As the stunning sunset of Leifeng cast its glow over the banks of West Lake, in a private room at the renowned restaurant, Lou Wai Lou, in Hangzhou, an energetic old man raised a toast to Zha Wenbin, a middle-aged man dressed in a white robe. Beside them sat a plump man with large tortoiseshell glasses and a slightly balding head, Professor Wang.
"I've heard so much from Professor Wang about your incredible abilities, and I've always wanted to see your true self. Today, here in front of you, I believe you truly embody the essence of a celestial being. Let me raise a glass to you, revered one," said Mr. He. He downed a fine wine he had brought and looked at Zha Wenbin, signaling that he had finished his drink.
Zha Wenbin performed a respectful bow and smiled at Professor Wang. "Mr. He, you flatter me. I'm just a novice and wouldn't dare to show off in front of someone as distinguished as you. This cup should be a toast from me to you." With that, he drained his glass and wiped his mouth, exclaiming, "What a delightful wine!"
Mr. He sat down with a smile, encouraging everyone to eat. Professor Wang picked up a piece of a water shield plant and grinned at Zha Wenbin. "Wenbin, I have to say, I'm really enjoying your presence today. Do you know the story behind this wine?"
Zha Wenbin shook his head, glancing at the smiling faces around him. "Is this wine not an ordinary one?"
Professor Wang burst into laughter, setting down his chopsticks. He began recounting an archaeological adventure from years ago. "It was said that an ancient Han dynasty tomb in Guizhou had been robbed, and Mr. He led an emergency excavation team. The site was already in disarray, but they found numerous sealed jars in a chamber, completely shrouded in soil. They managed to move over a hundred large jars that were to be sent to the museum for cleaning. However, during transport, one jar broke, releasing a fragrant aroma that caused several people lacking in alcohol tolerance to get tipsy on the spot. Mr. He dipped a finger in, tasted it, and discovered, to his amazement, that this was no ordinary jar—it contained wine! That evening, back at the museum, they carefully opened another sealed jar, and the aromatic fragrance filled the entire room. Not just drinking it, but even inhaling it was intoxicating. This wine dated back 2,000 years, and through technical analysis, it was found that most jars contained less than a third of their liquid, considered pure nectar of the highest quality.
Eventually, the government collected this wine, and perhaps some important figures had the honor of tasting it. However, Mr. He, who loved wine, secretly kept a jar. During an inventory, they discovered one of the jars was missing. Investigations failed to find it, leading to Mr. He being charged with dereliction of duty and demoted to a relatively low position as a museum administrator in Zhejiang.
He had never dared to taste even a drop of this 2,000-year-old wine, fearing it would draw too much attention. But today, with Zha Wenbin's visit, he bravely brought out this national treasure as a sign of respect for Zha Wenbin.
Listening to this tale, Zha Wenbin looked astonished at the cup in his hand. Mr. He insisted on pouring another drink, and Zha Wenbin reluctantly complied. After two cups, the trio, typically quite tolerant of alcohol, found themselves drunkenly slumped at the table. The restaurant staff didn't notice until closing time, underscoring the potency of this wine.
By midday the next day, the three gradually woke up in their hotel room, savoring the memories of last night's banquet while praising the wine's strength. Once they cleaned up, they headed to Mr. He's home.
Mr. He was not just an archaeologist; he was also a metaphysician. Upon arriving at his house, Zha Wenbin noticed the layout was designed according to the principles of I Ching and Feng Shui, further deepening his respect for Mr. He.
Their conversation shifted back to ancient scripts. Mr. He pulled out a hand-drawn manuscript and pointed at the symbols, explaining that these were likely the writings of the ancient Miao people, chronicling a mysterious book. However, the manuscript didn't indicate where this book was located.
Zha Wenbin inquired if they had found any unusual Taoist relics elsewhere. Mr. He shook his head. "These kinds of artifacts are beyond laypeople's understanding. Even if found, they might be mistaken for ordinary antiques. The complexity of Chinese religions makes it difficult, and the Cultural Revolution destroyed far too many items. Many ancestral legacies have nearly vanished in our generation. To find this book, we'll need to rely on fate."
