The Biography of Guanshan Taibao

The Guanshan Taibao lineage began during the Hongwu era.

A Taibao was no wandering mystic, but a geomancy official under the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, responsible for surveying the terrain of mountains and rivers throughout the realm and assisting the imperial family in building tombs.

Their art had its roots in ancient texts: The Book of Burial as the canon and The Classic of Shaking the Dragon as its companion. By observing hills, tracing water, distinguishing soil, and tasting earth, they used four methods to judge the fortune of the land's energy channels.

Once an imperial tomb was complete, the Taibao sealed off the mountain and departed. The secrets involved were never passed on to the outside world.