VIETNAM ACADEMY
SOCIAL SCIENCES
VIETNAM OF
ACADEMY
GRADUATE ACADEMY
SOCIAL SCIENCES
OF SOCIALOF
SCIENCES
GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

NGUYEN QUOC KHANH
NGUYỄN QUỐC KHÁNH

STUDY OF VIETNAMESE HÁN NÔM GEOMANCY
DOCUMENTS
IN THE INSTITUTE
OFGEOMANCY
HÁN-NÔM
STUDY
OF VIETNAMESE
HÁN NÔM
STUDIES
DOCUMENTS IN THE
INSTITUTE OF HÁN-NÔM
STUDIES
Major: Hán-Nôm
Major
code:
9 22 01 04
Major:
Hán-Nôm

agree to capitalize the noun Geomancy as distinctive and emphasized; and use the
terms Geomancy and Feng Shui with the same meaning depending on each context
for flexible use.
Over the years, when building a house, people focus on finding convenient
location for the house to get the best environmental conditions overwhelming with the
nature. The viewpoint of selecting main place of residence is a specific expression of
Geomancy. In Quan Tu - Thua ma 管子-乘馬, there is this paragraph: “Phàm là xây
dựng kinh đô, không phải là dưới chân núi lớn cũng là bên bờ sông lớn, cao nhưng
không quá gần chỗ khô khan khiến nước không đủ; thấp nhưng không quá gần nước thì
không mất công phòng lụt”. (Imperial capital should be constructed at the foot of a big
mountain or on the bank of a big and high river but not too near dry places which make
water inadequate; low but too near water for flood prevention). Kinh Ly Cong Uan had
the article Edict on the Transfer of the Capital 遷都詔 to show clearly Geomancy as
follows: “… Huống chi thành Đại La,... ở giữa khu vực trời đất, được thế rồng chầu hổ
phục, chính giữa nam bắc đông tây, tiện nghi núi sông sau trước. Vùng này mặt đất
rộng mà bằng phẳng, thế đất cao mà sáng sủa, dân cư không khổ thấp trũng tối tăm,
muôn vật hết sức tươi tốt phồn thịnh. Xem khắp nước Việt đó là nơi thắng địa, thực là
chỗ tụ hội quan yếu của bốn phương, đúng là nơi thượng đô kinh sư mãi muôn đời…”.
Thus, the thought “the heaven and human united” developed into an important stream
of traditional culture, which is Geomancy culture or Feng Shui culture.
During the development, Geomancy received a lot of contents including:
Geography, Architecture, Environment, Psychology, etc. Therefore, deeply and
systematically finding and studying Geomancy in general and Vietnamese Geomancy
in particular does not only help the environmental planning managers but also have a
great significance in exploiting, preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Vietnam is one of the countries ever deeply influenced by the Chinese culture,
including the Geomancy. The old Genmancy was also called with the different names
such as: Qingwu Shu, Qingniao Shu, Yin and Yang, Geography, Feng Shui, etc. The
role of Genmancy is to reflect intuition capacity and thorough observation of human to
the nature, in addition, it also reflects dramatic customs and habits, traditional culture of

The thesis limits its study scope to the textual study matters of Vietnamese
Hán-Nôm Geomancy documents, introduction of some authors of Vietnamese HánNôm Geomancy documents with their works currently remaining kept in the
Institute of Hán-Nôm Studies, introduction of good layers of earth and graves
recorded in the documents and learning scientific values hidden in Vietnamese
Hán-Nôm Geomancy documents.
4. Methodology and study method of the thesis
4.1. Methodology
Based on the views of the Party and the State of Vietnam in collecting,
preserving, studying, exploiting and promoting traditional culture, building an
advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity.

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Knowledge of Hán-Nôm literature, textual studies, cultural studies,
civilization studies, geomancy studies, interpretation studies, etc. applies
interdisciplinary research theory in each chapter of the thesis.
Inheriting research results from the published works of domestic and foreign
researchers related to the topic, the thesis focuses on deep exploitation of the
characteristics, authors of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy, content values of
Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy documents; to contribute to the research results
on cultural value of Vietnamese ethnic community.
4.2. Study method
The thesis uses different general research methods, including the main
methods as follows:
Textual study method: To list and compare Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy
documents currently kept in the Institute of Hán-Nôm Studies to make general
comments on characteristics of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy documents. To
define complete version, list and compare the number of good layers of earth and
graves recorded in the documents for next studies.

