Calabash - how does it using in Feng Shui.
Nowadays Calabash is widely using in the Feng Shui field, especially in flying stars Feng Shui system. It used to solve the star "2" which is the sick star.
Since Feng Shui appears, it modifies by different masters. We need to accept that it has a lot of superstition stuffs involve. We need to clear understand "why?" for the Feng Shui theory. Blind to believe in "Theory" or "Master" is real superstition.
Let's see what kind of Trigram that Calabash belongs to, some master may think it is belong to "Dui兌". If you look at "Dui兌" basic meaning, it is belong to metal, broken, mouth. Then only Calabash became dry and makes it as the water bottle, it has the mouth. It never can claim as "Dui".
In Eight trigrams, only "Shun 巽", "Shun 震" is belong to wood, Calabash is a kind of plants, and it is a tall tree, and the shape of "Shun 震" Trigram is like a container. Therefore "Shun 震" is more suitable.
In the flying stars system linage, they were using the bell to solve the sick star. To use the "Calabash" to solve the sick star is first appear in around 1980. Master Chan Pui Sang 陳培生 is a Chinese Doctor and he change his career as a Feng Shui master. During that moment he taught one of his students, Master Song Siu Kwong (宋韶光), got invited to talk about Feng Shui in the television in Hong Kong, then using "Calabash" to solve the sick star become more popular.
Under Master Song Siu Kwong (宋韶光) explanation, "Calabash" is use as a herbs bottle in the ancient time, therefore "Calabash" is a symbol of a doctor. That is why we call the job of a doctor is "懸壺濟世". Doctor is deal with sick that is the reason why to use the "Calabash" to solve the sick star.
Under my research, most of the "懸壺濟世" doctor in the ancient time is Daoism Master; the Feng Shui is also one of the tools for them to serve the society. "Calabash" is also the symbol of Daoism. They use it to collect the evil spirit and then use the talisman to close its mouth. The Daoism believed that the sickness is coming from the evil spirit, if you can collect them into the "Calabash", they don't have the chance to make the people sick.
If believed "Calabash" can solve a sick star, then running a hospital become more easy, we just need to hang a "Calabash" in the patient's bed, then we don't need to spend so much money in the medicines cost.
To believe or not believe this "Calabash" theory, it is up to you. But at least, you will more understand how it is coming from.