Gyeong-ju is the traditional place dating back to 1,000 years, and the first ancestor of the Choi family, Chi-won Choi, who was a representative scholar in korea and was well known to China then, was born in the area. His descendents have followed the sprit of classical scholar, succeeded in the family’s fame. As they accumulated lots of wealth later, their fame was widely known nationwide as well as Young-name region. It was said that people who knew the family called them 삼만석 부자(the rich of 30,000 suk, a rice unit) that combined the rich 만석(10,000 suk), the figure 만석(10,000 suk), the civilization 만석(10,000 suk). The family had maintained their wealth for almost 400 years, during 12 generations, and produced 9 진사(chin-sa, a noble title). Many respectful figures came out in the family, so the family became the one of 청백리(cheong bak ri, clean government employee) as well. Also, they were called the rich 3만석(man suk), and lots of treasure comparable to cultural assets were kept for 400 years within the family.
This study attempts to explore the interrelationship of Feng-shui location and the family’s wealth and achievement, as yang taek location where the family lived and yin taek location where their ancestors buried are believed to be connected each other. First, The Feng-shui locations of both 이조리(Yijo-ri) and 교동리(Gyodong-ri) have a common characteristic of 행주형국(hangjuhyung-guk, ferryboat shape) and were placed in 역수국(yuksu-guk, reverse water passage shape) so that the villages have the locational characteristics that wealth could be achieved. The water passage flows against the geomorphological characteristics of high north and low south, and high east and low west in Korea. 이조천(yijo-cheon, stream) in different direction from the water passage flows east to west, while hyungsan river flows from south to north direction. These flows are recognized as 역수국(yuksu-guk), and interpreted as 수세형국(susehyung-guk) which is believed to bring prestige and wealth. Likewise, 이조리(Yijo-ri) reveals the shape of protrusion, and the traditional house of gyodong was placed in 와형(wahyung, snailing shpe) so the location has an auspicious shape in Feng-shui terms.
Based on a classical yin teak location theory of Feng-shui regarding the ancestors’ burial sites of the family, some ominous and auspicious aspects of the locations are examined. The results show that most burial sites were built in locations evaluated quite favorably. When judging the locations, the choi family is assumed to select burial sites that could be expected to bring descendents’ wealth and achievement as well as the peace of the deceased. In particular, considering the shape of 현무봉(hyunmu bong) behind 혈장(hyul jang, core site), slope of 백호(white tiger) situated on the right side of core site, water passage shape near core site, and so on, the family appears to select yin and yang teak sites that can considerably influence in bringing wealth. The fact that the family could maintain their wealth quite a long time conveys that they understood Feng-shui early and lived their lives with the ways of Feng-shui teaching. This also shows that Feng-shui was a part of their normal lives, respecting their ancestors and serving ancestrial rites as confucianism taught during the Josun dynasty.
Many rich people exist in capital society, but it is not common to consistently be respected like the choi family for long time. It is the sprit of the true rich that makes them maintain their wealth and practice charity, and the sprit was based on their own distinctive life philosophy and sacrifice. It can be interpreted that their mercy and virtue for a long time make it possible for them to hand down lots of wealth to their descendents. In recent years, noticing that many corporations disappear less than 100 years, we can take a good example from the family’s distinctive management style, and their mercy and coexistence sprit.