By Wilson Sun (with Gigi Oh & Gene Ching)

Above: A sword should always be hung with the handle towards the owner and the blade towards any callers, thus giving the owner a tactical advantage.

From ancient times, a sword was not just a weapon of selfdefense. A good sword has always been a priceless treasure. The emperor would make presentations of special swords, called shang fang bao jian. These imperial weapons represented the authority of the son of heaven and were essentially a license to kill. Scholars wore elegant swords. Knights (wuxia) wore sharp blades; warriors bore heavy ones. Many great legends arose from such swords. Chinese swords are a combination of the divine (shen), power (li) and wisdom (zhi hui).

Since days of old, the sword has been a symbol of protection. In Feng Shui, the Chinese art of arrangement, swords are zhen zhai, which means they are believed to dispel evil. Many theories of this form of Feng Shui have been passed down from generation to generation. If you select a good sword and place it in the right direction in your home, office or studio, you'll have a good Feng Shui result.

The Red Wood 100 Luck Sword
This sword is best suited for a highly educated person or scholar. It is excellent for placement in your office or studio. The one-hundred characters for luck will bring both luck and wisdom.

The Pear Wood Spring Autumn Sword
This sword is excellent for dispelling evil because the blade is very shiny and has fullers (blood grooves). Also the guard has a lion face. Since it's so big and heavy, it's best to place this in an open space, like a main hall.

The Pear Wood 100 Longevity Sword
This sword has a blackened blade with one hundred characters for longevity engraved on the blade. This is good to place in your bedroom or studio because it has soul calming properties. The character "longevity" is good for your health. It makes your qi flow to your kidneys, which influences your bravery. Fear weakens the kidneys.

The Family Art Sword
This sword is engraved with the characters zhen zhai bao jian (dispel evil precious sword - ). It's a perfect example of a Feng Shui sword. On the opposite side of the blade, it has seven stars in the pattern of the big dipper constellation. The seven stars ward off demons. This is good for placement in a business or martial arts hall, because a lot of strong qi comes in and must be dealt with accordingly. It's also good for hanging in a living room or any place that might be haunted.

The Eight Immortals Sword
The Eight Immortals represent wealth, authority and power. This is good for just about everyone. This sword should be placed in your office or living room.

The Dragon Fast Sword
This sword is similar to the Pear Wood Spring Autumn Sword because of its large size and its dragon-head guard. It is best for controlling evil, which makes it good

General Rules for Sword Hanging Never place a sword right at the entrance. This is dangerous because if an intruder comes in with ill intentions, they can get that sword and use it against you. Never place a sword anywhere where it is easily accessable to others. Never place a sword in dirty places like bathrooms. This is disrespectful to the sword. Never place a sword in the dining area. The dining area should be very peaceful and calm. The presence of a sword here will negatively influence the family and cause stress. Never place a sword by the window. Never place a sword in a high traffic area. The hilt of your sword should point into the home, not outside. This is better for the homeowner to access the sword, instead of an intruder. Place the sword beside you or behind you, but never in front of you. The handle should be placed higher than the blade. For single-edged swords, the blade should face the earth.

Click here for Feature Articles from this issue and others published in 2005 .

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About Wilson Sun (with Gigi Oh & Gene Ching) :
Wilson Sun is a Feng Shui Master from Shanghai - tel/FAX 408-773-1556 or wusun5@yahoo.com. He writes our Kung Fu Horoscopes column at the back of each issue and on our official website, www.KungfuMagazine.com.

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