KYOTO
A Japanese city Kyoto is well known in the world for its cultural value.
Kyoto became the capital of Japan in 794, since Emperor Kanmu transferred the capital from Nagaoka, 10 km south of Kyoto (Heian-kyo). However, Emperor Kanmu had previously moved the capital from Nara (Heijyo-kyo) to Nagaoka in 784.
The Nara area, 50 km south of Kyoto over mountains, had been the political center of Japan since the establishment of the imperial authority around the 3rd century. As Nara was then called Yamato, the imperial court of Japan in these areas are called the Yamato court. Though capital of Japan had moved around Nara sometimes, the Nara area kept its significance as the power center and the cultural center of ancient Japan. The major zone in Nara or Yamato where most of capitals were located is called Asuka. But the capital fully modeling a Chinese one was eventually founded in Heijyo-Kyo in 710.
When Heijyo-Kyo was the capital of Japan, many Buddhist temples were built. Japan was actually a Buddhist nation in this era though the imperial family observed its family religion of shintoism, too. Even in the inner city of Heijyo-Kyo 46 Buddhist temples were built. The most notable one is the Todaiji temple, the largest classic wooden building in the world, that houses Big Buddha or the world largest bronze statue of Buddha.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C5%8Ddai-ji
The point at issue here is that the capital Kyoto, namely Heian-Kyo, was built not according to a Buddhist philosophy but an ancient Chinese philosophy. Even most of former capitals in the Nara area were built partially by copying capitals of ancient Chinese dynasties. The philosophy Kanmu adopted for Kyoto was called Fu-sui (Feng shui in Chinese).
Feng shui is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven (Chinese astronomy) and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi...
Historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings—often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings and other structures—in an auspicious manner. Depending on the particular style of feng shui being used, an auspicious site could be determined by reference to local features such as bodies of water, stars, or a compass. Feng shui was suppressed in China during the cultural revolution in the 1960s, but since then has increased in popularity...
Qi (ch'i)
Qi (pronounced "chee" in English) is a movable positive or negative life force which plays an essential role in feng shui.[26] In feng shui as in Chinese martial arts, it refers to 'energy', in the sense of 'life force' or élan vital. A traditional explanation of qi as it relates to feng shui would include the orientation of a structure, its age, and its interaction with the surrounding environment including the local microclimates, the slope of the land, vegetation, and soil quality...
East
The Green Dragon (Spring equinox)—Niao (Bird)
South
The Red Phoenix (Summer solstice)—Huo (Fire)
West
The White Tiger (Autumn equinox)—Xu (Emptiness, Void)
NorthSo, in the east of Kyoto, there was a river, actually the Kamo River. In the west of Kyoto, there were two major roads, actually Sanin-Do and Sanyo-Do. In the south of Kyoto, there was a big lake, actually the Ogura lake. And in the north there were mountains such as Mt. Kurama. Today, namely 1200 years after, the major part of the terrain is not so different from the original ones, though the Ogura lake was totally reclaimed.
The Dark Turtle (Winter solstice)—Mao (Hair)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui
But more interesting is that Asuka, Heijyo-Kyo, Heian-Kyo, and a great shrine in Kumano are all aligned in one line in a larger scope. Even two old shinto shrines, including the Ise Great Shrine, are connected through a line through Heian-Kyo.
http://calseed.blog31.fc2.com/blog-entry-125.html
So, Kyoto was planned well in various ways. In 794, Japanese people were diligent in studying the environment in a super-natural way to finally build the imperial capital Kyoto. They even built 80-meter (240 feet) pagodas.
http://kakitutei.web.fc2.com/yukari/no20.html)
Kyoto Today
http://www.geocities.jp/fzybb/japan/kyoto/kyoto.htm
http://photohito.com/photo/39859/
http://www.yakei-kabegami.com/nightview/26-kyoto-143-kyototower/
Anyway, Fu-sui has worked well in these 1200 years.
Kyoto has been somewhat well preserved as the main center of the Japanese traditional culture. Though when samurai took over political power from the imperial court in the late 12th century and established their own capital in Kamakura, 50 km southwest of Tokyo, Kyoto kept its status as the imperial capital of Japan. The original layout of Heian-Kyo was lost long time ago, and even the Kyoto Imperial Palace of today is not at the original location. But, people living in Kyoto today still think they live in the culture center of Japan. It is all power of Fu-sui. The environment protected even the pride of Kyoto. And, interestingly, the US air force did not raid Kyoto during WWII. Cultural heritage of Kyoto was protected from war.
Now, is Tokyo protected by Fu-sui? When the then samurai king Tokugawa Ieyasu chose Edo (Tokyo) as the samurai capital around 1600, did he check Fu-sui of Tokyo? The answer seems to be yes. Even in a larger scale than Kyoto, Tokyo is protected by Fu-sui in my view. Therefore, the city survived the great earthquake in 1923 and the great Tokyo air raid by the US air force in 1945. Tokyo has become the largest and mightiest city in the world today, most probably, due to Fu-sui.
As a review of fu-sui, a capital has to have a great river east, a big river and a major road west, a wider plain or a sea in the south, and mountains northward, since a kingdom in Asia is in the eastern north hemisphere.
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http://kyoto-albumwalking2.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/cat7049623/index.html
Procession of Samurais,
http://kyoto-albumwalking2.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/cat7049623/index.html
http://kuronokuru.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/09/post-866d.html
According to Fu-sui, the Japanese Archipelago itself is situated well in a much larger scale.
And, Israel is also situated somewhat well, though as it is in the west of the Euphrates, the concept of the east and the west may be reversed from the case of Japan.
Now, you know that you have to carefully choose a place to live in or stay at, though Christ Jesus had no place to sleep on a pillow in.
By the way, "Fu" of Fu-sui means the wind and "sui" of Fu-sui means water. Indeed, very ancient people made a great journey sensing the wind and looking for water. Fu-sui is deeply rooted in humanities.
Finally "Kyo" of Kyoto means a royal capital or something large and "to" of Kyoto means a royal capital or something plenty in a number.
To make doubly sure, "To" of Tokyo means east and "kyo" of Tokyo means an imperial capital or something large.
Mar 11:19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.
Mar 11:20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
Mar 11:21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.