To introduce some good layers of earth of the localities in the Northern Delta.
To provide the terms of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy
To translate the work An Nam phong thủy (A.693) in Vietnamese Hán-Nôm
Geomancy.
6. Scientific meaning of the thesis
Studying the group of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy documents currently
kept in the Institute of Hán-Nôm Studies gives the scientific meanings as follows:
The thesis does not only systematize number of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy
documents but also systematizes number of good graves and interesting land positions,
etc. which were recorded and left by predecessors through Hán and Nôm works.
Through studying, analyzing and evaluating values of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm
Geomancy works, the thesis provides scientific meanings of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm
Geomancy in the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese people. It may be said that the
topography of Vietnamese rivers and mountains in the area of heaven and earth with sao
Dực, sao Chẩn, created the system of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy works in the
writing culture of the country. When comparing Vietnamese Geomany and Chinese one,
in spite of similar term, Vietnamese Geomany has separate contents in accordance with
Vietnamese culture.
The thesis will open for related research works on culture, spirituality and
beliefs of Vietnamese people.
7. Thesis layout
In addition to Introduction, Conclusion, References và Appendix; the thesis
consists of 04 chapters:
Chapter 1: Overview of study related to the topic.
Chapter 2: Survey of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy documents in the
Institute of Hán-Nôm Studies.
Chapter 3: Study of some typical authors of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy.
Chapter 4: Study of content values of Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy.

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Geomancy was not introduced once in our country but throughout our country
history in the middle ages. Geomancy was always introduced in different forms
such as: Baggages of domination mandarins; Vietnamese people directly going to
China for studying Geomancy; rebellion in civil wars in China making some
families migrate to Vietnam for fleeing away, including genuine families of Feng
shui, etc.

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1.2.2. Geomancy development in Vietnam
The book Trùng đính thiên Nam danh địa 重訂天南名地 (No. VHv.1927),
said that: “Nước ta từ khi trời mở ra “trời Nam” trở lại đây, thì địa dư và hình thế
đã có sử sách ghi chép vào thời Đường Hiến Tông (806 - 821) vào năm Hàm Thông
có sai quan Thượng thư Bộ Công là Cao Biền 高駢 làm chức An Nam Đô hộ tổng
quản, Kinh lược chiêu thảo sứ viết ra sách An Nam cửu long kinh 安南九龍經 và
sách Vịnh cảo tập 詠稿集”. By Dinh dynasty (968 - 980), the king Dinh Tien Hoang
assigned An phủ sứ and Đông Đô viện Tran Quoc Kiet 陳國傑 to write the book
Thiên Nam hình thắng ca 天南形勝歌 and assigned him to explain the old book of
Gao Pian. From Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties, Geomancy continued
developing strongly. From the twentieth century until now, Western civilization has
entered our country, the Confucian lifestyle has gradually decreased, however the
Geomancy subject remains very popular artistically and scientifically in the field of
architecture.
1.3. Overview of study related to the topic
1.3.1. Geomancy study in China
In China, in any dynasty, there were many researchers left well-known works,
for example, in Song dynasty, Wenjun Lai 賴文俊 with the work Thôi quan thiên 催
官篇, in Ming dynasty, Xu Bo 徐勃 with the work Kham dư biện hoặc 堪輿辨惑, in
Qing dynasty, Wu Yuanyin 吳元音 with the work Táng kinh chú 葬經注, etc. ,

Quoc Kiet 陳國杰, edited by Ho Tong Thoc 胡宗鷟, this work no longer exists.
In the twenty-first century, studying and translating Feng Shui became richer.
Based on the actual condition, it is possible to divide into the sections as follows.
1.3.3. Works collected and translated from foreign languages
1.3.3.1. Works translated from Chinese language
As Geomancy came from China, a lot of book were translated into
Vietnamese, the thesis lists some works which have been recently translated as
follows: In 1996, Truong Huyen translated the book Hướng gió mạch nước thế đất
trong nghệ thuật kiến trúc xây dựng nhà ở of Vuong Ngoc Duc; in 2002, Nguyen
Van Duc translated and Nguyen Quoc Khanh edited the book Phong thủy thực
hành - Trang trí nội ngoại thất theo phong thủy of Tong Thieu Quang; in 2010,
Vuong Tuyen translated the book Phong thủy thực vật of Ly Duc Hung, etc.
Generally, the translated works summarized fully and crucially Geomancy, for
example: địa lý đại toàn nhập môn yếu quyết, địa lý đại toàn tập yếu, địa lý lục
pháp đại toàn, địa lý Dương trạch đại toàn, etc.
1.3.3.2. Works translated from other languages
Works translated from other languages in our country are quite big and they
have been mainly translated since the beginning of the twenty-first century, for

