Powerful Symbols From The Ho Tu and Lo Shu

Squares
Feng shui has ancient
beginnings, and what we
have today are legends that focus on
two mathematical diagrams that are
said to represent the energies of the
Universe. In feng shui terminology, we
identify these two diagrams as the Ho
Tu and the Lo Shu squares and they are
mathematical because they comprise
arrangements of numbers that unlock many of the secrets of
time and space feng shui. These numbers also reveal
movements, which over time have become powerful symbols
of protection.

According to legend, sometime in the fifth century BC, China's

legendary founding emperor Fu Hsi was walking along the Yellow
River when a beautiful white horse emerged from the river. This
was no ordinary horse, for it had the head of a dragon, and on its
flank were a pattern of black and white dots. This diagram of dots
came to be regarded as the Ho Tu or map of the river. The
diagram of dots was changed into four sets of 2-number
combinations in the cardinal directions of North, South, East and
West.

Thus 9 in the South paired with 4. And 3 in the East paired with 8.
Then 1 in the North paired with 6. And 7 in the West paired with 2.
In the center was the number 5.
The Ho Tu combination of numbers were
later to reveal many of the secrets of the
Zuan Kong system of Flying Star feng shui,
which is the formula that enables the feng
shui practitioner to practise the complete
systems of time and space feng
shui. But the Ho Tu numbers are also
connected to a second set of mathematical
numbers.

This was the Lo Shu Square of numbers,

which also appeared as a diagram of dots.
But it did not come until about 2000 years
later during the time of the Hsia dynasty.
This time, the diagram was revealed as a
diagram of dots on the back of a tortoise
that emerged from the River Lo. Hence the
diagram of black and white dots came to
be known as the Lo Shu Square.

The square is the basis of all compass formula feng shui

interpretations of Chi energy. The Lo Shu reveals the movement
and changes of Chi energy over time and features prominently in
advanced formulas and methods of feng shui.

The origins of both the Ho Tu and the Lo Shu are definitely

mysterious, shrouded as they are in legend, but they reveal
important associations with the celestial creatures of the Chinese
pantheon, the Dragon Horse and the Tortoise.
More importantly, the diagram maps also contain powerful
symbols of protection and enhancement, and over the centuries,
scholars have added layers of progressively complex yet
amazingly astute interpretations to the numerology embedded
within the two mathematical diagrams of dots.

The Swastika
The two squares do not exist as two
independent diagrams. The sequence,
combination and arrangement of the
numbers 1 to 9 in both the squares are
definitely interconnected to each other.
And in the connection, we can see how a
powerful and mysterious symbol emerges,
a symbol which has long been associated
with Buddhism, and which in recent years became associated
with probably the most feared dictator of the twentieth century -
the man who caused the death of more millions of people than
any other. I am of course referring to the swastika, the emblem of
the Nazi party of Germany and of Hitler.

Combining the Ho Tu with the Lo Shu, we derive the left turning

swastika. This is also considered the counter-clockwise moving
swastika. This symbol is a Buddhist symbol, but Taoists who use
it regard it as a most powerful symbol of protection. The anti-
clockwise movement is said to point to the future and is
representative of heaven energy.