How did northern and southern fengshui traditions differ?

In the context of Chinese architecture, the two primary traditions of fengshui are often categorized by their regional and methodological focus:

• Northern Tradition (Compass School): Historically associated with northern China, this school emphasizes the use of a magnetic compass, known as the luopan. It focuses on complex calculations involving astrology, cardinal directions, and the conjoining of astral and earthly principles. Practitioners align sites with the seasons, stars, planets, the Yijing hexagrams, and the theory of the "five phases" (fire, water, wood, metal, and earth).12
• Southern Tradition (Form School): Originating in the south, where landscape features are more irregular, this school prioritizes the physical environment. It emphasizes the "Form" of the land, specifically the relationship between protective mountains—which act as barriers against dark forces—and the flow of water. The goal is to identify an optimal, auspicious placement by assessing the natural balance of yinyang and the flow of qi within the existing terrain.12

In later periods, these two schools were frequently synthesized and used together throughout China.1