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example: In 2001, Thanh Khang and Tien Thanh translated the book Cẩm nang phong
thủy phương Tây ( Western Guide to Feng Shui) of Terah Kathryn Collins; in 2006, Vu
Tai Hoa translated the book Phong thủy toàn tập - Nghệ thuật bài trí nhà cửa theo khoa
học phương Đông (The practical encyclopedia of feng shui) of Gill Hale; in 2008,
Nguyen Manh Thao translated the book Khoa học phong thuỷ trong cuộc sống (The
Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui) of Lillian Too; in 2012, Nguyen Manh
Thao translated the book Bí ẩn biểu tượng Phong thủy (Feng shui symbols of good
fortune) of Lillian Too; etc. It may be said that this is an open direction for new

Studies(Summary record of national scientific workshop ); etc.

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1.4. Some comments on researches related to the topic
From the Geomancy translations and researches of the previous researchers, it
is possible to give some comments on the research results as follows:
In foreign countries, although there are some deep researches, but they are also
indigenous with no wholeness when comparing among the countries which have been
influenced by Chinese culture. In Vietnam, almost new works in the form of
translation are introductory and practical, thus, most published books have
duplicate contents.
Regarding Hán - Nôm Geomancy documents, the authors have hardly surveyed,
systematized, and studied reliability of Hán - Nôm Geomancy documents. Studying
and introducing Hán - Nôm Geomancy authors remain limited, almost the works focus
on the author Tao Ao only.
1.5. Orienting further research matters in the thesis
Based on the scientific criteria, PhD student defines that Geomancy study is an
applicable scientific subject based on objective movement and interaction effects in
architecture and construction planning for serving the cultural and social life. Since
then, to set out matters in the thesis for study:
To systematize Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy documents currently kept in
the Institute of Hán-Nôm Studies - Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.
Based on the statistics of Hán - Nôm documents with Geomancy contents, the
Ph.D. Student arranges to a unified body based on the Geomancy criteria to help
the research convenient.
To study characteristics of Hán - Nôm Geomancy documents, show the most
basic features of Hán - Nôm Geomancy documents, since then, to define reliable
Hán - Nôm Geomancy documents for research.

2.2.1. Form
To follow conveniently, 46 works with 60 documents apply document units
(symbol) as a basis including 60 surveyed documents (symbol), 13 printouts
(making up 23%) and 47 manuscripts (making up 77%).
2.2.2. Dates
From the survey, there are 11 works with 20 documents (symbol) with date of
writing, year of printing and copying (making up 33.33%)
2.2.3. Authors
From surveying 46 works with 60 documents, there are 32 works with 38
documents (symbol) with authors’ names and 03 works with 05 documents with
copiers’ names (making up 68%).
2.2.3.1. Vietnamese authors
Vietnamese authors of Vietnamese Geomancy works include: 1) Chu Van An (01
work with 3 documents); 2) Ta Ao (16 works with 20 documents); 3) Hoa Chinh (2
works with 2 documents); 4) Trinh Tùng (1 work with 1 document); 5) Nguyen Linh
Nam (1 work with 1 document); 6) Hoang Dao Duc (1 work with 1 document); 7)
Chan Loc Bao Dai of Nguyen family (1 work with 1 document).
2.2.3.2. Chinese authors
Two Chinese authors of Vietnamese Geomancy works are: Gao Pian 高 駢 (8
works); Huang Fu 黃福 (1 work). However, the works of Gao Pian recorded by people
after him have many duplicate contents.

