Feng Shui

[Ian_Lee]

Feng Shui has a long history. Its origin can date back to the school of Yin-Yang during the Spring and Autumn Period 3,000 years ago.

Some call it science. Some call it superstitution. (Please don't ask my opinion.) Feng Shui is mainly concerned about the balancing of the basic five elements -- Metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

Feng Shui is immensely popular in Hong Kong/Macau. One of the largest Bank in the City -- Hang Seng -- adhered to the Feng Shui Master's instruction and let the entrance of every branch facing the street at a slanted angle.

Even foreign corporations believe deeply in Feng Shui in Hong Kong. Before Disney started construction on its theme park in Hong Kong, Eisner had to hire a Feng Shui Master to evaluate the Penny Bay site.

HSBC headquarter is said to sit on the best Feng Shui location on the whole island. Before it rebuilt its headquarter into an ultramodern space station-like building in the '80s, its management consulted the Feng Shui Master and changed the design of renowned British architect Norman Foster by hollowing the ground floor so that the "qi" can freely flow around and redesigning all the elevators at a slanted angle.

The grave of Sun Yat Sen's mother in Flying Goose Mountain is said to also possess excellent Feng Shui.

Even Chris Patten believed in it. After the I.M.Pei-designed Bank of China Building completed in early '90s, it looked like a sharp knife pointing at the Governor's House. Feng Shui Master advised Patten to plant tall trees to shelter the vicious "qi" and he obliged.

Famous Feng Shui Masters charge as much as architects do -- area by feet.

Now even Feng Shui is becoming popular in North America too. I read so many magazines/books regarding Feng Shui in Borders and some friends even asked my opinion on how to fengshui their houses.

[tara]

It's also getting increasingly popular in malaysia - the popular feng shui master in malaysia is Lilian Too. Her advice "sells" well. Heard that she advised that properties facing northeast/southwest (i think that's correct) are good fengshui for the next 20 years - and well, its seems like demand for properties facing those directions are increasing and price as well.

I understand from my dad that the real feng shui (way back in history) was much more complicated. Today, feng shui has been simplified. Does it really work? Don't ask me?

[Ian_Lee]

Tara:

Had the world's tallest building -- The Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur -- been fengshui-ed first before construction work started?

[smithsgj]

I thought *we* had the world's tallest building? Maybe once it's finished... until the one in Shanghai takes over.

I can see it from my balcony. Yay.

[Quest]

yes i think the one in taiwan is the tallest right now. it looks like a Thai pagoda.

[tara]

Ian: I am not sure whether the Twin Towers was first feng-shui(ed)...but I don't think so.

Yup, you guys are right, I think Shanghai is taking over the "world tallest building" status.

[Ian_Lee]

In California's State Legislature, there is a bill proposed by an ethnic Chinese legislator that government buildings have to be fengshui-ed so that there can be "free flow of positive energy to promote harmony".

Even though the bill has a slight chance to be passed, it looks like Feng Shui master can be a promising career in US in the future like HK is now.

[bhchao]

Feng Shui has a numbering system based on your year of birth that determines the compatibility between a man and a woman. Each of these numbers represent one of the five elements. Personally I think Feng Shui is a bunch of bs, but after looking at a book with my girlfriend, I found it quite interesting.

Males:

Add the last two digits of your year of birth, then subtract the sum from 10. (If the sum is a two-digit number, add the two digits together, then subtract from 10).

For example, those born in 1972 will add 7 + 2. Then 10 - 9 = 1. 1 is your Kua number.

Those born in 1973 will add 7 + 3 = 10. Since 10 is a two-digit number, you add 1 and 0, which equals to 1. Then 10 - 1 = 9. 9 is your Kua number.

Females:

Add the last two digits of your year of birth, then add 5. (If the sum is a two-digit number, add the two digits together, then add 5).

For example, those born in 1976 will add 7 + 6. Since 13 is a two-digit number, add 1 and 3, which equals to 4. 4 + 5 = 9. 9 is your Kua number.

Those born in 1981 will add 8 + 1 = 9. Then 9 + 5 = 14. Since 14 is a two-digit number, add 1 and 4, which equals to 5. 5 is your Kua number.

Each of the Kua numbers represent an element.

Kua number 1: Water

Kua number 2: Earth

Kua number 3: Wood

Kua number 4: Wood

Kua number 5: Earth

Kua number 6: Metal

Kua number 7: Metal

Kua number 8: Earth

Kua number 9: Fire

Supporting cycles:

1. Water supports Wood

2. Wood supports Fire

3. Fire supports Earth

4. Earth supports Metal

5. Metal supports Water

Controlling cycles:

1. Water puts out Fire

2. Fire melts Metal

3. Metal cuts Wood

4. Wood guts the Earth

5. Earth controls Water

If your Kua number is 9 (Fire), and your spouse's number is 7 (Metal), this is a very inauspicious combination because Fire controls Metal.

However if your Kua number is 9 (Fire), and your spouse's number is 3 (Wood), this is an auspicious combination because Wood supports Fire.

A famous example is the pairing of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

He was born in 1948, so his Kua number is 7 (Metal). She was born in 1961, so her Kua number is 3 (Wood). Feng Shui experts called this a controlling cycle since Metal cuts Wood.

Don't take this too seriously and you might want to take this as a grain of salt. However for some people, it does hold serious weight since this is an ancient Chinese art based on Taoist elements.

[skylee]

Interesting.

And what is "kua" in character? 卦?

[Ian_Lee]

Now even Disney Corp believes in Feng Shui. Read:

http://www.iht.com/articles/543265.htm

"We know if we're too U.S.-centric, the products won't be too relevant to those markets," Iger said. "That's particularly true as it relates to Hong Kong Disneyland."