Professor Wang suggested checking the museum's archives to see if similar texts had appeared. Mr. He nodded in agreement.
During those days, Zha Wenbin stayed at Mr. He's home, much to Mr. He's delight, as it was just him and his wife living there; his children had all grown up and started their own families. With Zha Wenbin around, the ambiance of the house felt livelier. Each night, they engaged in discussions about Taoist history. Professor Wang visited regularly after work, and the three enjoyed delightful conversations, while Madam Wang prepared local dishes for them to savor with their drinks.
These relaxed days went on for a week. Madam Wang's surname was Wang. She had seven siblings and was fifth in line, now sixty-five years old. Generally healthy and seeming well, just a week after Zha Wenbin arrived, news came that Madam Wang's father had passed away.
Her father was ninety years old, so his death was expected. Following this, Mr. He took Madam Wang back to her hometown to mourn. Zha Wenbin, having enjoyed their hospitality for a week, felt it was only right to accompany them to make a small offering to the elderly gentleman as a gesture of gratitude to Mr. He.
Professor Wang joined as well, considering Mr. He a friend. The four set off that day to a small town in western Zhejiang. Madam Wang's hometown was in the mountains, a small village with barely a hundred households. When they arrived at Mr. Wang's home, Madam Wang was nearly faint with grief, clutching her father's corpse and wailing loudly. In rural areas, when an elder passes away, the louder the children cry, the more they are seen as filial. As Madam Wang sobbed heart-wrenchingly, the surrounding community joined in mourning.
Mr. He lit incense and burned paper money before introducing Zha Wenbin to his nephew, saying, "This is a Daoist priest who has come to offer his services." Wang Xin, Mr. Wang's nephew, was thrilled at the arrival of a Daoist, as the family was just preparing to invite one for the ceremonies. Naturally, they treated Zha Wenbin with extra courtesy, offering him cigarettes and tea, and inviting him to conduct a small ceremony. Zha Wenbin nodded and turned to the side room to change his clothes before re-emerging.
The visitors, seeing such a youthful and distinguished Daoist, were immediately captivated. In the village, when there was a death, the invited Daoists were typically old, so they wondered if this young priest truly knew what he was doing.
Zha Wenbin remained silent. He asked for Mr. Wang's birth date and consulted some zodiac signs, warning those with matching signs not to stay about, lest they create disturbances. He then asked for common items like yellow paper and incense to perform the ceremony.
The climax of this ceremony was, naturally, the "Crossing the Immortal Bridge." This was a significant event. Zha Wenbin went through the rituals without a hitch, facing no unexpected incidents. He checked the burial plot that Mr. Wang had prepared for himself during his lifetime, securing that everything was in order, and provided Wang Xin with a list.
What was this list? It indicated the dates for the "Seven" ceremonies, or "Zhaiqi," where rituals are held in the first seven days after a person's death (or after the funeral) to set up a memorial and offer sacrifices each day, ultimately continuing over forty-nine days until concluding on the seventh "Zhaiqi."
The offerings for these rituals must be in even numbers because odd numbers represent Yang, while even numbers represent Yin. When inviting guests, it's best to order odd numbers.
Zha Wenbin calculated the dates for these Zhaiqi, wrote down the names of those involved, and posted this on the wall of Mr. Wang's living room. After completing these arrangements and once Mr. Wang was buried, the group returned to the provincial capital, agreeing to come back together for the first "Seven" ritual.
The seventh day after death, commonly known as the first "Seven" or Night of the Returning Soul, signifies that the deceased may have unfinished business. It is said that the spirits escort the departed back to meet their living relatives or bring along new friends they meet in the afterlife. The living relatives set up a banquet for the deceased to entertain their guests. However, it is crucial to remember: anything yellow must be put away because yellow represents the divine. If the spirits see anything yellow, they won't dare return.
Many have seen Stephen Chow's movie "Night of the Returning Soul," which tells the story of this night.