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2.2.3.3. Editors and copiers
From the survey, the editors and copier of 03 works with 06 documents are
Pham Lap Trai edited 1 work (2 documents), Pham Xuan Loc copied 1 work (1
document), Le Xuan Cat copied 1 work (3 documents).
2.2.4. Genres

tool in Feng Shui activities, expresses awareness and adjust geographical deflection
angle, and open up an infinite number of synthetically reasoning and philosophically
associating concepts.
After surveying 46 works with 60 documents of Vietnamese Hán - Nôm
Geomancy, there are 150 sections in all 60 documents about compass.

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2.3.3. Good layers of earth
After surveying 46 works with 60 documents of Vietnamese Hán - Nôm
Geomancy, there are 02 documents about good layers of earth. Indicating that
Vietnam has 04 main good layers of earth (đại cán long), including: Truong Son
mountain layer, Ba Vi mountain layer, Tam Dao mountain layer, Huyen Dinh
mountain layer.
2.3.4. Graves
Grave (topography) means local graves or lands, the ends of Lai Long with
vitality converged, two protective right and left mounds and front preventive water.
Grave relate closely with energy layer, graves on high mountains, graves in plains, etc.
After surveying the documents about grave, we recognize that in 46 works
with 60 documents, 12/60 documents refer to this matter divided to the main
contents as follows: Grave defense gods. Exorcized and unexorcized graves.
System of main graves and expanded graves. System of duke-marquess, graduate
and wealth graves.
2.3.5. Yang houses
In Geomancy, house means Yang house. After surveying 60 Vietnamese HánNôm Geomancy documents, in 46 works with 60 documents, 12/60 documents
contain Yang house contents. Contents of Yang house sections guide and describe
ways to select and arrange locations, directions, structures and ways to select date
for house construction.
2.3.6. Yin houses

geography, celebrity, vestige, culture, human, customs and habits, etc. of the
country and localities.
Chapter 3:
RESEARCH ON SOME TYPICAL VIETNAMESE HÁN-NÔM
GEOMANCY AUTHORS
Vietnamese Hán-Nôm Geomancy authors, considered in the history,
appeared a lot from official history to unofficial history or family annals, etc. In this
chapter, we select to introduce Hán-Nôm Geomancy authors whose works are
currently kept in the literature depot of the Institute of Hán-Nôm Studies.
3.1. Chu Van An
Chu Van An 朱文安 (1292 - 1370), also called Chu An 朱安 or Chu Van Trinh
朱文貞, alias: Tieu An 樵隐 and another alias was Khang Tiet tiên sinh 康節先生 (Mr.
Khang Tiet), courtesy name: Linh Triet 靈徹, posthumous name: Van Trinh, lived in
Quang Liet Commune, Thanh Dam District, Ha Dong (now Thanh Tri District, Hanoi
City).
Geomancy works
With deep knowledge, he wrote the book Địa đạo dẫn giải chương cú tập chú
di biên 地道引解章句集註遺編 (Posthumous manuscript of the book quoted and
explained notes of each chapter on geography), in the summary, he said: “Tuy kiến
thức còn sơ sài, nhưng hễ đi tới đâu, tôi đều chép, có ý thu thập hình thế núi sông,
và đặt tên sách là Địa lý dẫn giải chương cú tập chú di biên không phải để khoe
khoang chỉ là sơ lược những gì mình lĩnh hội được”. His 20th generation descendants,
Xuan Luong and Hai Ham later copied and named Thanh Trì Quang Liệt Chu thị di thư
清池光烈朱氏遺書(Remaining books of Chu family in Quang Liet Commune, Thanh
Tri District).
Regarding contents of the work Địa lý dẫn giải chương cú tập chú di biên
(Thanh Trì Quang Liệt Chu thị di thư), in addition to 01 article of title, 01 article of
introduction, 01 article of general presentation, and 01 conclusion, the work
included 03 parts. Part 1: Địa lý dẫn giải chương cú tập (including 18 chapters).
Part 2: Địa đạo lý luận tập chú (including 10 sections). Part 3: Địa đạo hình thế

topographical geography to describe 28 land positions of wealth Tả Ao chân truyền
tập. In addition, in the Geomancy works of Ta Ao, the contents also embraced other
matters such as Graves, Yang houses (land positions of wealth in Vietnam) and Yin
houses (wealth graves in Vietnam), etc.
3.3. Le Hoang
Le Hoang 黎璜(? - ?), alias: Haa Chinh Tu 和正子 and Chuyet Phu 拙夫,
lived in Kim Bang District (now Kim Bang District, Ha Nam Province), normally
called Hoa Chinh. He lived in the seventeenth century, he had come to Yen Kinh
(China) to learn Gemancy.
Sino-Vietnamese sound is Huyền 玄 but Huyên in the documents.
There is an information that He was originally from Son Nam (i.e. Hai Duong,
Hung Yen today), after that migrated to Ta Ao village. We think that this needs to be
considered more carefully.
1
2

