SPATIAL STRATEGIES SOLUTIONS

I believe in scientific approaches. I believe systems, however complex, can be mapped and understood and that knowledge can be harnessed to manage the system, or, at least this understanding and analysis enables us to fit in and work along with the system to bring forth the most beneficial results for us. Still, scientific approaches and analyses can not provide an insight so complete and so to-the-point, like a flash complete intuitive understanding of the workings of the complex system when we have an "enlightment" or an "epiphany". I believe also, that combining physics and metaphysics in an analitic process, like we do by applying feng shui can lead to such intuitive flashes of insight, and that the results of these epiphanies are far-reaching and long-lasting. Seems that the story of Huoshi Ryokan, an inn that has been in business for the last 1300 years confirms the beneficial effects of epiphanies in spatial planning and designing spatial strategies.

Houshi Ryokan in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan is the oldest hotel, and the oldest spa-hotel in the world. Founded in 778., it is still in business and operated by the 46th generation of the founding family.

The legend has it that divine revelation is involved in its founding. Divine origins, I would say, counts as pretty good feng shui, proven by the durability of operation, and the prices starting at 91 USD/person/night.

The legend, as told at the page of  goes like this:

Taicho Daishi (great teacher of Buddhism) Guided by logger Gengoro Sasakiri, in 717 noted priest Taicho hiked high up Mt. Hakusan, a sacred and isolated mountain. While Taicho was asleep one night after beginning his rigorous training exercises, the deity of Hakusan appeared in his dream, saying:

"Lying 20-24 kilometers from the base of the mountain is a village called Awazu. There, you'll find an underground hot spring with wondrous restorative powers that Yakushi Nyorai (the Physician of Souls) has bestowed upon it. The people of the village, however, do not known of this good fortune. Descend the mountain and head to Awazu. With the people of the village unearth the hot spring-it will serve them forever."

As he had been commanded, Taicho made his way down to the village and sought the help of its people in uncovering the treasure that lay beneath the earth's surface. He had the sick immerse themselves in its waters-and their health was immediately restored. Taicho then ordered Garyo Houshi, his disciple, to build and run a spa at the site.

After fulfilling the commands of the deity, Taicho continued with his intensive training and experienced satori (a state of intuitive illumination). Rumors of his occult powers even found their way to the Imperial Court in Nara, helping make Taicho the respected Etsu no Daitoku. (Great Man of Virtue from Etsu).

As this story reveals, the origins of Houshi-now the oldest inn in the world-are truly divine, and that the epiphany leading to it`s founding was, indeed a good spatial strategy, bringing "luck ant happyness to many generations".