Although the Night of the Returning Soul may seem eerie in folk legends, Zha Wenbin viewed it as merely a ceremonial procedure. However, little did he know this first "Seven" would create quite a stir.
Seven days later, Mr. He took Zha Wenbin and Madam Wang back to the hometown. Following prior arrangements, they set up a memorial and offerings in the main room of Mr. Wang's house, with a framed photograph in the center. Madam Wang still had her elderly mother, known as Grandma Li.
That afternoon, everyone gathered to eat, and everything seemed quite normal. Mr. Wang's house was a two-story building, with a staircase leading directly to the upper floor in the main room. According to their pre-arrangement, once night fell, they would begin the ceremony. At midnight, Zha Wenbin would lead Wang Xin outside to call Mr. Wang back inside, while everyone else would hide upstairs and turn off the lights, waiting for a signal from Zha Wenbin to turn them back on.
As night fell, everyone had dinner. Mr. Wang's family was lively, with around thirty children and grandchildren. Although the deceased couldn't return, Mr. Wang had lived a long life, so everyone could accept it. Only Grandma Li felt a bit sad, as she had lived together with him for seventy years—she found it hard to let go.
Zha Wenbin naturally followed the established procedure. First, he placed a guiding talisman on the front door because if Mr. Wang really returned, he might not find his way home. He specifically instructed the spirit messengers that this was the destination. Mr. Wang's children and grandchildren gathered around his memorial and photograph, quickly burning paper offerings and incense. Once they finished, they sat together chatting, just waiting for the appointed time.
As midnight approached, Zha Wenbin carried a lantern and walked with Wang Xin to the front of Mr. Wang's house, preparing for the welcoming ceremony. At the entrance, he ceremoniously burned a bit of spirit money as a kind of red envelope for the spirit messengers. There wasn't much light around them, but about a hundred meters away, Mr. Wang's house went dark as scheduled.
Even though the deceased was Wang Xin's grandfather, the atmosphere made him a bit fearful. He stood closely beside Zha Wenbin, not daring to speak loudly. The villagers all knew tonight was the first "Seven," so households turned off their lights. The men who enjoyed hunting or playing cards went to bed early, and even the playful children were too afraid to venture outside, as adults urged them not to disturb the spirits. The night was so quiet that even the barking of dogs could not be heard; it was pitch black, and besides the red lantern in Zha Wenbin's hand, the only lights in the village were the flickering candles in front of Mr. Wang's memorial.
Zha Wenbin remained silent, closing his eyes to sense his surroundings. At that moment, keeping his eyes closed felt no different from opening them. Suddenly, the anti-evil bell in his hand rang with a clear "ding-dong." This was the signal that Mr. Wang had returned. Wang Xin was so terrified that he didn't know whether to run or stay, so he clutched tightly onto Zha Wenbin's clothing, probably thinking he never wanted to take on this responsibility again.
Zha Wenbin turned around, facing Mr. Wang's house, and lifted the lantern, ringing the bell every ten meters while chanting spells to guide the spirits, indicating they had arrived and needed to hurry inside.
As they walked about fifty meters from Mr. Wang's home, both Zha Wenbin and Wang Xin faintly heard crying. Despite the distance being considerable, it was clear that the mournful voice belonged to Grandma Li, Mr. Wang's grieving widow. Was she still not upstairs?
Zha Wenbin furrowed his brows and quickened his pace, wanting to remind them to go upstairs, but he couldn't shout here. If he startled the spirits, they might wander into someone else's home, leading to serious trouble.
Meanwhile, as soon as Zha Wenbin and Wang Xin left, everyone else turned off their lights and went upstairs obediently. They squeezed into one room, trying not to make a sound. Madam Wang, worried that her mother, Grandma Li, might feel suffocated, instructed her to sit by the window. Once they called for Grandma Li, they realized she wasn't there at all, sending everyone into a panic. They rushed downstairs, and sure enough, they could hear Grandma Li crying in front of the memorial: "My old man, if you come back tonight, please take me with you! How can I live alone? I'm here waiting for you…"
Grandma Li's sorrowful weeping sent chills down their spines. Upon seeing her distress, Madam Wang hurried downstairs to pull her up, but Grandma Li, perhaps overwhelmed by grief or stubborn in her resolve to see Mr. Wang again, clung fiercely to the table leg, refusing to let go. Despite Madam Wang's efforts to pull her away and comfort her, the old lady remained unmoved.