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Geomancy works
Hoa Chinh had three Geomancy works (Hòa Chính địa lý 和正地理 (A.2153),
Lưu Xá Hòa Chính bí truyền địa pháp 流舍和正秘傳地法 (A.1405), Thiên Nam địa lý
cách ngôn toàn tập 天南地理格言全集 (R.2221). Contents of Geomancy works of
Hoa Chinh proved additionally and specifically ways of astronomical recognition to
assess land layers on the land positions of Vietnam previously discussed by Ta Ao.
The book An Nam phong thủy, gave comments on his Geomancy knowledge as
follows: “Xét ở nước ta, có ông Hòa Chính Tử là một nhà phong thủy nổi tiếng, có thể tìm
được những ngôi đất loại “hổ táng” [đất phát khiến con cháu làm quan to] cho quốc gia”.
3.4. Trinh Tung
Trinh Tung 鄭 松 (1550 - 1623), posthumous name: Thanh To Triet Vuong 成



VIETNAMESE HÁN - NÔM GEOMANCY WORKS
4.1. Content values
It can be said that material values in Vietnamese Hán - Nôm Geomancy
documents are quite rich, reflect many aspects of culture, belief, customs and habits
of the people, and show a particular nuance. Below are some basic values reflected
by Vietnamese Geomancy document contents.
4.1.1. Thought harmony of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism
Geomancy reflects clearly harmony and interaction between the thoughts of
three religions (Confucianism - Buddhism - Taoism) in which the most dominant is
Confucianism and Taoism. This is proved as follows: Confucianism and Taoism
considered I Ching as the source, Geomany also considerd I Ching as the source,
both used Yin and Yang, Wu Xing, Bagua, Taiji, Nine Stars, Energy Theory, etc. as
theory system. Geomany considered Yin and Yang as basic, vitality as nuclear andn
mixed with the thoughts of Wu Xing and Bagua doctrines as specific thought of
Taoist theory.
Taoism considered “Dao Zang 道藏” as private chronic canon and Geomany
artfully applied “Classic on Mansions 宅經” as its canon. However, in “Dao Zang”
there were many rituals related to Geomancy including burial ritual. Besides,
Geomancy used “Eight houses” means to base on the “Nine Stars” theory of
Taoism. Or for example, the classic reference “Cửu thiên huyền nữ thanh nang hải
giác kinh 九天玄女青囊角海經” of Geomancy was from the fairy reference
“Xuannü” in Taoism. Besides, the model of four symbols (four auspicious beasts)
“Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Turtle” in Geomancy also
originated from Taoism In Taoism, these are four gods to protect four cardinal
directions. In addition, fulu, zhaijiao, chúc chú, etc. are also normal words in
Geomancy: Fulu of Taoism and Phù chấn of Geomancy, bagua mirror of Taoism
and Huyền kinh of Geomancy, etc. have the same origin.
Confucianist venerated Zhouyi 周易, the thought of Yang and Yin, and baguataiji theory were from Zhouyi. Geomancy did not only use the system of good or ill

