Day 4 - Meeting the 'Sleeping' Guan Yin
Last update: 24 August 2011 2:03PM (GMT+08:00)
Reported by Chan Chi Tim.

The air was hot this morning when we set out from our hotel, with a temperature that could go as high as 35-degrees. Well, on the bright side - pun unintended - it is better a hot, clear day than a gloomy, rainy one, as Joey and the Taiwan Excursion participants headed out to see more formations and sights.

Banqiao District, the first stop of Day 4's agenda, is located in the city seat of New Taipei City in northern Taiwan, a city with the third highest population density in the country. It is also home to the famous Banqiao Lin Family 板橋林家 or Lin Ben Yuan 林本源, a family of business people, politicians and scholars, who rose to success during the Qing Dynasty era and are still active in present-day Taiwan.

Joey led the participants to the Lin Family Mansion and Garden, a former residence of the Lin Family built in 1847. It is currently Taiwan's most complete and well-preserved historical site with traditional Chinese garden architecture, which occupies a surface area of 20,000 m².

During the audit, Joey showed the participants how to apply the Xuan Kong "Sheng Wang Jue" 生旺訣 method (this was taught in the Xuan Kong Modules 2B and 2C courses) to determine the prosperity of the mansion. A Jade Belt water formation was identified, along with the unique Fairy Hand water formation, which made the mansion prosperous. This really excites the participants - so excited in fact, that they began taking pictures of Joey's Xuan Kong chart when he showed them, as if the important formula appeared there!

Next, the entourage jumped back on the bus and journeyed down to visit the Lin Yun Buddhist Temple 觀音山 and Older Lin Yun Temple, both located at Guan Yin Mountain 凌雲禪寺, a prominent landmark and extinct volcanowith eighteen mountains all connected together, on the west of Taipei City. The mountain range was named so due to its outline which resembles a sleeping Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin.

What Participants Say About the 2011 Taiwan Excursion:

Joey led everyone through the breathtaking scenic routes as they head towards the first temple. Lin Yun Buddhist Temple is one of the four holiest Buddhist temples in Taiwan and thus, it was a sight to behold to witness many people from around the world making their pilgrimage there.The old Lin Yun Buddhist Temple sits on top of the hill, shadowing the new temple that lies below it. It was noted that the old temple faces Zi 子(Rat), with strong Qi and a high shoulder at Ear level. This is not favorable for the new temple as the Qi is rushing in at this location.

Joey asked a few participants of their findings and urged all to identify the formations and not simply describe the basic landform like embrace and Table Mountain. At the new temple, they identified the Flying Goose formation with a rocky Tang Lang. This denotes a temple conducive for spiritual training. Joey mentioned that the temple is seated on the Main Mountain, which is too close. Looking at the Table Mountain, the spot looks to be on the lower part of the mountain.

Walking down to the lower part of the mountain led them to the old Guan Yin Temple. Joey pointed out the Table Mountain which has the shape reflecting the Main Mountain. He also showed the participants the Heavenly Gate and Earthly Door, which are supreme formations for a spiritual site. The temple was built on a Meridian Hill, which is of the same height as the Table Mountain.

Before heading to the Wugu Public Cemetery 五股第一公墓 for more lessons, the entourage stopped by the Baguio Villa for lunch. This is one popular restaurant to savor local dishes at the Guan Yin Mountain area. Without a doubt, the food was good, especially the white bitter gourd soup.

After a satisfying lunch, Joey and the participants visited the tomb of Wang Yong Qing's grandfather at Wugu Public Cemetery. Yesterday, they had assessed the tomb that belonged to Wang's father located at the Yangmingshan No. 1 Public Cemetery. So the lesson continued here.

The journey to the grandfather's tomb was rather challenging. They had to trek through a steep slope down to reach it. The moment they arrived, the participants were immediately drawn to the huge Bright Hall. Four rivers merged in front of the tomb, where Qi gathers. The tomb sits on the Lion Head, an excellent site for a burial spot. It faces the Southeast direction with incoming dragon with the Five Elements, which dispense supreme Qi. From a Feng Shui perspective, this is indeed a supreme land.

The following tomb they visited belonged to Lee Zhu Sou 李祖壽, the successful matchstick manufacturer, Xing Hua. He was once called the "God of the Share Market" at one point because in 1989, Xing Hua shares shot high at NTD1,175. However, the demand for matchsticks slowed down and Lee switched to property development and the share market, which proved to be rather unsuccessful. Today, the company's shares are only value at NTD10. And to think that the company used to produced 2/3 of Taiwan's matchsticks! After his demise, the business was passed down to his son, Lee Tai Xiong.

Long Jin Palace Memorial 八里龍晉殿寶塔 is the final resting place for Hong JianQuan 洪健全, Taiwan's sole distributor for Panasonic. The site is set against the Direct and Indirect Spirits, a clash. It was also noted that the water mouth or exit water at Gui position, using the God Deity to guard the water mouth. This denotes that Hong Yu Jun's descendants are more involved in the arts instead of the electronics industry.

What Participants Say About the 2011 Taiwan Excursion:

Joey pointed out the Water Mountain incoming vein, and the vein incoming from Shen (Shen-Zi-Chen, water) tomb facing a Table Mountain with Water Star and Literary Arts Hexagram on Xuan Kong Da Gua, and hence, creating descendants (Hong's grandchildren) that are artistic.

They moved on to visit the tomb of Zhang Wen Ji 张文杞, the founder and first chairman of Hey Song Corporation, a carbonated beverage manufacturer, which is located just above Hong's tomb. The company listed in 1999 but business was not successful after that. Its factory was eventually turned into the Wei Feng Shopping Mall. In 2010, the Zhang family endured political struggles with shareholders of the company.

Joey showed the participants how the tomb was set up using Xuan Kong Da Gua, and how the Earth Deity is positioned to lock the water mouth using this technique. The participants were amazed upon seeing the Jade Ruler Table Mountain, and the even more fascinating Big Elephant Leading the Small Elephant formation. What a delightful sight! The formation really looked like an elephant, especially the Small Elephant Mountain. Amazing!

After a long day, the entourage settled in at the Haiyan Restaurant for dinner. They also took a stroll at the harbor at Dan Shui to enjoy the sunset and reflected on the day's lessons.

"Seeing the four huge rivers converging at the External Bright Hall is the highlight of the day to me. Simply awesome!" said participant Anni Lien Tia Chua, still reeling from that moment at Wugu Public Cemetery.

Connie Sanchez Diaz had a different preference. "I love the visit at Guan Yin Mountain today. The Flying Goose formation really impresses me. Every landform is unique and serves a different purpose."

Long-time Feng Shui Excursion fan, Helen Weber said, "This is my fifth trip on an excursion with Joey. Taiwan is the best one as there were many important mountains, tombs and fantastic formations found within the Taipei City without having to travel far."

As this was already the fourth day of the Excursion, many of the participants opted to head back to the hotel after dinner for an early night's rest. For the others, the night just began and they explored the night markets in Danshui and Shilin Districts.