Geomagnetic Field Analysis of Poong Soo(Feng-shui) at Jongmyo

Jong Koo Han1, a, Tong So Park2, b

1
Dept. of Arch. Engrg., Chungwoon University, Hongseong, Korea, 350-801
2
Dept. of Arch. Engrg., Hanseo University, Seosan, Korea, 356-706
a
jkhan@chungwoon.ac.kr, btongso@hanseo.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

The study aims to establish scientific basis for applying Poong Soo(Feng-shui, 風水), a traditional
ecological architectural theory, to modern ecological architecture. In this study Jongmyo(宗廟), one of
the representative traditional architecture in Korea is selected because the site selection and building
lay out follows Poong Soo faithfully according to Taejo silok (太祖實錄, Annals of King Taejo).
Observing the landforms surrounding Jongmyo, Jongmyo is apparently located in auspicious places
named Gumge Poranhyoeng(金鷄抱卵形, a Poong Soo landscape of golden hen sitting on eggs). The
geomagnetic investigation of Jongmyo shows that the geomagnetic values of Toekan(the space near
Hyeol) are relatively high and uniform and those of Sangweoldae and Haweoldae are decreased in
accordance with the distance. The result shows that there is possibility that Poong Soo has scientific
basis related with geomagnetic field. Poong Soo theory can suggest a direction for designing the
sustainable building for living with nature.

KEYWORDS: Geomagnetic Field, Poong Soo(Feng-shui), Jongmyo, Korea Traditional Architecture

1. INTRODUCTION

The Korean traditional architecture creates comfortable living environment responded to surrounding
natural environment by building layout, space formation and material usage. The basic design attitude
of Korea traditional architecture is not for overcoming the nature but for adapting to Nature.
East Asian explains the changes of substance happened on earth and changes of human life with
the conceptual frame of "Gi-gi"(地氣; earth vital energy) and organize them by the system of "Poong
Soo(風水)” theory with discussing their interrelationship and mechanism of function by a empirical
science. The Feng-shui theory is used as an understanding framework of all natural phenomena
including climatic changes, the growing process of crops and circulation of energy and water. In
Poong Soo, the earth is not regarded as a mere accumulation of soil or an object for obtaining a profit
by development but regarded as a huge living body and "gi or chi"(氣; vital energy or above) is
believed to gives the life to this living earth. The core of Poong Soo theory is reading the expression of
the nature and feeling the Ji-gi from the expression. If an architecture is built where the Ji -gi is
harmonized with his "In-gi"(人氣; human energy), One can benefit from the harmony. The gi when
the Ji-gi is fitted with his gi is called "Seng-gi"(生氣; enliven gi, literally, active gi as a life-force).
Living healthy in a building located on the site having the feeling of Seng-gi is one of the wish of our
East Asian people.
One of the properties of the earth is that the earth has a magnetic field associated with it- the
geomagnetic field. The geomagnetic field is produced by a combination of the effects of electric
currents in the earth's liquid core, the magnetization of crustal rocks, external electric current systems
that surround the earth, and currents induced in the outer layers of the earth by magnetic field variation.

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 Human beings have evolved with the background of geomagnetic fields, they are accustomed to living
in its presence. Geopathic stress occurs at geopathic zones where the geomagnetic field is disturbed.
Geopathic zones exhibit magnetic charges. Geopathic zones are characterized by variations in
geomagnetism, for the geomagnetic field is not uniform but exhibits many highly localized distortions,
some random, some fairly regular. These occur in geological faults, caves and underground water
channels. The sameness of logic between Poong Soo and geopathic zones is that both are concerned
with the discrimination of site and the energy of places, in other words both disciplines are concerned
with how the environment can influence people. In this context the operation of Gi-ki can be related
with the effect caused by geomagnetic field on site.
This study aims to establish a scientific basis for applying Poong Soo( 風水 ), a traditional
ecological architectural theory, to modern ecological architecture. Since the site of Jongmyo is
faithfully followed the Poong Soo theory, a Korean traditional architecture, Jongmyo has been selected
and analysed by Poong Soo theory and Geomagnetic field.