Upstairs, upon seeing that Zha Wenbin was about to reach the front door, someone yelled down, "Hurry up! He's coming in soon! What are you doing down there?"
That shout startled everyone down below and even Zha Wenbin, who heard it clearly. When he was less than five meters from the front door, he still heard the crying. He couldn't help but shout, "Everyone upstairs, quickly!"
His shout made Grandma Li loosen her grip. The moment she let go, Madam Wang dragged her up the stairs. Mr. He met them at the staircase, helping Grandma Li up. Just as Madam Wang stepped onto the stairs, everyone felt a cold gust of wind pass by. Then, with a loud thud, Madam Wang fell stiff against the ground in front of the memorial. Zha Wenbin heard it and instantly understood what had happened, shouting, "This is bad!" He swiftly pulled out the Maoshan seal and, without thinking, placed it on the table where the offerings were set, hoping to keep the spirits at bay. He then yelled, "Turn on the lights! Everyone come down!"
The blinding ceiling light illuminated the memorial room, revealing Madam Wang with wide eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling, devoid of consciousness.
At that moment, everyone held their breath, especially Grandma Li, who felt guilty for causing her daughter's misfortune. Naturally, her face turned pale, and Mr. He suddenly knelt before Zha Wenbin, pleading, "Wenbin, you must save her!"
Zha Wenbin calculated something, tossing a soul-fixing talisman into the air. Instead of falling like usual, this talisman floated directly toward the door.
Zha Wenbin shook his head helplessly, saying, "Hurry and take her to the hospital! It's probably too late for this!" Before long, an ambulance arrived. Thanks to Mr. He's connections in the provincial capital, they sent the best doctors available. Two hours later, the doctor informed the family that Madam Wang had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and the success rate of surgery was less than one percent, suggesting they prepare for the worst.
They deliberated whether to proceed with surgery, concluding it would likely be pointless, merely prolonging her suffering. They resigned themselves to fate. Mr. He could hardly bear the heartbreak of losing his partner and fainted, requiring immediate assistance in the adjacent emergency room.
Professor Wang also arrived, seeing Zha Wenbin there, and asked him what had happened. Zha Wenbin remained silent, but he knew too well what was unfolding in his heart.
On the Night of the Returning Soul, the spirit returning is typically one that has already consumed Meng Po's soup, primarily escorted by spirit messengers to fulfill a formality. They worry that souls with strong lingering wishes in life might resist forgetting their pasts, which is why they accompany them on this journey. Those who remain capable of recalling their lives after drinking Meng Po's soup usually do not repay their debts, often becoming resentful spirits, fitting the commonly spoken term of evil ghosts. The underworld does maintain slight humanity, ensuring that these resentful spirits do not get trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. Thus, the first "Seven" ceremonies were performed.
Mr. Wang was elderly, nearing the end of his natural life, so he shouldn't have carried lingering grievances, and even if he didn't remember this being his own home, he wouldn't take his daughter down with him. Unfortunately, actions were too swift; even with Zha Wenbin summoning the great seal, there wasn't time to prevent it. Zha Wenbin pondered deeply: Would he demand more souls next time he entered the Underworld? Having suffered the pain of losing a daughter, he wouldn't do such a thing again. Humans have their own rules, and so do ghosts. The natural order is such that defying it leads to unforeseen consequences.
Three days later, Madam Wang's heart stopped beating. In the city, it was inconvenient to perform any rituals. Though Mr. He was a scholar, he adored his wife and begged Zha Wenbin to help her transition properly.
