The Philosophical Basis of Feng Shui

1. Mutual responding between Heaven and Human

Heaven and human are interdependent and through communication, they mutually influence each other. (Fun and Liu, 1995). The destiny of human, including social and political stability, personal fortune, farm production and life and death are determined by the will of heaven. In contrast to that, human actions and social situations will affect the mechanism of heaven. Simply put, human and earth affect each other mutually.

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2. Yin and yang
Yin and Yang are two opposite which complement each other form the universe. In word history, Yin means a hill or a mountain’s shady north side, while Yang is a river or a mountain’s sunny south side. Yin also represent amiable, yielding, receptive and submissive attributes while Yang depicts the otherwise which are active, unyielding and dominant attributes.

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3. Wu Xing
Wu Xing depicts the five basic elements of the universe: water, fire, wood, metal and earth. Wu Xing are used by the Chinese philosophers to classify attributes of the universe as the elements form a relationship that is water produces wood; wood produces fire; fire produces earth; earth produces metal and metal produces water. The relationship of this complimentary elements leads to positive interactions. However, the five elements can also contrast to one another; water overcomes fire; fire overcomes metal; metal overcomes wood; wood overcomes earth and earth overcomes water which lead to negative interaction.

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4. Chi
Chi is the basic component that builds the strong interaction between Yin & Yang and the five elements. Chinese philosophy specifies three features of Chi: (1) Chi gives birth to heaven and earth, (2) Chi is the ultimate source of life, and (3) Chi dwelled in human body and in heaven and earth is mutually penetrating.

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The Cultural Basis of Feng Shui

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1. Prosperity/ Status/ Longevity
Prosperity refers to having a good family and a strong body; status refers to social class and prime clothing and longevity refers to a long, pleasant life.

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2. Harmony
Feng Shui also stresses on harmony and prevention of conflicts. Conflicts then affect the formation of a harmonious relationship which requires an ongoing and complex process for people to adapt and relocate themselves to interdependence and cooperation.

3. Moral Concern
Based on the Chinese family system, moral concern reflected the form of family relationship. In which, they have to take care of their parents, elder persons, their ancestors’ grave and obey the wishes of deceased parents. Chinese moral concern work closely and harmoniously with connecting members of the extended family together.

4. Aesthetic Views
The Chinese aesthetic views are based on I Ching or the Book of Changes. Four doctrines that form Chinese aesthetic views are (1) the union of human, nature and man, (2) harmony, (3) the debate interaction of Yin and Yang, and (4) the moral and artistic emphasis. Feng Shui digested these ideas and came up with its own aesthetic system. First, the shape of the mountains and river should be lively crooked and winding. Second, the structure should be symmetric and suitable with nature. Third, the chosen area for dwelling and burying should have a universal balance. Lastly, universal balance of the chosen area must align with the concept of harmony.

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The Impact of Feng Shui on Chinese

Social Interaction

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1. Interpersonal Interaction

Feng Shui influenced Chinese interpersonal communication by developing: harmonious relationship and selective communication.

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a) Harmonious Relationship
Feng Shui’s doctrine that focuses on harmony demands people to work harmoniously with those around them to promote well-being. Social harmony becomes a goal for people to achieve together to create a positive environment.

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b) Selective Communication
In order to increase fortune, one has to blend themselves with someone who has similar personality and compatible birthdays. This idea continues as an important development between males and females.

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2. Business Life
It is normal for Chinese to consult Feng Shui experts before they start a business. Feng Shui is used to detect, avoid and correct any situations that contains “Sha Chii” (bad omen).

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a) Name of Company
Feng Shui states that it is crucial to choose correct and appropriate name for your business. If the chosen name spells luck, it will give a spiritual desire to the management. The design of the company’s logo plays an important part.

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b) Location of the Company
Commercial buildings should be designed and built to harmonized the surrounding buildings and blend with the surroundings and natural elements according to Feng Shui. The best way to identify a building’s site is to look for the “dragon vein” spot which means a main road in town.

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c) Interior design and setting
The office atmosphere is also influenced by the interior design and environment. It is necessary to establish a comfortable working environment in which employees may perform their tasks. For example, the arrangement of workplace furniture, particularly in the room of the manager which can have a great impact on business interaction. It is suggested that the manager’s desk should always be in a quiet position away from the public eyes which can provide help and security. In-office decorations also impact the company’s atmosphere. A tank of goldfish, for example, is a perfect way to combat malignant forces and turn the negative energies into positive ones. In addition, the goldfish amount should be in odd numbers, and the tank should be put in the office unlucky spot.

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d) Organizational behavior
Feng Shui affects employees’ spirit and success in the business. It is argued that whoever practices Feng Shui in the workplace correctly appears to be psychologically and physically happier, able to cope with challenges, be more effective in life, and work well with colleagues.

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Feng Shui Items

The correct positioning of any Feng Shui objects will not only bring you wealth and fortune, but can also cleanse evil spirits. If the objects of Feng Shui are put in the wrong place, they can easily affect the well-being of your family and even cause you to experience unforeseen financial losses.

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• Feng Shui Items for office: Bronze, Rooster, Six or Eight Bronze Horses, Dragon Products, Bronze Sheep, Calligraphy and Painting, Flowers & Plants, Sailing Ship, Vase.

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• Feng Shui Symbols for Home: Lion, Turtle, Deer, Dragon Products, Elephant, Bronze Elephant, Large Copper Coin, Calligraphy and Painting, Fish Tank, Flowers & Plants, Wind Chime, Wenchang Pagoda, Calabash Gourd, Vase, Bamboo, Fountain, Eight Trigrams (Bagua), Bagua Mirror, Compass, Peach Sword

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• Feng Shui Symbols for Wealth and Prosperity: Pi Xiu, Kylin, Golden Toad, Elephant, Five-Emperor Coins, Ten-Emperor Coins, Fish Tank, Calabash Gourd, Compass, Laughing Buddha, Bamboo

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• Feng Shui Symbols for Career: Sheep , Rooster, Horse, Dragon Symbol Items, Wenchang Pagoda, Sailing Ship

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• Feng Shui Items for Love: Calabash Gourd, Compass, Bronze Rooster, Rose Quartz

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• Feng Shui Items for Health: Bronze Sheep, Calabash Gourd, Vase, Compass

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Animal Symbols