FENG SHUI - HANJON GLOBAL Inc.

Feng Shui, which translates as “wind-water,” is an ancient Chinese discipline whose philosophy can be traced back several thousands of years. The term Feng Shui first appeared in the classic text “The Book of the Burials” by Guo Pu (276-324 AD). The practice originated in the early days when people settled to farm animals and grow crops. It was initially used to identify safe dwelling places where families would be able to flourish and to determine the best burial sites for relatives. Later, it was used to site palaces, government buildings, and other public monuments. Even whole cities were designed and built according to core Feng Shui concepts.

Feng Shui is the practice of arranging pieces in living spaces to create balance with the natural world. The goal is to harness energy forces and establish harmony between an individual and their environment. In Asian culture, this philosophy is called the Tao, which translates to “the way.” Taoism is the way of nature, and all the basic rules of Feng Shui reflect nature.

The heart of Feng Shui lies in its fundamental principles, which are based on five elements: metal, water, fire, earth, and wood. The desired result is creating harmony in your life and spaces. The practice of Feng Shui remained an integral part of Chinese culture until recent times, when communism temporarily quashed Feng Shui on account of its more mystical elements.

Today, Feng Shui has spread throughout China and even to Western cultures and is used as a means of harmonizing the relationship between man and his environment. It’s an ancient art of arranging buildings, objects, and space in an environment to achieve harmony and balance.

These are the core principles of Feng Shui:

Qi (Chi): Qi is one of the central concepts in Feng Shui. It refers to the vital life force or energy that inhabits everything, both animate and inanimate objects. In Feng Shui, Qi is considered to be the element that promotes the growth of life, that is, what we call natural resources. A large room with little furniture can cause an overwhelming feeling of qi, making you feel lost. On the other hand, a small room that’s packed with clutter doesn’t give Qi space to move, resulting in feelings of stagnation.
Yin and Yang: Yin and Yang are two opposing yet complementary forces that exist in the universe. The concept of Yin and Yang was first introduced by Taoist philosophers in ancient China. The word “yin” means shadow or darkness, while “yang” means light or brightness. Yin is associated with feminine energy, darkness, coldness, stillness, and passivity. Yang is associated with masculine energy, lightness, warmth, movement, and activity. In Feng Shui, the characteristics of Yin and Yang must be taken into account when arranging a space, as they provide something known as ‘chi’ or subtle energy, which sustains balance and health in one’s living space.
The Five Elements: The five elements of Feng Shui—earth, metal, water, wood, and fire—come from the Taoist tradition. The elements are five interrelated phases in life that work together to create a complete system. They are:
- Wood is associated with growth and vitality.
- Fire symbolizes passion and high energy.
- Earth represents stability and groundedness.
- Metal: signifies logic and intelligence.
- Water stands for wisdom and serenity.

Each of these elements represents a different phase of the Qi energy, and they interact with each other in productive and destructive cycles. For example, water nourishes wood, wood feeds fire, fire creates earth (in the form of ash), earth bears metal, and metal collects water. On the other hand, wood parts earth, earth absorbs water, water quenches fire, fire melts metal, and metal chops wood.

These principles are used to achieve a balance of energies in a physical environment. While the core principles of Yin and Yang remain the same, their applications can vary depending on the context.

Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice, is used to balance the energy in a space to improve the lives of those living there. Here are some ways Feng Shui can improve various aspects of life:

Health: Feng Shui can greatly improve your health. It’s mostly used for the sick or elderly. The health area (Tien Yi) based on a person’s Kua influences a person’s health. Proper feng shui can help you feel healthy and positive. For instance, keeping your home organized and free from clutter can increase your confidence, which in turn gives your success and prosperity a generous boost.
Wealth: Feng Shui is commonly used to attract wealth. Many businesses use it, and most tycoons seek help in this area. For residential Feng Shui, some wealth enhancements used include the use of water features such as fish tanks. Other ways of enhancing wealth mean taking advantage of your prosperity area (Shen Chi) and health area (Tien Yi), determined by your kua. You’d also want to make good use of your home’s wealth area, which is determined by the direction your house is facing and the floor plan layout relative to the front door.
Relationships: Feng Shui can help improve relationships. It can help you build better and stronger relationships. For instance, the bedroom is the most important place for a couple, and you need to make sure the place where you spend the most time is aligned with your feng shui and energies. Also, Feng Shui can help you attract love and improve romance.

Remember, these are general benefits, and the experience can vary greatly from person to person. If you’re interested in learning more about how to apply Feng Shui principles to your life, you might want to consult with a Feng Shui expert or do further research.

Feng Shui Tips and Advice

Here are some Feng Shui tips and advice for applying it in daily life:

Five Elements: Discover how the five elements (earth, metal, water, wood, and fire) can interact with your space.
Commanding Position: Determine your power position in the room.
Main Doorway: Keep the main entryway free of clutter.
Living Room: Seating should be ample, facing each other, with no backs to the entryway.
Kitchen: Maintain cleanliness for good health.
Bathroom: Keep the door and toilet seat closed.

References and Resources

Feng Shui Beginner: This is a leading Feng Shui blog and knowledge vault that covers all aspects of this ancient art. It provides some simple Feng Shui tips to guide you in your home interior design to attract positive energy to every room in your house.
PureWow: This site provides a full breakdown of what goes into the practice of Feng Shui, plus an essential guide to properly Feng Shui-ing your home.
Your Chinese Astrology: Here you can find 50 useful Feng Shui tips for your house derived from thousands of years’ experience.
Feng Shui Society: This site provides countless case studies from both residential and corporate clients who have used Feng Shui to improve their lives and businesses.
ArchDaily: This site provides 7 projects inspired by Feng Shui principles.

Workshops and Courses

Here are some recommended workshops and courses on Feng Shui:

FAQ’s

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Feng Shui:

What is the difference between traditional Chinese feng shui and western, or Black Hat Sect, feng shui? Traditional Chinese feng shui aligns the bagua with the compass directions, while Black Hat Sect or western feng shui uses the front door to align the bagua.
Can I use both Black Hat and traditional Chinese feng shui? You can, but it’s usually best to use one method or the other.
Do I use the bagua over the house or over a room? You can use them both. Apply the bagua over the entire house in the facing direction. Apply the bagua in a room according to the compass directions.
I have an L-shaped house. Should I apply the bagua to both sides of the L or to the entire home? It’s typically recommended to apply it to the whole footprint of the home.
Can I use personal feng shui and compass feng shui together? Yes! They go easily together.
What if I am an east person and my spouse is a west person in personal feng shui? How do we decide whose feng shui to focus on? The Chinese are very old-fashioned about this. Basically, you select to enhance the breadwinner’s directions, regardless of who is male or female.
If I move my bed to suit my personal feng shui, my bed lines up on the same wall as the door. Is that OK? No, it’s not good. Never forsake good feng shui basics (easily being able to see who enters the room from a chair or bed) in favor of your best directions.
Certain Objects Bring Luck: True or False? Most people believe that particular objects can bring negative or positive energies. Anything with the slightest bit of an oriental look is assumed to activate Feng Shui power. This is indeed untrue.
Feng Shui Consultants Only Rearrange Furniture: True or False? It is a popular belief that Feng Shui consultants only rearrange the furniture and move it around to have good Feng Shui. This is not true.
Mirrors Double Energy: True or False? Some people believe that mirrors are used to double the energy in your space. This is extremely misleading.

**Please note that these are general answers, and the experience can vary greatly from person to person.