Madam Wang's body was taken to the funeral home, appearing peaceful, as if merely sleeping. Zha Wenbin felt grateful toward this family. A Daoist not only expels evil but more often guides souls. According to him, Madam Wang's spirit had already been escorted away that night without leaving a trace behind; what remained was merely a shell.
Perhaps reluctant to depart easily, Madam Wang's body seemed to endure for three days, waiting for her son, He Yichao, to return from the northwest. He Yichao, having followed in his father's footsteps, engaged in archaeological work and had been stationed in the field for years. When he received the telegram about his mother's critical condition, he rushed back without changing his clothes, taking the train from the far northwest. As soon as he entered the ward and called out, "Mom!" the heart monitor went flat.
In the funeral home, the space was tight. There was no way to perform the "Crossing the Immortal Bridge" ritual. Considering the sentiments of Mr. He's family and the grief-stricken Yichao, Zha Wenbin, familiar with life and death, felt a touch of sorrow himself.
Zha Wenbin selected the finest materials for the rituals, chanting spells with dedication, hoping that Madam Wang could attain a good rebirth after death. According to his calculations, Madam Wang's Night of the Returning Soul would be in four days, and he wondered if she would return to take a look. If she did, Zha Wenbin planned to directly ask what had happened, as she had undoubtedly died in vain and must hold some grievances.
After collecting her ashes, Mr. He listened to Zha Wenbin's counsel and chose not to bury Madam Wang in the cemetery but rather in a feng-shui gem plot in their hometown. For days, Mr. He remained at Mr. Wang's house. After losing both her husband and daughter, Grandma Li was likely grieving deeply, consumed with guilt, which led her to stay with her daughter, now caught in this tragedy. Leaving only Wang Xin's family in Mr. Wang's house, it felt spacious yet eerily empty without the presence of the deceased.
Zha Wenbin decided to stay in the village for a bit longer. Something still felt strange, and he couldn't pinpoint what was amiss. Even after consulting divination, he couldn't decipher the issue. So, he opted to observe for a few days.
Mr. He couldn't endure the turmoil either, and the museum granted him an extended leave. Shortly after the funeral, He Yichao hurried back to the northwest, leaving Mr. He alone. He decided to stay with Zha Wenbin, as they had ample space in Mr. Wang's large house, selecting two rooms for their stay.
As the first "Seven" neared—the fourth day after Madam Wang's death—Zha Wenbin planned not to carry out the usual "Seven" rituals. Instead, he intended to intercept spirits, specifically confronting the spirit messengers accompanying them.
That night, Zha Wenbin shared a few drinks with Mr. He and instructed him to go to bed early. He advised Mr. He to sleep soundly and not to speak or venture outside. Afterward, he gathered his belongings and stepped out.
This time, instead of heading to the village entrance as before, he went directly to Madam Wang's burial site.
The hill Zha Wenbin climbed was across from the village, where Madam Wang was laid to rest on the ridge. Though not prominent feng-shui, it was far from ordinary. This site was the one Zha Wenbin had noticed on his first visit to the village.
Historically, people selected burial sites based on their wealth, often seeking dragon veins. However, true dragon veins are scarce in China. The authentic dragon veins originate from the Kunlun Mountains in the northwest, spreading southeast with three main branches. The northern branch enters Shanxi province from the Yin and Helan Mountains, ends in Taiyuan, and crosses the sea; the central branch goes into the Qin Mountains, reaching the sea; while the southern branch traverses Yunnan, Hunan, and concludes in Fujian and Zhejiang. Each main vein has its primary and secondary branches. When surveying feng-shui, recognizing the flow of these dragon veins is critical.
The true dragon vein of China starts from Kunlun Mountain. On its northwest side lies Tianshan, Qilian, and Yinshan Mountain ranges. To the north, the Altai Mountains accompany the Helan, Greater and Lesser Khingan, and Changbai ranges. Southeast of Kunlun are the Tangula mountains, Himalayas, and Hengduan Mountains. The main dragon vein from Kunlun elegantly stretches eastward, settling in Xi'an (the ancient capital of Chang'an) in Shaanxi province, then spreading across the Central Plains (Henan), with branches extending north, south, east, and west.
