Fundamentals

Form School (形势派)

Often paired with Compass School in professional practice.

Definition

Form School (峦头/形势) reads visible landforms, roads, and building shapes—dragons, sand hills, water mouths, and sha forms. It prioritises what the body can see over computed stars.

How to Check

Photograph approaches to the site from all public roads.
Sketch dragon analogies for main traffic arteries in urban sites.
List sha sightlines from doors and windows.

Classical Basis

《撼龙经》《疑龙经》 anchor classical dragon logic; 《葬书》 supplies qi retention themes adapted to yang houses.

Application

·First pass on site visits worldwide.

Common Effects

·Clear form reading prevents chasing star remedies for purely visual problems.

Remedy Direction

Address real form issues—privacy planting, glare control, noise barriers—before interior trinkets.

Caveats & Debate

Urban dragon metaphors stretch classical imagery; disclose metaphorical mapping.

Sources

《撼龙经》传杨筠松
Dragon form classic.
Wikipedia: Feng shui
Form vs Compass section.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui
Wikipedia: Chinese geomancy
Historical context.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_geomancy

Sources are for verification; schools may disagree.