• Nestorian Christians were known to stop at Dun Huang. Nestorian Christians were also found in Gao Chang, the ancient city much further to the west near Turpan, almost at the western border of China.

  These Nestorian Christians were famous for their Western type astrology. It is inconceivable that their astrology was not practised where they went in ancient China. As they arrived into China during the Tang dynasty, they were likely linked to the sudden emergence of Zi Wei Dou Shu astrology during the Tang dynasty.

  NB: The nature of the "flight of the 9 stars" in the Dun Huang document indicates errors in certain aspects of modern Tai Yi Shen Shu calculations as well as the Xuan Kong usage of the 9 stars.

As noted in the previous article, Lao Zi and the 8 Immortals were Jews or Christians adept in the Kabbalic philosophy. The "72 Talismans" of Tai Shang Lao Jun are based on the 9 stars of the Bei Dou. Likewise, the magic dance of the Eight Immortal is also based on the 9 stars of the Bei Dou. All these involve the magic square of 9. The Jew Lao Zi and Nestorian Christians knew of the "Sigil of Saturn" which was the likely precursor of the Luo Shu magic square of 9.

16 Sections Designs Along Silk Road

The discussion on the magic square of 9 should alert readers to that the 16 sections chart of the Tai Yi Shen Shu divination, through the 8 trigrams of the magic square of 9, is related to the Bei Dou. In fact, a host of Taoist symbolism is based on the Bei Dou.

• The Dun Huang monastery not only has the most ancient text on the "flight of the 9 stars". The author saw in a number of caves several motifs with the 16 sections.

It was along the Silk Road, when we visited the tomb of King Hui in Hami, that we came across a startling circle symbol with the 16 sections. This circle symbol was a mandala design placed behind the royal throne of the ancient Uygur kings of Sinkiang. This looks strange as the Uygur kings were Muslims.

16 sections mandala behind Uyghur throne .

Previous to this, we had visited the Hu Zhu Ti settlement, where we watched a dance on a round cemented floor. What is surprising is that on the cement floor was engraved a circle with 16 segments.

16 sections mandala on cement dance floor, Hu Zhu Ti settlement. The main part of the HuZhu house, where elder members of the family live, faces south towards the courtyard gate. The lotus features in many of their songs. They worshipped the Dou Goddess and the Qingtian God.

Then, later, also along the Silk Road, we encountered this 16 section mandala in the Turpan museum dedicated to the "Journey to the West" involving the Monkey God and his Taoist priest master. This 16 sections mandala was associated with Tai Shang Lao Jun, whose figure was displayed in the museum.

16 sections mandala, at Monkey God Museum, Turpan

In the Turpan museum of the Water Conservancy Project we also came across an antique stone whorl with the 16 rays.

The 16 sections design appears to abound in the Turpan region of the Silk Road, right to the western border of China. It looks like that the original form of Tai Yi Shen Shu divination was in existence in the Turpan region of the Silk Road.

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Bei Dou is central in Chinese astrology. In ancient cultures, Bei Dou was called the Lotus, Swastika, Whorl, Wheel and even Cross, which were invariably cast as major regulators of Destiny. This indicates ancient knowledge that major astrological energies channel through the polar regions. MacKenzie (1926 page xii to xv) writes that the ancient cultures were aware of this origin of the swastika and cross from Ursa Major the Big Bear:

• Symbols like the spiral and swastika can be traced either to their periods or areas of origins. The first mentioned is undoubtedly of greatest antiquity. Its introduction and diffusion in Paleolithic times appears to have been directly due to the magico-religious use of whorled shells. The Greek and Latin word "helix", applied to the snail-shell, to coiled wire, to the external part of the ear and to a species of ivy which grows in spiral form, and the Latin "helice" which signified "a winding", and was also applied to the "Great Bear" (Ursa Major) constellation, emphasize of themselves how complex the inherited and widely-diffused spiral symbolism formerly was.
  ... in China, we find the spiral as a symbol of the sun and moon and intimately associated with the "Great Bear" (Ursa Major) constellation, the ancient Chinese "chariot" of the chief god of the Universe [Shang Ti]. Like the whirlwind and the "makara", this stellar "chariot" was a "carrier" of a deity...
  The swastika, which was associated with the spiral in many areas, appears, as is shown, to have been introduced some times after the discovery of agriculture and the fixing of the cardinal points. Its development from the equal-limbed cross of the early mariners ... apparently took place when it was discovered that the revolving "Great Bear" constellation indicates the seasons, pointing, with its "tail", eastward in spring, southward in summer, westward in autumn and northward in winter.
  As a cross of the cardinal points, the swastika appears to have been originally a symbol of the world under the guardianship and control of the season-ruling gods of the four cardinal points... the swastika was used at Troy sometimes as a symbol of the four gods of the cardinal points, sometimes as a symbol of one of these gods, and sometimes as a symbol of the sun as ruler of all the gods... Not the least interesting of the surviving swastika symbols is the Navaho (Red Indian) "whirling logs" - an equal-limbed cross, with gods perched on each point, giving it a swastika form. The cross is kept revolving in a "whirlpool lake" which is situated in the north - the north of the sky. The spiral and swastika were apparently definitely connected with the revolving "Great Bear" (Ursa Major) constellation in the New World as well as the Old....
  ...Owing to the persistence and cultural influence of spiral symbolism.."twisted trees" and those plants that during growth climb supports in spiral fashion, became sacred to agriculturists, and horticulturists. The arbitrary association of sacred, milk-yielding cult animals with sacred trees, was affected after it has been found that the fig and other trees yield a milk-like fluid. Evidence is provided in this connection to show why the sacred milk-yielding tree was ultimately placed in the Paradise of the "sky world". Trees that, like the vine, yield a watery fluid - "water of life" - were likewise invested with sanctity, and so were "fire-yielding" trees, the twigs of which were used to produce what is referred to in Gaelic as "friction fire."

The ancient traditions show that Ursa Major the Big Bear is the key to the mysterious sacred and profound meanings of related symbols like the lotus, cross, swastika, spiral and "tree of life", as well as the "river of waters or milk"!

Xue Xin Fu, Snow Heart, shows that the ancient Feng Shui of the Ming Tang and its associated astrology were based on the lotus:

• Heavily wrap up in red lotus petal, cave is in the flower heart. One after another (all) bowing down and guarding Zi Wei Yuan (Purple Star city), staying lofty at king seat. Xue Xin Fu 55-56

Thus, the 16 sections chart of Tai Yi Shen Shu has a likely Jewish or Hebrew Kabbalic origin.

Afterthought:

The lotus is the key to the 16 points mandalas in the ancient cultures all over the world. Obviously, the 8 points aspects of the Chinese geomancy should have alerted to the 16 points lotus key. The 8 points form a major part of the Xuan Kong Feng Shui calculations. Perhaps, it is not fully realised that Xuan Kong Feng Shui is based on the same lotus theme as Tai Yi Shen Shu, as reflected in the opening verses of the Xuan Kong song below:

• So many stars in the sky, Center part is the Main Chamber to use.
  The Lily with Thousand Petals, Root starts from a Tiny Drop.
  Xuan Kong Mi Zi 5-6

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Part 1. Historical Origins

UREKA! We would like to announce that our scientific research has finally discovered the astronomical bodies and movements responsible for the 3, 24, 72 and 360 years cycles in Tai Yi Shen Shu. The findings extend beyond our previous establishment of the astronomical basis of the Ganzhi system with its 10 tiangan and 12 dizhi signs, the 180 years San Yuan periodicity with its 20 years "9 Yuns", and the over 100 stars of Zi Wei Dou Shu. Our knowledge of the astronomy of the Chinese astrology systems is now quite comprehensive.

These astronomical basis underlies not only the Chinese geomancy, but even those in Western and Hindu astrology. The Western, Hindu and Chinese astrology systems are all the same, even as we previously reported some time ago (www.guiculture.com/fs08asindwestchin.htm).

Practitioners, even so-called masters, should realise that their lack of comprehension of the astronomical basis of their Chinese geomancy makes their understanding only so so. Their knowledge has stagnated, making them somewhat out of date. These great astonishing findings will be taught to students of our science oriented courses. Knowledge of the astronomical basis will enable formulations of proper scientific cures for astrology problems - no hocus pocus superstitious treatments.

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