beliefs for development in accordance with the existing environment. That is
expressed as follows:
In Chinese Geomancy, there are not 24 gods governing 24 layers of earth (24
mountain directions) but only six gods - ten heavenly stem coordinated with six
gods. The documents, such as An Nam cửu long ca 安南九龍歌 (VHv.482), An
Nam cửu long kinh 安南九龍經 (A.1050), Địa lý 地理 (VHv.1048/1), Hồng vũ địa cảo
洪武地稿 (VHv.1594) showed full names of the gods keeping fu and district graves.
At the fu level, there were: Khoai Chau Fu with Mountain God Madam Pham Thi
To keeping grave (worshiping with sweet rice and pork, bấm quyết Dần); Ung
Thien Fu (4 districts) with Madam Pham Thi Huu keeping grave (worshiping with
sweet rice and pork, bấm quyết Tý). At the district level, there were: Kim Dong
District with the mountain god Pham Hung Long keeping grave (worshiping sweet
rice, gold, bấm quyết Tý); Tien Lu District with the mountain god Pham Thi Chuoc
keeping grave (worshiping fish, sweet rice, wine, bấm quyết Hợi); etc.
From the above, it can be recognized that Vietnamese Geomancy expressed
clearly the belief matter of Vietnamese people through the divine system.
Vietnamese Geomancy, in its development process, only received the theorical part
of Chinese Geomancy to apply in the reality of Vietnamese society in accordance
with the culture, spirituality and beliefs of Vietnamese people.
4.1.3. Filial piety spirit of Confucianism
Confucianism used Hiếu kinh 孝經 (Classic of Filial Piety) as basic content to
train filial piety, filial piety includes loyalty or it can be said that loyalty is filial
piety. Disloyal means undutiful, everyone was not only required to be dutiful to
parents but also loyal to the king.

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Filial piety of Confucianism referred to each aspect of family life as a basis for
considering deeply each aspect of the society. Geomancy soon captured these

means seeking ideal ecological environment. Although feng shui mainly assesses
new quality from appearance, however, these appearances are normally result of
general impact of natural geographic factors, such as geology and climate, soil,
vegetation, surface water and underground water in a small environment, thus, it is
very important expressing factors. Trùng đính thiên Nam danh địa has many parts
to mention the living environment (Yang houses), good or bad living environment
has important impacts to the physical and mental develipment of people: “Yang

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houses (houses on ground) are different from lands for Yin houses (graves). Maybe
Yan house mainly seeks advantages in “position”.
Feng shui lands are the places of “star concentration, energy accumulation”,
their natural landscapes have normally “spirit energy accumulated” to show “good
and strong mountain and river” to form a land with beautiful landscape. Therefore,
seeking a beautiful natural environment of people is most clearly shown in feng
shui lands. Many Hán - Nôm Geomancy books, when describing burial grounds of
ancestors, can give assessment from the angle of landscape rather than the angle of
feng shui.
4.2. Application of some Geomancy contents in the cultural and spiritual life
of Vietnamese people
In this item, we focus on introducing 02 matters which are the concepts of good
and ill in Yang house and Yin house in the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese
people.
4.2.1. Concepts of good and ill in Yang house
Over the years, when building a house, people focus on finding convenient
location for the house to get the best environmental conditions overwhelming with
the nature. The viewpoint of selecting main place of residence is a specific
expression of Geomancy thought. In Hoàng Chiêm địa lý cảo 黃瞻地理稿 (A.457),

the northeast direction, in spite of literary mandate, young kids would die. Pagodas
in the northeast direction, it would be easy to be mandate Position first and
direction second is a simple and pure concept of Vietnamese people but they were
positions and directions which were valued by ancestors, they are the directions of
communal temples and pagodas of shared community beliefs and activities.
4.2.1.3. Concepts of road and well
Well has been the important water source in the Vietnamese tradition down to
modern times, thus there are taboos in feng shui. Not locate at the main location of
the house. In Thanh Trì Quang Liệt Chu thị di thư (VHv.2391), there is also the
content as follows: “Phàm các ngọn núi cao và các dòng sông vốn do thiên nhiên
tạo thành, còn nhà cửa, ao hồ và giếng nước do con người tạo ra. Người xem đất rất
lưu ý, đó là tất nhiên. Bởi vì việc đắp đường, đào giếng tuy trong điều dữ lại có sự
lành (tuy hung trung nhi tàng cát dã). Con đường kia được đắp lên và đi lại, tuy có
điều nên kỵ, chẳng hạn kỵ về chỗ nó nhọn đầu như hình cái đinh [đâm thẳng vào
huyệt], hay “lưng nó cong” [lưng cong “phản bội, hay phản bối” đồng âm với sự
“phản bội 反背” [gia chủ] đối với huyệt, hoặc đường bao vòng mang dáng vẻ
“giam tù” ngôi huyệt (chữ “tù 囚” của Hán tự có khung nét bao vây chữ “nhân’ là
người ở giữa).
4.2.2. Concepts of good and ill in Yin house
4.2.2.1. Graves near communal temples, pagodas and shrines
Communal temples, pagodas and shrines in Prayer should be avoided, so what
is the reason? Maybe when a grave expands, its spiritual light converges, physics
and energy mix together, to form this land. And previously, these three factors were
created. So vitality is damaged. Thus, saying that: “Táng nhầm vào huyệt xã miếu,
sau khi táng rồi thì người bị tuyệt”, does it mean to mention such thing? Moreover,
the front is God and the rear is Buddha [Tiền thần hậu Phật 前神後佛], it means to
prove “Not afraid of God and Buddha”. Why dispute for receiving such scourge?
So, taboo is required”.
4.2.2.2. Graves near bridges and towers
Locating graves near bridges or towers down to modern times, considering the