Esther Wong, a Hong Kong Disneyland spokeswoman, said that the company had rotated the orientation of the entire park by several degrees in the early design phase after consulting a master of feng shui, a Chinese geomantic practice of seeking harmony with spiritual forces.

On the master's advice, the company also designated part of one kitchen as an area where no fire would be allowed, so as to maintain the proper balance of forces there, she said.

"This is essentially an American product, but it's a question of how we tailor it to an audience in this part of the world," Wong said. "Disney is an American brand, and our guests, our potential guests, believe in this product."

[bhchao]

Bruce Lee supposedly died because of bad Feng Shui. An object was put above his house in Hong Kong to ward off so-called "demons", and a thunderstorm blew off the object the night before he died.

[Ian_Lee]

Now I wonder if all those real estate in Mainland developed by HK, Taiwan and SE Asia ethnic Chinese investors have been feng shui-ed or not?

[CBC]

cantonese are more superstitious than other chinese.

[studentyoung]

As for I know, Feng Shui in a kind of architectural knowledge in the acient Chinese architecture.

Its principles aim to try all effects to make people to live in a comfortable place and let the buildings to match well in the local bio-enviroment at the same time. In fact Feng Shui is connected with meteorology, geography and biology. It do have its scientific sides, but some people especiall Mr. Feng Shui (风水先生) want to get public attemtion and use a lot of superstition as its makeup. That's why some people will say Feng Shui is superstitous.

In fact Feng Shui is a kind of knowledge accumlated by the acient Chinese architects from their practices for a long time. It is really our tradtional architectural culture that the owners love to enjoy nature and keep a balance between their house and the natural enviroment so as to creat a more comfortable life.

I can say that Feng Shui is really the way that our Chinses to express how they deeply love nature.

That's just my opinion. If you don't agree with me, come and disscuss it with me.

[Ian_Lee]

cantonese are more superstitious than other chinese.

All those God-knows-what-kind-of-religions/sects only have mass following in the inland provinces.

Moreover, Guangdong authority, like other provinces', do not treat Feng Shui in high regard.

Feng Shui is only prevalent in HK/Macau, Taiwan and SE Asia. But lately even many home decoration magazines printed in US always carry articles about Feng Shui.

If believing in Feng Shui is superstitious, then the CEOs of HSBC and Disney must be superstitious too!

[woodcutter]

Since the date 1972 is from the western tradition, why would you use something like that to get a "Kua" number?

[liuzhou]

If believing in Feng Shui is superstitious, then the CEOs of HSBC and Disney must be superstitious too!

And their strenuous efforts to move into mainland China proves they are committed communists too!

[skylee]

I think i see HSBC everywhere .

[bhchao]

There is another Feng Shui system called the Nine Star Ki, based on the Taoist elements. It is very complex and is considered very accurate in determining the compatibility between a man and a woman. It consists of a set of 3 numbers for an individual.

The first number is the principle number, which is based on your year of birth. Unlike the Kua number, the principle number is calculated the same for both males and females. For example, a male and a female born in the same year will have the same principle numbers.

To calculate the principle number, simply add the last two digits of your year of birth. If the sum is a two digit number, simply add the two digits of the sum together, and then subtract from 10. This is your principle number.

Example: 1975. 7 + 5=12. 1+2=3. 10-3=7. 7 is the principle number

1981. 8 + 1=9. 10-9=1. 1 is the principle number

The second number is the inner number, which is not easily calculated. To find the inner number, look at the chart in this link: http://www.grasshoppingtime.com/gateway/childstar.html

A person born on July 15th, 1975 has a principle number of 7. Based on the chart above, he or she has a inner number of 3.

The third number is the energetic number and is the most difficult to figure out. To find the energetic number, look at the squares in this link: http://www.fengshuiastro.co.uk/9starki/house.html

To find the energetic number, look in the group of squares that has your inner number in the middle. (The site is wrong when it tells you to look for your principle number in the middle. It should be the inner number). Then in the group of squares that has your inner number in the middle, look for the position of your principle number within that same group. Finally look in the center group of squares and see which number occupies the same position. This is your energetic number.

So a person born on July 15th, 1975 have Nine Star Ki numbers of 7, 3, 9.

To illustrate the accuracy of this ancient Taoist system, let's look at the Nine Star Ki numbers of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

She was born on July 1, 1961. Her first number, the principle one, is 3. Her second number, the inner number, is 1. Her third number is 7. So her Nine Star Ki is 3,1,7.

He was born on Nov 14, 1948. His first number is 7, His second number is 8. His third number is 4. Therefore his Nine Star Ki is 7, 8, 4.

What is striking about this match is that there are no numbers that are compatible with each other. Feng Shui experts say at least one number must be compatible in order for a couple to last. If the principle numbers are not compatible, at least the inner numbers should be compatible, or the outer numbers should be compatible.

3 (Wood) - 7 (Metal) Controlling cycle

1 (Water) - 8 (Earth) Controlling cycle

7 (Metal) - 4 (Wood) Controlling cycle

The result is not surpising. Their marriage ended in disaster and unhappiness. Some people may call it luck that this Feng Shui system accurately predicted their fate. But never underestimate the power of this ancient Chinese art.

[bhchao]

Check out Prince Charles and his mistress Camilla Parker Bowles' Nine Star Ki. She was born on July 15, 1947.

His Nine Star Ki: 7, 8, 4

Her Nine Star Ki: 8, 6, 7

7 (Metal) - 8 (Earth) Supporting cycle

8 (Earth) - 6 (Metal) Supporting cycle

4 (Wood) - 7 (Metal) Controlling cycle