These are
just some of the words and things that arise when talking about feng shui. Even animals may be
mentioned, such as tigers and dragons. Listening to some of the words being tossed
around when talking about feng shui
may seem bewildering or rather strange for some people, but for those who
believe in the practice, it all makes sense.
 |
| Zentao symbol as evolution of the Tao (Yin Yang) and the Five Elements of Feng Shui |
There are
many things that have come out of ancient China, but one of the concepts that
have taken hold of the western world is the ancient art of feng shui. This practice dates back to more than three thousand
years and is as widely practiced today in China as it was in ancient times. In
fact, today, feng shui has spread to
various parts of the world so that the desire to balance a person’s
surroundings has become a goal even for those belonging to other cultures.
After all, the desire for happiness, wealth, good health, love, long life and
prosperity are universal goals.
Ancient art
Just like in
other cultures, the Emperors of ancient China sought to maximize their power.
Therefore, they would try to harness all means in order to ensure the longevity
of their health, power and reign, even studying the laws of nature. They would
seek all means of protection so that their kingdom would also benefit.
 |
| Feng shui Luopan compass |
In ancient
times, scholars would study the terrain, directional aspects, seasons and even
the celestial constellations. The information gathered would then be used when
positioning and designing palaces, tombs and even when scheduling various
important rituals. These scholars and practitioners are known as geomancers.
What used
to be practiced by royalty trickled down to the landowners and other wealthy in
the land. Soon, the entire Chinese nation would also practice and use the
principles of feng shui. Today, the
practice has spread to various parts of the world. The principles are largely
the same as they were 3,000 years ago, even if the overall landscape has
changed in modern times.
What is feng shui?
Feng shui is literally translated to
wind-water. In it’s most basic sense, feng
shui is a way of understanding the universe. The practice is a way of
explaining and showing the interrelatedness of things and how everything has
energy. It is both art and science that relate to balancing the energy of a
given space to ensure the good health, prosperity and overall wellbeing of its
occupants. It may be hard to believe that what direction you face will
influence your overall health. However, it at least pays to understand what
this is all about so that you can still harness the benefits, even if you may
not necessarily believe in it.
To gain a
better appreciation of the practice, it’s a good idea to learn more about it.
Here are some basic concepts and what they mean in the context of feng shui.
Chi or Qi
This is the
most basic concept of feng shui. It
stems from the Taoist view that all living things give off and have chi or energy. Chi is therefore, the intrinsic energy of all living things. Chi is manipulated in various ways. A
person’s personal chi may be changed
through exercise such as in the form of Tai-Chi
or acupuncture, and of course, through feng
shui. There is chi in the food we
eat, the air we breathe and people we interact with and the places where we
spend our time. To have good chi is
to have good health. It is also the presence of good chi that attracts wealth, prosperity and all the other things that
make us happy.
Yin and Yang
 |
| The Yin and Yang Symbol with white representing Yang and black representing Yin |
There is
always a counterpart to everything, such as light and dark, young and old and
so forth. In feng shui, yin is the female aspect, while yang refers to the male aspect. Yin is associated with the dark, moon,
cold and water. On the other hand, yang
is associated with light, sun, hot, day and fire. One is not necessarily better
than the other since both are needed. It is through the practice of feng shui that yin and yang are
effectively balanced.
The Five Elements of Wu Xing
Chi or energy is thought to have
functions or frequencies. These are metal, water, wood, fire and earth.
Everything goes through a natural cycle, just as the seasons change. However,
disrupting this natural cycle of creation and destruction is what is referred
to as imbalance. This results in pain, disease and other misfortunes.
 |
| Representation of the Chinese five elements (wǔxíng) with text in english. |
For
example, in feng shui, metal destroys
wood, because metal can literally chop wood. On the other hand, water creates
wood because water is needed to nurture plants and trees.
Ba-gua
A ba-gua is often placed over the door of
a Chinese home. The red octagon shaped object is actually a very powerful
symbol and tool used by geomancers in feng
shui.
 |
| Image art of a Bagua Mirrior |
The eight
sectors or gua correspond with 45
degrees of a compass. Each section refers to a corresponding direction, a
specific element, a season, planetary influence, color and family member. The
grid also has various symbols found in the I
Ching, which is the ancient Chinese book of divination.
For the
Chinese, the orientation of the gua
is placed at the bottom while the top of the gua faces the south. For westerners, the north is placed on the top
while the south corresponds to the bottom of the gua.
There are
so many other aspects about feng shui
but this just provides the most basic overview of some words and concepts often
used. Regardless of whether you believe in it or choose to practice it, the
principles behind have taken root in the consciousness of so many people across
the globe. Whether you are seeking prosperity or long life, or you simply want
to decorate your space in the most harmonious way possible, feng shui teaches us that it can be done
by working with the space and energy that we have.
Photo Credits:
No comments:
Post a Comment