of ancestors for good imperial examinations, good graves, interesting land positions,
etc. helped to be noble mandate, for “bringing honor to ancestors”; or harmony
between people and environmental landscape, people should keep close
relationship with lands, rivers and mountains, to form a new organic system to be
possible to promote potentials of Geomancy. Then, to create Geomancy theory in the
Vietnamese cultural environment on planning environment and land attached to
architectural culture to help readers recognize that scientificality of Geomancy always
developed continuously.
CONCLUSION
Geomancy or “Qingwu Shu”, “Qingniao Shu”, “Yin and Yang”,
“Geography”, “Feng Shui”, etc. is a scientific subject on environmental landscape
architecture which came from the ancient Chinese culture and imported to Vietnam.
However, after importing to Vietnam, Vietnamese people received and modified it in
accordance with the domestic geographical feng shui. After study, the thesis gains the
main results as follows:
1. The thesis studies as well as discusses about Geomancy concept, and introduces
the origin of Geomancy in China which started in Pre-Qin dynasty, developed in Han
dynasty, circulated in Wei, Jin and the Southern and Northern dynasties, spread widely
in Sui - Tang Five Dynasties and prosperous in Ming - Qing dynasties. Basically,

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Geomancy studies in China can be divided into 02 groups which are Hinh The (Loan
dau) and Ly khi.
2. To give overview on import and development process of Vietnamese
Geomancy, after Geomancy imported to Vietnam, it began to develop strongly in
Dinh Tien Hoang dynasty (968 - 980) until Nguyen dynasty (1802 -1945) and the
modern periods later. Vietnamese Geomancy development was based mainly on
great schools such as: Cửu tinh bát môn, Ngũ hành chính thống, Huyền không ngũ

đậu” vermilion stamp for breaking.
4.3. From surveying 46 works with 60 documents, there are 31 works with 37
documents (symbol) with authors’ names (making up 63%). Including 02 Chinese
authors (Gao Pian with 08 works and 02 documents, Huang Fu with 01 work and 01
document), 07 Vietnamese authors (Chu Van An with 01 work and 03 documents, Ta

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Ao with 16 works and 20 documents, Hoa Chinh with 02 works and 02 documents,
Trinh Tung with 01 work and 01 document, Nguyen Linh Nam with 01 work and 01
document, Hoang Dao Duc with 01 work and 01 document, Chan Loc Bao Dai of
Nguyen family with 01 work and 01 document).
4.4. Regarding script, in the total of 46 works with 60 documents, Chinese
characters were used to write the works, 01 works were written in Southern
characters, in addition, Southern characters appeared for poems and some places. A
document was written in 07 words of naming taboo in Revival Lê dynasty and
Nguyen dynasty.
5. From the survey results of Vietnamese Hán - Nôm Geomancy work contents,
the thesis author shows basic contents implied in the works, including: Yin and Yang Wu Xing content, Compass content, Good layers of earth content, contents of graves
and grave defense gods, system of main graves and expanded graves, system of dukemarquess, graduate and wealth graves, Yang house and Yin house matters. Then, to
show basic characteristics of Vietnamese Hán - Nôm Geomancy, such as concepts of
directions, good layers of earth, system of grave defense gods, land positions of wealth,
wealth graves, etc. and clarify cultural and social values as well as beliefs and histories
of some graduate characters in Vietnamese feudal history. After surveying Vietnamese
Geomancy documents, we recognize that in spite of being affected from China, there
were modifications in accordance with Vietnamese climate and spiritual culture. When
comparing Vietnamese Geomany and Chinese one, in spite of similar term, Vietnamese
Geomany has separate contents in accordance with Vietnamese writing culture.
6. Throgh Hán - Nôm Geomancy documents currently kept in the Institute of