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WHAT IS FENG SHUI?

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            I was born into a traditional Chinese family in Singapore where Feng Shui was practiced all the time. I never questioned my parents or grandparents about it. It was a rule. I occupied the bedroom chosen for me, had a seat assigned at the dinner table, had my study table positioned where it would encourage my concentration and study skills and even had items like flowers and paintings surrounding me that would assist in my relationship and networking success.

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            Now many years later, after I established my career, got married, set up home, built up my business and bore my daughter and son, I passed on this tradition to my children. It was around this time in my life that I began my journey to find out what Feng Shui truly is all about. This brought me to the doorstep of a well-respected Feng Shui Master – Master Chong in Singapore. He is a 4th generation Feng Shui Master with a very influential lineage. Under his guidance he enlightened and taught me on the true and finer aspects of this wonderful tradition. It amazed me that Feng Shui has withstood the tests of time even after being forcefully eradicated from China by the Communist regime in the late 1940s. When this happened some Feng Shui masters packed their treasured Chinese compasses, books and scrolls and escaped to welcoming Chinese communities in Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Here in there newly adopted lands, they continued to practice Feng Shui and trained their disciples. Those who stayed behind in China were not allowed to practice their art. Today, Feng Shui is a lost art in China. However, in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand it thrives. It has even made an impact in the US, Europe, Australia and even in the Middle East as it traveled to the shores of many religions, traditions and cultures. There are buildings and western organizations in the US where Feng Shui masters have been consulted.  Disney in Hong Kong consulted a Feng Shui master when they were in the process of designing Disney Hong Kong. The Disney executives made the changes according to Feng Shui recommendations and some executives even consulted the Feng Shui Master on their office space in order to achieve career success. There are many billion dollar projects in the Middle East where Feng Shui has been consulted, one of which is The Burj Khalifa. It was completed in 2010 and is currently the tallest building in the world.

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            Feng Shui originated in China. It is a 4000 year old tradition – older than Taoism and Buddhism. It was so influential that Taoism and Buddhism began to adopt this traditional practice into their respective religions. Therefore, Feng Shui in its true and pure sense is not a religion. It is a tradition that addressed the understanding of the early metaphysics. It is a practice that adhered to the rule that every matter has a significant place in the universe and the placement, positioning and direction of this matter determines the balance of the environment it occupies and how each matter affects one another.  It is also considered a science as it has formulas for calculations. It is also seen as an art because based on the results of the calculations and keen observation of the Feng Shui master he or she uses that vast and deep knowledge and experience to determine the balance and harmony of the environment. 

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            So what is matter? Four thousand years ago (2000 BCE) the Chinese wise men observed the world as they knew it. From their continuing observations, they deduced that the world was made of five elements or matter (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water). Each had a different energy level and characteristic. The fine balance of these five elements caused the world not to explode or implode. Whenever there was an imbalance, there would be a catastrophe. For example, if there was too much fire in the world, there would be excessive volcanic activity and eruptions. If there was too much water in the world, there would be horrendous floods. After each catastrophe, the other elements would come into play to recalibrate, and the world would be stable once more until another element becomes excessive.

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            Thus the balance and harmony of these five elements were important for the world to exist as well as to achieve abundance in all the good things in life. Using this same principle the Feng Shui masters applied it to a smaller environment – the home and workplace in order to successfully establish abundance in social/business/romantic/family relationships, fame, career success, descendants luck, good business fortune, wealth and health.

            There are three major schools of Classical Chinese Feng Shui. They are Form Feng Shui, Flying Star Feng Shui and Eight Mansions Feng Shui. These three schools can be practised singly or together.

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            Form Feng Shui studies the relationships and effects between the natural geographical factors such as mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, valleys, hills, etc and man-made factors such as buildings, roads, electrical towers, canals, etc. on the home or workplace.

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            Flying Star Feng Shui takes into consideration the aspects of the time dimension. It is based on the understanding that the environment is dynamic as the universe is always in motion. Therefore we human elements are affected by these changes. This explains why we encounter good and bad years. Using this school of Feng Shui, human elements can ensure some stability in their lives.

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            The Eight Mansion Feng Shui addresses the human element and how the environment can be designed to achieve an individual’s optimal potential. This is based on the precept that once an individual occupies a space, a relationship between the environment and the individual begins. This is because humans influence the environment and vice versa.