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[Indepth interview] Poongsu from a modern perspective

Published: 05 Jan. 2010, 19:24

Choi Chang-cho, Former professor of geography at Seoul National University

In some cases, he seems like a child, while in other instances he comes across as an ascetic. Despite his advanced age of 59, Choi Chang-cho can be quite shy, yet he can also be assertive at times, often offering up his opinion with passion. Clearly a man of contrasting characteristics, Choi gives off the vibe of someone who is vastly different and from a faraway place.

In 1991, Choi resigned from his post as a professor of geography at Seoul National University, which is widely considered the most prestigious institution of higher education in the country. It’s also Choi’s alma mater, to boot.

While Choi was once an avid follower of traditional poongsu theories - an ancient Chinese system centered around the belief that heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) are important in bringing about positive outcomes in life - he has developed a more open-minded approach over the years. Poongsu practitioners like Choi often study a burial spot or a plot of land in relation to mountains and waterways. While he once ardently sought to exhume burial sites in order to get a firm grasp of traditional poongsu, he now says he does not believe in the concept in relation to burial sites. He also believes that myeongdang, or an ideal place, exists only in one’s heart. Following are excerpts from a recent interview with Choi.

Q. Why is the theory of divination based on topography referred to as poongsu?

A. In Chinese characters, “poong” refers to heaven or astronomy, and “su” to earth or geography. As such, the theory delves into the land that we live on and the air that surrounds us. Poongsu is used to find the ideal plot of land, but that does not mean it is limited to land-related theories.

You mentioned in the past that no matter how nice a hotel room, some people still long for their own bedrooms because those familiar surroundings represent myeongdang.

Land that is suitable to an individual is an ideal place. Just as individuals have various physical constitutions, there are certain types of land that are ideal to certain individuals. Just because a plot of land is considered myeongdang to one person, it does not mean it is an excellent plot of land for others.

What is your take on the notion that a good burial ground for ancestors can help bring about prosperity for their descendants?

In short, it does not make sense. I don’t believe in it. My father chose a burial spot for himself prior to his passing. However, several experts on the matter frankly stated that the burial spot was horrible and would result in bad luck. They went so far as to state that it could result in an early death for his children. When I took a look at the site, what the experts stated years before made perfect sense. However, my father was comfortable with his decision. He’s been gone for 26 years and we haven’t had any problems.

When a politician becomes head of state, we often hear that it’s because his ancestors have good burial sites.

That’s pathetic. Kim Doo-kyu, a professor at Woosuk University, performed research on the matter and found that most presidential candidates changed the burial sites of their parents to a myeongdang site. Depending on ancestors for prosperity or personal gain irks me.

We also hear about instances in which descendants who are experiencing rough patches in their lives dig up their ancestors’ graves to find the corpses half-submerged in water or surrounded by thorned branches.

In most cases, when you dig up a grave, the corpse is in horrible condition. The sight is horrifying, and that’s why most women and people with heart conditions are kept away. It is very rare for a corpse to decay in a nice manner. Exhumations are mostly done because people are unhappy about something. As such, they figure that the horrendous condition of the corpse is the source of their problem.

What do you think about foretelling marital harmony through the “Four Pillars,” or the study of the year, month, day and hour of one’s birth?

Again, I don’t believe in it. Even identical twins have separate destinies. However, such practices can come in handy. When a marriage proposal is made and it’s difficult to back out of, other excuses are not accepted. But a bad marital harmony foretelling can get the opposite party to back down.

You heavily criticized the idea of relocating the capital city, saying that starting a new administrative hub at another site is a joke. Why?

I made statements against the move dating back to the days when former President Roh Moo-hyun made a public pledge on the issue during his tenure. Regardless of poongsu, the idea just does not make much sense. Traditionally, the relocation of a capital city occurred after the coronation of a new king or during a national crisis such as the Imjin War [1592-1598]. The Sejong City project is based on political reasons, and carrying it out would result in numerous problems.

How do you see the situation in terms of poongsu?

Seoul is an ideal place for a capital city under poongsu theories. I’ve been to Pyongyang and various places around the peninsula and there isn’t a place quite like Seoul. Yeongi and Gongju are nice places but are not suitable locales for a capital city.

Maybe these aren’t adequate examples, but take a look at the Goguryeo [37 BC-668] and Baekje [18 BC-660] kingdoms. Once they began to lose power, they moved their capital cities to the south and eventually were overtaken.

In contrast to other poongsu experts, you seem to support development. Do you back the Lee administration’s four rivers project?

I do not like to use the word “development,” but I like to think of the project as a way to cure the land. Think of our land as your mother. If she is ill, would you let her be? No, we need to get her treatment. It’s not wise to leave things the way they are no matter the circumstances. Development is fine only when it’s done with proper planning and in an environmentally friendly way. Looking at poongsu theories, it’s not right to develop waterways or build dams. However, if we let it be, it has no future. Environmentalists like to say things should be left in their natural state, but that’s nonsense. When looking at royal documents from the Joseon Period [1392-1910], flooding was a big problem and caused havoc for the citizens on a yearly basis.

By Kim Jong-hyuk, Kim Ho-jeong [[email protected]]