinese Text): Mrs. Jia Yin Smith of San Francisco, California (USA). Translated and edited by Mr. K.C. Goh of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In ancient times, Talismans or Fu Zhou (magic figures or incantations) were objects for matching up. A bamboo board was typically broken into two pieces which were used for corroboration. Talisman or Fu Zhou originated during the period of the Three Kings and the Five Emperors. The first king was Fu Xi who observed the sky and surveyed the geographical features from the tracks of birds and animals and also invented Ba Gua, using Ba Gua to form the language in the talismans. These ancient talismans reflected how people use Ba Gua to make predictions in those days and these symbols were compiled to form the Book of Change or Yi Jing( I Ching). Talismans were associated with an Emperor by the name of Xuan Yuan or Huang Di.

The mechanism of talismans or Fu Zhou are not based on the material used but on maneuvering the Chi. When writing symbols on the talisman, one is actually matching the Chi of the universe and using the strength of the reflecting stars. When I was in primary school, I had a classmate who suffered from a parotid gland infection named boar head skin disease by the common people. A stamp inscribed with the Chinese character tiger was dipped in blue-black ink and was used to stamp the infected area of the patient. Two weeks later the patient recovered. Isn that incredible? The Tiger character is supposed to be able to eat the boar, metaphorically. The ancient Chinese physicians used talismans to cure sickness. This branch of knowledge is called the discipline of Zhu You section. When writing talismans, one is supposed to chant holy words. These talismans can be consumed by burning the paper and drinking the ashes with water. Alternatively, one can just keep the talismans for protection to bring good fortune and to ward off evil spirits as well as people with evil intentions.

Traditionally, feng shui masters have used talismans to help ward off bad luck or Sha. For example, when a house is directly facing the road, the master would place a stone inscribed with. Tai Shan stone dares to resist (the evil influences) in front of the house. Incidentally, Tai Shan is China most celebrated mountain range and it is believed that the stone from this mountain range has the ability to fend off Sha (noxious vapors) and Kuei (various kinds of demons). Houses that are facing temples and shrines are considered bad because it is believed that evil spirits normally gather outside the temple. Placing a piece of stone inscribed with Yu Qing (literally translation means pure jade which has the ability to fend off evil spirits) is an extension of the application of talisman.

The Yang Chai Ten Book states to renovate a house and to relocate a door if one does not have resources, this could not be done. Even if one has resources, one still needs to select an auspicious day and time. If the omen of the house is bad and one could not wait for the appropriate day and time, one can use talismans to protect the house for peace and security. In terms of function, there are two kinds of talisman: The first one is direction talisman and the other one is time talisman. Examples of direction talisman are: (1) stone dares to resist (the evil influences), (2) mountain and water protection, (3) tai ji symbol, (4) ba gua talisman and (5) wording talisman. These talismans are normally placed in inauspicious locations of the house, for instance the main door or walkway or bridge leading to the main door, the corner of the house, the position directly facing the roof-top and places in front or at the back of the house which are considered to have bad feng shui.

When performing renovation on a day that happens to be inauspicious according to the Chinese almanac, then time talisman could be used. Feng shui masters can use holy words and symbols to write talisman to change the bad omen into good luck.

Using talisman in feng shui, removes the psychological barrier and deals with the taboos of the culture. With the application of talisman, the feng shui master can stay away from an awkward predicament where there are no other feng shui cures.

Note: There were many versions concerning the name of the three Kings. Some regarded Fu Xi, Zhu Rong, and Shen Nong as the three Kings. Some textbook mentioned Sui Ren, Fu Xi, and Shen Nong. Some people considered Fu Xi, Nu Wa, and Shen Nong.

The five emperors refer to Huang Di, ZhuanXu, Di Ku,Di Yao,Di Shun. Huang Di was born 5000 year ago during the New Stone Age. His family name is Gongsun and he is being called Xuan Yuan.