Fengshui literally means nature’s "Wind" and "Water".  To have a better understanding of Fengshui, one must first understand the Principles or Way of Nature; or "道".  Simply put, "道" can have three different meanings to it, the "Way of Religious Taoism" or 道教之道, "Way of Philosophical Taoism" or 道家之道 and "Way of Fengshui" or 风水之道.

Undeniably, the mere mention of Fengshui leads people to relate it to "Religious Taoism". You can say Fengshui and "Religious Taoism" are closely related but yet they are distinct. Below, let me share the "Way of Fengshui" or 风水之道 that I know of.

All three, though having different connotations are established on the basis of common theoretical fundamentals. “Religious Taoism”, considered to be the highest truth, the teachings and fundamentals of its doctrine is from a religious point of view. It includes the beliefs in the way of immortality, cultivation of physical self and moral character in the quest for immortality and Natural Order of Universe. Manifestations of such beliefs in our modern world are rituals and deities where followers conduct or worship.

“Philosophical Taoism” is a philosophy, science and way of life. Its core belief is "道" being the origin of the Universe, the Principles or Way of Nature. Everything is derived from "道", is part of "道" and conforms to the Principles or Ways of Nature. The "道" in "Philosophical Taoism" has being deified as the supreme God and object of faith in "Religious Taoism".

Though the two differs, both have a profound impact on each other including certain similarities. Both advocates harmony and natural order of the Universe.  It can be said, "Philosophical Taoism" is the theoretical foundation of "Religious Taoism", whereas "Religious Taoism" is part of the development of ideas and practices of "Philosophical Taoism".

What then is the "Way of Fengshui" or 风水之道? Most people would have seen or is familiar with the "Taiji" symbol or 太极图. This symbol is an important symbolic representation for "Religious" or "Philosophical" Taoism and Fengshui. By itself, the symbol represents and depicts the Principles of Way of Nature, including Yin Yang co-existence, interdependent, relativity and co-arising natural phenomena. Nature is inseparable from Yin and Yang, existing everywhere and any time. Such natural phenomena and its principles is the core of the "Way of Fengshui". One may easily relate this symbol "Religious" or "Philosophical" Taoism because it is a representative and model for both.

Since Fengshui is about nature's "Wind" and "Water", it is thus inseparable from the influence of the Principles or Way of Nature. As such, the "Way of Fengshui" or 风水之道 is the study and application of the Principles or Way of Nature, and is definitely not a religious, philosophical or mystical knowledge. Fengshui is not a representation or practice of Taoism, though looking at the "Taiji" symbol, it is inevitable that one relates it to Taoism, as the symbol is also a representation and a model for Taoism. Yet, both Taoism and Fengshui shared common fundamentals, advocating the Principles or Way of Nature.

风水，顾名思义，说的是风和水，自然界里的风和水。 既然与自然界息息相关，那么要了解风水就需要先了解自然界的“道”。这个“道”字，简单来说可以有三种含义。（一）道教之“道”，（二）道家之“道” 和（三）风水之“道”。谈到风水时，许多人经常会连想到道教。可以说风水和道教有密切的关系，不过也可以说风水和道教无关。为何呢？以下就让我说说，我所 认识的风水之"道"吧。

道教、道家和风水，各自的“道”有着不同的内涵，却建立在共同理论的基础上。道教之道作为最高信仰和根本教义，是从宗教的角度而得来的，以长生不老之道为最高信仰，以神仙不死之道，教化信仰者，劝人通过养生修炼和道德品行的修养而长生成仙，最终解脱死亡，求得永恒。它也表现在我们现在所看到有关道教里的习俗，包括供奉神明等仪式。

而道家是个哲学、自然养身思想，把自然科学广泛人类社会推广。道家思想的核心认为“道”是宇宙的本源，也是统治宇宙中一切运动的自然法则。道家的道指的是世间万事万物的规律，“天道无情”，说的就是规律是客观的，不以人的感情意志为转移的。这个道，是自然之道。

道家的“道”在道教中已被神化为作为信仰对象的至上神。虽然两者有异，不过两者对彼此有着深远的影响和共同之处，两者崇尚、追求自然，自然无为是两者影响的共同之处。可以说道家是道教的理论基础，而道教是道家某些思想的发展和实践。

那么，风水之“道”背后又是什么呢？太极图我想大家都很熟悉。不管是对于道教，道家或风水，它是个具有代表性的的一张图。太极图本身表现了宇宙自然界中的规律，包括了阴阳同体、阴阳对待、消长流行等的自然现象。自然界离不开阴阳，阴阳和我们息息相关，无处不在，无时不有。而这个自然界中的规律就是风水背后的核心，风水之“道”的模式图。不过看到太极图，可能第一个联想的就是道教或道家吧。因一方面它是道教的象征，修行模式图，另一方面也是道家的宇宙极和方法论的模式图。

既然风水谈的是自然界的风与水，也就离不开自然界中的规律和影响。风水的“道”就是了解和应用自然法则的学问。风水不是道教或道家中的表现或实践，虽和道家一样，追求自然。风水的理论和应用基础离不开自然现象和影响，绝对不是一种习俗、仪式、神秘的学问。