FAQ

The term Feng Shui literally means wind-water. However, before existence of the term Feng Shui (风水), it is also known as Kan Yu (堪舆). Kan (堪) means Heavenly Way (天道) or Astronomy while Yu (舆) refers to Earthly Way (地道) or Geography. Traditionally, Feng Shui is an art of observing astrology and geographical condition to determine good location for living and building cities, as well as best time to relocate people to a better location. Therefore, part of Feng Shui is to observe and analyse landform, mountain and river flow, determining where people can access water supplies, conduct agriculture and get shelter. Thus, people can live well, thrive and less susceptible to natural disasters.

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晋朝郭璞：“气乘风则散，界水则止。古人聚之使不散，行之使有止，故谓之风水。”

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The term Feng Shui (风水) comes about during Jin Dynasty (Year 266–420) and was quoted by Scholar Guo Pu. His words described that Qi energy disperse where there is wind, halt where there is water. Feng Shui is an art of accumulating energy through prevent wind from dispersing it and using water to accumulate it. Therefore, landform and water features play very important role in good Feng Shui, and thus the term Feng Shui was created. This lays the early foundation for the school of landform, Xing Shi Pai (形勢派) "form" methods in Feng Shui, which emphasize on shape, formation of environment and tapping on Earthly energy (地气).

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As Feng Shui continues to evolve over time, theories from ancient Chinese wisdom such as Book of Change (易经), Ba Gua (Eight Trigrams) (八卦), Yin Yang (阴阳), Five Elements (五行) and Luo Shu (洛书) He Tu (河图) were incorporated to further improve its accuracy and prediction. From there, Feng Shui theories reach a new level, with invention of famous techniques such as Eight Mansions (八宅), Flying Stars (紫白飞星). This creates another school in Feng Shui, Li Qi Pai (理气派) calculated (数术) methods, which emphasize on calculation and prediction of Heavenly energy (堂气生气) in our surrounding.

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In addition, invention of magnetic compass has also played an important role in Feng Shui evolution. There are many good Feng Shui techniques, but without good tool, it can be useless. Thus, magnetic compass with Feng Shui theories imprinted on it, Luo Pan (罗盘) was then invented. With Luo Pan, a Feng Shui Master can accurately ascertain Sitting and Facing directions of a house, direction and position of landform and water features, etc. This brings about convergence of practical practice and theories, this has further helped to push the Feng Shui to an even higher level. That is the reason why direction and orientation of a house are important aspect that Feng Shui Master look out during Feng Shui assessment.

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Above gives a brief introduction on the evolution of Feng Shui and its original purpose. In summary, despite of the various schools and methods of Feng Shui, this ancient art is truly a collective invention and continuous refinement from many intelligent and wise men over long history and many generations. The fundamental purpose of Feng Shui is about creating a conducive environment for us to thrive and succeed in life, by cleverly adjusting our surrounding to leverage on positive energy around to help us in our life.

Fundamentally, Feng Shui is not a religion, it is neither related to any religion. Feng Shui was invented based on observations and its objective is identifying a good natural habitat. In the development of Feng Shui culture, it has incorporated wisdom from Eight Trigram (八卦), Five Element (五行), Yin Yang (阴阳), and so on. And these theories were also based on the observations from our natural environment.

 

For instance, in Yin Yang, it is observed that all matters are like having two sides of a coin. Brightness vs Darkness, Positive vs Negative, Pessimistic vs Optimistic, and so on. Another example, in the Later Eight Trigram (后天八卦), each of the eight sectors, was invented based on the geographical condition and climate of China.

 

As you have seen from above, there is no involvement of religion in the invention of Feng Shui. However, there is a catch here, though Feng Shui is not a religion, religion can help to enhance the outcome of Feng Shui.

 

In Feng Shui, we believe, in harmonising Heaven, Earth and Man (天地人三才) factors. In modern analogy, we can understand these factors as Time, Location and Human factors. To improve our life, very often we have to be at the right time, right place and meet the right person, all at the same moment. Thus, the harmonising of these factors is deemed essential and important in Feng Shui.

 

Importantly, involvement of religion ritual in Feng Shui very often assist individuals to associate or establish unseen energy linkage with the identified auspicious sector, time and ornament. This therefore improves harmonisation of Time, Location and Human factors, and multiply outcome of Feng Shui.

 

Moreover, religion involvement in Feng Shui is not necessarily fixated at Taoism, Buddhism, etc, it can depend on each individual’s religion belief. The key objective is really to create good connection between individual and his/her environment, such that he/she can tap and leverage on the positive energy from environment.

 

In conclusion, Feng Shui is not a religion. However, involvement of religion can assist in the Feng Shui effect. Lastly, one can simply implement Feng Shui design without any religious element, and it is perfectly fine.