2. JONGMYO AND POONG SOO ANALYSIS

2.1 Jongmyo(宗廟)

Jongmyo (宗廟) is the royal ancestral shrine of Joseon Kingdom (朝鮮王朝, 1392-1910). It was built
to enshrine the ancestral tablets of the kings and queens of the Joseon Kingdom. King T'aejo (太祖),
founder of the Kingdom, ordered its construction in 1394, shortly after the founding of the kingdom.
Elaborate Confucian memorial rites honouring T'aejo's ancestors, and later T'aejo and his successors,
were held from that time. The building was originally called Jongmyo, but, after the addition of the
Yeongnyeongjeon (annex shrine), it was renamed Jeongjeon (正殿), meaning main hall.
The shrine is a model of traditional wooden architecture. Jeongjeon, the main hall is the most
important one in Jongmyo. The architectural style of Jeongjeon is rather simple. But, it is the longest
single extant traditional building in Korea. The spacious steps in front of the building add to its dignity
and magnificence. The main shrine Jeongjeon is surrounded by stone walls with gates in the south,
east and west. The main gate to the south is reserved for the spirits who are thought to attend the rites.
The shrine room where the ancestral tablets are enshrined resembles a long open-air corridor.
Four tables stand in front of each shrine. Food, candles and incense are placed on them during the rites.
The space in front of shrine room is called Toekan (退間, a space for both passage and some of royal
ancestral rites). There are double Weoldae ( 月臺 , platform) named Sangweoldae ( 上月臺 , upper
platform) and Haweoldae (下月臺, lower platform) in front of the Jeongjeon. The size of Haweoldae
is 109m wide (from east to west) and 69m deep (from north to south), the largest one in Korea. The
floor of the Weoldae is covered with roughly treated thin stone plate having about 45cm side.
At the center of the Haweoldae, Sinro (神路, a passageway for spirits) is located along the depth.

Jeongjejon (main building)

Toekan
Haweoldae (lower platform) (a space for both passage and some
of royal ancestral rites)
Figure 3. Haweoldae, Joeongjeon and Toekan(right)

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 Sinro
Sangwoeldae (upper platform) (a passageway for spirits)

Figure 4. Sangwoeldae and Sinro (Right)

2.2 Poong Soo analysis of Jongmyo

Poong Soo ideas may well be based on the following three premises; (1) a certain locale is more
favorable than others for a building or grave; (2) an auspicious place can be acquired only through the
examination of the local landscape according to Poong Soo principles; (3) once acquired and occupied,
people who lived on the site or the descendants of ancestors buried on the site can be influenced by the
auspiciousness of the locale. Of the three basic Poong Soo elements which determine the quality of a
place (mountains, waters and directions) mountains have been considered the most important.
The surrounding mountains are important in examining the characteristics of a Hyeol (穴, the
geomancy cave) and are an indication of the quality of the auspicious place. Of these surrounding
mountains, the so-called "Sasinsa (四神砂, mountains of the Four Spirit Gods)" is the most important.
These four are Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Red Bird and Black Turtle.
Jongmyo is a space of respect and sincerity and also a symbolic space of model rite as a shrine of
the kingdom as aforementioned. The site was carefully selected by Poong Soo theory because the
shrine regarded as an origin of happiness of the family. The site of Jongmyo was obviously located in
the Hyeol. Eungbong Mountain is the Main Mountain or the Black turtle of Jongmyo. Inwang
Mountain is the range which encircles Jongmyo on the right side of the Main Mountain. It becomes the
White Tiger of the Jongmyo. Naksan (駱山) is the hill which encircles Jongmyo to the left. It becomes
the Azure Dragon of Jongmyo. Namsan (南山) is the facing Mountain. Since black turtle is the end of
a dragon, vital energy comes through the dragon (mountain) to the end of the mountain where the
Hyeol is located. Thus the shape of mountain very much related to the quality of the available energy.
Judging by the flow of mountains of the Jongmyo, it might be received strong vital energy.

Hyeol
Azure Dragon White Tiger

Figure 3. Sasinsa of Jongmyo area

Figure 5. Jongmyo and surrounding mountains

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 3. GEOMAGNETIC FIELD ANALYSIS

