Feng Shui has its embrional form in the Buzhai divination, used to locate the underground water sources on the piece of land where someone had to be buried. If there was a source, the place was not good for burial, the energy being spilled out by the water flow under the ground.

Also, the early study of Feng Shui has been closely related to the Yi Jing divination (especially during the Han dinasty)

The term of "Feng Shui" appeared for the first time during the Jin dynasty. Guo Pu has written in his book "Zhang Shu" (Book about burial) that "… the wind will spill out theenergy and the water will retain it… The goal is to make energy flow without being lost or dispersed. For this reason we will call it Feng Shui"

Other names of the early forms of Feng Shui are Xiang Zhai (noticing and analyzing the houses/environment), Qing Niao Shu (study of the sun movement), Kan Yu (nature and man are one), Feng Shui (noticing and analyzing the energies).

Period before Qin dynasty - craddle of Feng Shui
The archeological discoveries show us that during that period Chinese people were building their houses taking into account environment factors such as: a higher platform or an elevated ground, the closeness to water, a solid foundation, easy transport, a very peaceful natural environment. During the Qin dynasty these practices were called Xiang Di (noticing and analyzing the earth). The development of the feudal society lead to the improvement of the Xiang Di system.
Dezvoltarea societatii feudale a condus la imbunatatirea sistemului Xiang Di.

Qin and Han dynasties - beginning of Feng Shui
This is a time when the Feng Shui principles are structured. In this time also the book Kan Yu Jin Kui (Golden treasure of Kan Yu) was published. This was the beginning of the school Ligi Pai (School of the Qi patterns) and it marked the beginning of the dissociation of Xing Shi Pai (School of the forms) from Ligi Pai. This is also the time when the theoretical backgrounds of the environment analysis were set.

The dynasties Wei, Jin and periods of North and South - propagation of Feng Shui
In this period it is supposed that Guo Pu wrote his "Book about burial", where the mention of the Feng Shui syntagm is made. During the Wei dynasty another great master Guang Ge wrote the "Guang guide about the principle of the earth".

The dynasties Sui, Tang and the five dynasties - spreading of Feng Shui
Feng Shui has evolved together with the introduction in the Chinese society of the personal promotion based on merits (by introducing the system of imperial examinations during the Tang dynasty).
Yang Jun-Song has given a structure to the School of Shapes - Xing Shi Pai. Also in this time the "Classical book of the Yellow Emperor about houses (Huang Di Zhai Jing)" was written as well. Together with "Guang's guide", these two books symbolize the time of Feng Shui matureness.

Song Dynasty - golden period of Feng Shui
The School of Shapes and School of Qi Patterns become two distinct orientations. Feng Shui is consolidated and Luo Pan becomes a widely used instrument. As a consequence, Liqi Pai becomes a more popular school.

Yuan dynasty
China is lead by Mongols, and now the oppression of the Chinese culture begins, hence, the oppression of Feng Shui. In this time Feng Shui starts to decline..

Ming and Qing dynasties
The rebirth of the Chinese culture brings back to attention the ideology of the Song dynasty and Feng Shui is again widely used. With time, the Feng Shui principles becomes contradictory, confuse and much too complicated. During the Qing dynasty the knowledge is corrupted and Feng Shui enters a new decline period.

Nowadays China
Feng Shui has been prohibited after the instauration of the communism in China in 1949. The practice of Feng Shui has been limited to Hong Kong, Taiwan and South-Eastern Asia. This very moment there is a true movement of Feng Shui revigoration, conducted by occidental people.

"The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where s/he is going."

David Starr Jordan