Chinese history has seen at least twenty-four dynasties emerge. If considering one dragon vein for each dynasty, there would be at least twenty-four in total:
- The Yellow Emperor's dragon vein in the Central Plains and Yellow River basin;
- Yu the Great's dragon vein around the Songshan Mountains in the Yellow River basin;
- The Shang dynasty's dragon vein in the Yellow River basin;
- Zhou dynasty's dragon vein at Qishan;
- Qin dynasty's dragon vein in Xianyang;
- Han dynasty's dragon vein in Fengxian;
- Western Jin dynasty's dragon vein in He'nan;
- Sui dynasty's dragon vein in Hongnong;
- Tang dynasty's dragon vein from Chang'an and Longxi to Taiyuan;
- Song dynasty's dragon vein in Kaifeng, Gongyi, and Luoyang;
- Yuan dynasty's dragon vein in the Inner Mongolian grasslands;
- Ming dynasty's dragon vein in Fengyang, Anhui;
- Qing dynasty's dragon vein in Northeast China.
Of course, these are broad estimates; pinpointing the specific locations of these veins is challenging, as dragon movements are unpredictable and most veins depend on surrounding lands and waters.
Generally, suitable burial spots are not necessarily true dragon veins. For ordinary people buried beneath them, there's unlikely to be any benefit. The true essence of a dragon could easily overwhelm commoners. While they may not achieve reincarnation, the worst outcome could be total annihilation.
Such treasures, accumulated over millennia, were frequently chosen by various populations, leading to the formation of tomb mountains—areas revered as prime feng shui spots.
Feng Shui classifies meandering mountains as dragon veins. The ancient practice of "Feng Shui" primarily emphasizes "The Five Essentials of Geography," which are dragon, burial site, sand, water, and orientation. Activities entail seeking the dragon, evaluating the sand, observing the water, identifying burial sites, and determining orientation. The dragon symbolizes the contours of mountains; the earth represents the dragon's flesh, stone signifies the dragon's bones, and grass and trees embody the dragon's hair. To seek the dragon, one must first identify the ancestral mountains, discern energic routes, and separate Yin from Yang. The ancestral mountain refers to the origin of the mountain range; the parental mountains refer to the entry point. Discerning energic routes means evaluating whether the mountain ranges flow correctly and whether the peaks indicate auspiciousness; otherwise, ill fortune may follow.
Dragon veins, symbolized by grace and elegance, are defined by the movement and directional flow of energic routes, hence the distinction in Feng Shui.
Here's the edited version of the text you provided about feng shui dragon veins, following your editing requirements:
The ancient manual "Kanyu Manxing" drops some serious knowledge about hunting down dragon veins in the landscape. It says you've got to have a sharp eye to tell the difference between a true dragon formation and the mountains that surround it.
Here's the deal: a legit dragon formation needs plenty of surrounding features to protect it. The more protection it has, the more prosperity it brings. But be careful—if you place a burial site under those protective mountains instead of the actual dragon vein itself, you're asking for trouble. You'll miss out on the dragon's power and end up with some seriously bad luck.
So how do you spot the real thing? You need to check where the water flows from, scope out the natural altars, look for dragon-phoenix patterns in the landscape, and pinpoint the perfect burial spot. A good dragon formation should look elegant and full of life—picture graceful slopes stretching east to west with a kind of hidden magic to them.
The feng shui masters put it this way: the best dragons leap like fish and soar like kites. Drop a grave there, and you're setting your family up for generations of good fortune. But if the formation looks rough, sluggish, or like a dead fish floating belly-up? Stay away—burying anyone there is basically cursing your descendants.
Feng shui experts have created a whole classification system for dragon types. They talk about strong dragons, weak dragons, fat dragons, skinny dragons, lucky dragons, evil dragons, advancing dragons, retreating dragons, sick dragons, disaster dragons, killer dragons, real dragons, fake dragons, noble dragons, and common dragons. But they all agree on one thing: dragon veins need to be well-protected by terrain that makes sense and doesn't go off in random directions.