3.1 Geomangnetic field

The existence of the geomagnetic field has been known since ancient times. The science of
geomagnetic field developed slowly. The unusual properties of a magnet gave rise to legends and
beliefs in a supernatural force. This applied equally to the geomagnetic field. The earliest writings
about compass navigation are credited to the Chinese and dated to 250 years B.C. When Gilbert
published the textbook on geomagentic field in 1600, he concluded that the Earth itself behaved as a
great magnet. In the early 19th century, Gauss introduced improved magnetic field analysis.
It was established experimentally long ago that the earth has a magnetic field. By international
agreement, a set of names and symbols is
used to describe the geomagnetic field
components in a right-hand system. Figure 4
illustrates this nomenclature for a location in
the Northern Hemisphere where the total
field vector points in the Earth.
The term right-hand system means that
if we aligned the thumb and first two fingers
of our right hand with the three edges that
converge at a box corner, then the x direction
would be indicated by our thumb, the y
direction by our index (pointing) finger, and
the z direction by the remaining finger. We
say these are the three orthogonal directions
along the X, Y, and Z axes in space because
they are at right angles to each other. When a
measurement has both a size (magnitude)
and a direction, it can be drawn as an arrow Figure 6. Components of the geomagnetic field
with a particular heading that extends a fixed measurements for a sample Northern Hemisphere
distance (to indicate magnitude) from the total field Vector F inclined into the Earth.
origin of a orthogonal coordinate system. (Campbell, 1997)
Such an arrow is called a vector. Any vector
may be represented in space by the composite vectors of its three orthogonal components (projections
of the arrow along each axis).
A magnetic field is considered to be in a positive direction if an isolated north magnetic pole
would freely move in that field direction. Observers prefer to describe a vector representing the Earth’s
field in one of two ways; (1) three orthogonal component field directions with positive values for
geographic northward, eastward and vertical in to Earth (negative values for the opposite directions) or
(2) the horizontal magnitude, the eastward angular direction of the horizontal component from
geographic northward, and the downward (vertical) component. The first set is typically called the X,
Y, and Z (XYZ-component) representation; the last set is called the H(horizontal), D(declination), and
Z(into the Earth)(HDZ-component) representation(or Sometimes DHZ).

3.2 Geomagnetic Field Measurement

The Geomagnetic environment of Jeongjeon area of Jongmyo has been investigated through
measurement and analysis of geomagnetic flux distribution. The vertical component Z of Geomagnetic
field on the ground surface was measured with fluxgate type magnetometer (BPM 2010, Germany).
While performing the test, the person removes any objects such as watch and keys which can
cause an error in the reading. And the test site was hundreds feet away from a roadway or parking lot
where automobiles might be driving by.

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 The measurement was performed in 4 places, Toekan, Sangweoldae, Haweoldae and Sinro. The
data were taken at the height of 0.5m from the ground surface of each area with the interval of 3m.
The number of measuring points was 21 points for Toekan and Sangweoldae, 37 for Haweoldae and
23 for Sinro. The measurement was started on the left side (west) at Toekan, Sangweoldae,
Haweoldae and started upside (north) at Sinro. Because of the daily variation of geomagnetism, each
measurement was made within 1 hour on the geomagnetic quite day.

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Jeongeon
Toekan
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21

Sangweoldae

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,3

Haweoldae
23 points
Sinro

Figure 5. Plan of Jeongjeon of Jongmyo area, Measuring Places and Directions

Table 1. shows the measured Z values of geomagnetic field of Jongmyo area. Figure 6. shows
distribution of measured values at Toekan, Sangweoldae, Haweolda and figure 7. shows distribution
of measured values at Sinro and Figure 8. shows the average, maximum and minimum values of those
areas and figure 9. shows the distribution of standard deviation of each area. The values of Toekan
area are in the range of 42,320~42,970nT and relatively constant (standard deviation is 176nT).
Toekan has highest average values (42,747nT) among the values in Jongjeon.

Table 2. The geomagnetic field values of Jongmyo (unit; nT)

Toekan Sangweoldae Haweoldae Sinro

Average 42744 41943 41113 39904

Standard deviation 176 712 427 449

Maximum 42970 42620 42260 41450

Minimum 42320 40150 40140 39530

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 T oekan S a n g w o ld a e H a w o ld a e

43500
43000
42500
42000
41500
(nT)

41000
40500
40000
39500
39000
38500
1

10

13

16

19

22

25

28

31

34
Figure 6. Distribution of measured values at Toekan, Sangweoldae and Haweoldae
Notes: The vertical; measured values, The horizontal; measuring points

av er m ax m in

4 3 5 0 0
4 3 0 0 0
4 2 5 0 0
4 2 0 0 0
4 1 5 0 0
(nT)

4 1 0 0 0
4 0 5 0 0
4 0 0 0 0
3 9 5 0 0
3 9 0 0 0
3 8 5 0 0
T k Sw d H wd Sr

Figure 7 . Distribution of average, maximum and minimum values

Notes: Tk; Toekan, Swd; Sangweoldae,. Hwd; Haweoldae, Sr;Sinro.

