MMW 12 Chapter Article Notes: Sima Guang’s Letter Against Geomancy
2 Mar 2017
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Mmw 12 article notes sima guang"s letter against geomancy. Palace official and historian during the song dynasty. Supporter of government authority, confucian education, conservative morality, importance of etiquette and ritual in everyday life. Condemnation of the practice of fengshui (geomancy: unproven nonsense. Waiting for the perfect time and place for burial was unfilal. Motivation for geomancy selfish, not concern for the welfare of the dead. Consider many factors like when they died, their social status, wealth, time of death, personality when choosing when and where they can bury the dead. Burial can be postponed for a long time. This is worse than dying on the road without any family to bury you, where they just cover you with a blanket and leave you there. Ancient tradition says a funeral has to occur within seven months of death. The current dynasty says the funerals have to occur within three months of death. Children should mourn thoroughly for their parents.