The ideal formation should look good—graceful, elegant, and balanced. If you can't tell what's the main feature and what's secondary, or if the landscape is a chaotic mess with jagged rocks sticking out at weird angles, that's bad news. Bury someone there, and you're basically sending an invitation to disaster.
Chinese Words/Phrases in Chapter 6 Night of the Returning Soul
1. Zha Wenbin (查文彬) - Name of the main character, a Daoist practitioner
2. Mr. He (何老) - Character name, an archaeologist and metaphysician
3. Professor Wang (老王) - Character name
4. Wang Xin (王新) - Mr. Wang's nephew
5. Madam Wang (王夫人) - Mr. He's wife
6. Grandma Li (李婆婆) - Madam Wang's mother
7. He Yichao (何毅超) - Mr. He's son
Daoist Practitioners and Sects:
8. Daoist (道士) - Religious practitioner
9. Maoshan seal (茅山印) - A magical tool used in Daoist rituals
Divination Tools and Objects:
10. I Ching (易经) - Ancient Chinese divination system
11. Anti-evil bell (辟邪钟) - Ritual tool to ward off evil spirits
12. Soul-fixing talisman (定魂符) - Talisman used to stabilize souls
13. Guiding talisman (引路符) - Talisman to guide spirits
Ritual Practices and Techniques:
14. Crossing the Immortal Bridge (过仙桥) - Death ritual for passage to afterlife
15. Zhaiqi (斋七) - The "Seven" ceremonies held after death
16. Soul projection (出阳神) - Technique to project one's soul
17. Night of the Returning Soul (回魂夜) - The night when souls return to visit
18. Meng Po's soup (孟婆汤) - Mythical drink that erases memories of past lives
Cultural and Historical References:
19. Feng Shui (风水) - Traditional practice related to energy flows
20. Yin and Yang (阴阳) - Fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy
21. Dragon veins (龙脉) - Geographic features believed to channel energy
22. Spirit messengers (勾魂使者) - Beings that escort souls
23. Spirit money (纸钱) - Paper money burned for the deceased
Locations:
24. Lou Wai Lou (楼外楼) - Famous restaurant in Hangzhou
25. Leifeng (雷峰) - Location in Hangzhou
26. West Lake (西湖) - Famous lake in Hangzhou
27. Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山) - Mountain range in western China
28. Tianshan (天山) - Mountain range
29. Qilian Mountains (祁连山) - Mountain range
30. Yinshan Mountains (阴山) - Mountain range
31. Altai Mountains (阿尔泰山) - Mountain range
32. Helan Mountains (贺兰山) - Mountain range
33. Greater and Lesser Khingan Mountains (大小兴安岭) - Mountain ranges
34. Changbai Mountains (长白山) - Mountain range
35. Tangula Mountains (唐古拉山) - Mountain range
36. Himalayas (喜马拉雅山) - Mountain range
37. Hengduan Mountains (横断山) - Mountain range
38. Xi'an/Chang'an (西安/长安) - Ancient capital city
Feng Shui Text:
39. Kanyu Manxing (堪舆漫行) - An ancient Chinese feng shui text
40. Dragon-phoenix formations (龙凤格局) - Auspicious landscape formations
41. Various types of dragons in Feng Shui classification:
- Strong dragons (强龙)
- Weak dragons (弱龙)
- Fat dragons (肥龙)
- Lean/skinny dragons (瘦龙)
- Auspicious dragons (吉龙)
- Malevolent dragons (凶龙)
- Incoming/advancing dragons (进龙)
- Retreating dragons (退龙)
- Sickly dragons (病龙)
- Disaster dragons (灾龙)
- Killing dragons (杀龙)
- True dragons (真龙)
- False dragons (假龙)
- Noble dragons (贵龙)
- Base/common dragons (贱龙)
42. The Five Essentials of Geography (五要) in Feng Shui:
- The dragon (龙)
- The burial site (穴)
- The sand (砂)
- The water (水)
- The orientation (向)