S in r o

4 3 5 0 0
4 3 0 0 0
4 2 5 0 0
4 2 0 0 0
4 1 5 0 0
(nT)

4 1 0 0 0
4 0 5 0 0
4 0 0 0 0
3 9 5 0 0
3 9 0 0 0
3 8 5 0 0
1

10

13

16

19

22

Figure 8. Distribution of measured values at Sinro

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 The values of Sangwoeldae area are in the
range of 40,150~42,620nT. Average value of
Tk Sangweoldae is 41,943 nT. The standard
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deviation (712nT) is higher than any other areas
500 especially around both ends.
Haweoldae has the lowest average values
250 among the above three areas. The values are in
the range of 40,140~42,260nT. The standard
Sr 0 Swd
deviation (427nT) is the second in the above
areas. According to Poong Soo theory, the dragon
(mountains) delivers the vital energy to Hyoel and
so the energy is highly concentrated at Hyeol area.
In Jongmyo, Toekan is near to Taesil, the
Hwd Hyeol of Jongmyo. It seems that the geomagnetic
values might be related with the vital energy of
Hyeol of Poong Soo regarding the high and even
geomagnetic values in Toekan.
Figure 9. Distribution of standard deviation This is a case study however other
Notes: Tk; Toekan, Swd; Sangweoldae; Hwd; Haweoldae;
Sr;Sinro.
researches also show that the geomagnetic values
of traditional architecture are relatively more
even than modern architecture (Han J.K., 2001,
Sohn T.J. and Cho J.G., 2007). The decreased in geomagnetic values at Sangweoldae and Haweoldae
can be explained that the most energy(Gi or Chi) seems to stop proceeding after Hyeol and so the
magnetic values go down at Sangweoldae and Haweoldae as shown in Fig 3 (left).
In Figure 6., the geomagnetic values in Haweoldae(measuring points 9~29) is different at central
area(measuring points 13~25) and edge area(each 4 points from both ends; measuring points 13, 14,
15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 25). The central area has 42,329nT of average and 169nT of standard deviation. The
edge area has 41,319nT of average and 821nT of standard deviation. The average value of central area
is 1,010nT higher and the standard deviation is 5 times lower than that of edge area. And the
difference of average values between Toekan and central area of Sangweoldae is only 415nT. It means
the Gi may be scattered from center of Hyeol to edge area..
The low values at Haweoldae might be caused by their long distance (about 50m) from Hyeol
area(Taesil).
The value of sinro(located lengthways at the center of Haweoldae) are in the range of 39,530 to
41450nT. Average, maximum and minimum values of Sinro (39,953nT) are the lowest.
Figure 7. shows that the values of Sinro are sharply decreased from first point(the value at
Toekan) to fifth point then the values lies within 39,500~40,000nT except only two point 20, 21. It
indicates the possibility of correlations between distance and the values. It also says that the chi look
like concentrated in Hyeol and then scattered.
The study is an attempt to investigate Poong Soo by geophysical method. Throughout this study,
the geomagnetic field seems to be related with Ji-gi(vital energy of the earth) of Poong Soo. However
it is not confirmed yet that the difference of geomagnetic values caused only by Ji-gi factors. And
there is limit to apply to all traditional architecture because this investigation is a case study on
Jongmyo area. In order to presents concrete scientific date to suggest the relationship between Ji-gi
and variations of geomagnetic values, further wide range of research is needed around many Poong
Soo auspicious places.

5. CONCLUSIONs

Poong Soo is one of the valuable fruit of the Oriental wisdom that aims to obtain harmony between
man, architecture and nature. It is also a strong expression of organic viewpoint which conceives
nature as a living and acting body. In this context, the Poong Soo theory could provide a basis for

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 ecological approach to architectural design, thus avoiding the present construction habits of
disregarding the precious natural environment.
Even though Poong Soo theory has been used practically for hundreds years, some people regard
it as a superstition for the reason that the Poong Soo theory is not sufficiently proved by modern
scientific methods. This study tries to present scientific data to suggest the possibility that the
operation of Ji-gi related with the geomagnetic field and therefore that the Poong Soo theory is helpful
in ensuring ecological design by way of building layout to alleviate the harmful effects of geomagnetic
field on human life.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express thanks to Dr. Si-ik Park for his help during measuring at Jongmyo area.

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