明堂의 由來와 風水地理的 意味

Abstract

Ming Tang was originally the place for emperors in ancient China to perform state affairs and various memorial services. It was developed under strict standards reflecting tradition. It was not only a site praying for prosperity and perpetuation of country and descendants, but also a place for an emperor to reside at, allocating the year’s state affairs to feudal lords. In the background of creation of Ming Tang, there was a purpose to practice efficient politics by harmonizing the year’s energy of Yin Yang and the seasonal divisions, and by looking into geological characteristics. In Chinese classic literatures, Ming Tang is recorded deeply related to Chinese Shu Shu(術數), and then, it is Feng Shui which makes up for classic field of Chinese Shu Su. The records on Ming Tang are shown without exception in literatures representative of Feng Shui. In Feng Shui, Ming Tang, in connection with Qi, Yin Yang, mountain and water, water flow, earth color and flow of Qi, is regarded as an important criterion to judge which is an auspicious site. While Ming Tang was recorded as a constituent of auspicious site in Feng Shui literatures, it was regarded as auspicious site itself beyond a constituent of auspicious site in Chronicle Record of the Chosen Dynasty. At first, those who made use of Ming Tang were limited only to emperors, but it got to mean a constituent of auspicious site through widening recognition of Feng Shui, and it got generally used by people of every class. By the way, geological application of nature, succession of tradition, a certain rule and condition and so on are still kept up in common, but as time goes by, they are getting more minutely divided. The purpose of Ming Tang has always been for future prosperity, regardless of when it meant the essential place for state affairs, a constituent of auspicious site or the auspicious site itself.