|
|
Wind
Water
Introduction By going through the various topics, namely Beginners, Schools and Usage modules, you will obtain an important understanding of FengShui. This is especially essential later on when, you start to apply the techniques to your personal and office dwellings, positioning of furniture, etc. I strongly advice against skimping over the materials because FengShui, taken from a certain perspective, is likened to a sharp knife that cuts on both edges. Use it wisely (and with honourable intentions) and you shall reap abundant rewards beyond your imagination. But abuse it (or misinterpret/wrongly apply) and you will end up thoroughly miserable. For this reason, the information gathered here merely serves as an introduction to this mystical science. You should consult an experienced FengShui Master for important decisions, such as orientation of home, place of business, choice of dates for critical events (wedding, official openings, contractual signings, etc) or go over some of my selected reading materials and pick up a couple of them for more insightful knowledge. It may make you a richer person. As in any venture one embarks, researching as much relevant information is vital to success. Understanding FengShui is no EXCEPTION.
Before you begin your journey from Beginners
module, let me give you a synopsis of this subject matter. Chinese geomancy is also
termed feng shui, literally "wind" and "water" respectively. Abstract
natural forces are believed to run according to the landscape, and these
forces can cast effect on people. These forces can be positive or
negative. The art of feng shui is to find ways of harnessing the good
effects in our environment while avoiding the bad. Of utmost importance is
balancing the flow of "qi", the cosmic current. Feng shui is
deeply-rooted in Chinese culture though it has been pointed out that there
must have been some tension between feng shui and Confucianism. The former
emphasises common beliefs and burial rituals, which indicate how man can
change Heaven's doom. The latter, on the other hand, maintains that
"wealth and honour are from Heaven". Yet, feng shui thrived
and its high adaptability has ensured that it survived in modern cities
like Hongkong and Singapore. Not only do individuals seek advice to
harmonise themselves with the surroundings, even companies look to it to
make the path to wealth smoother. That should come as no surprise since
the Chinese rulers themselves believe in the power of good feng shui.
Buildings like the Forbidden City in Beijing was built to lie exactly on
the North-South line. Constructions such as bridges, stairs, entrances and
decorations were also made to adhere to basic feng shui principles.
Feng shui was treated so
seriously that it was said that the Tang emperors came up with a fake feng
shui book to trick the barbarian enemies into bringing ill fortune to
themselves. It is also believed that burying one's ancestors on a good
feng shui site will bring prosperity to the descendants of the deceased.
During the Taiping Rebellion in the Qing dynasty, the imperial general
found the ancestral grave of a rebellion leader and proceeded to rain
canon balls on it in the belief that it would severe the "dragon's veins"
and thus bring misfortune to the leader. Whether this worked or whether it
was mere coincidence, the rebellion was eventually suppressed. The Chinese lunar
calendar dates from 2637 B.C., when the first cycle of the zodiac was
introduced. One complete cycle is made up of five cycles of 12 years,
which lasts 60 years. An animal was assigned to each of the 12 years.
According to legend, before Lord Buddha departed from the Earth, he
summoned all the animals to come to him but only 12 animals came to bid
him farewell. As a reward, he named a year after each of the animals in
the order that they arrived. They are the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger,
Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. The
animal sign that you are born under is believed to exert an influence on
your life. During the 60-year
cycle, an animal sign is combined with one of the five elements - Metal,
Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. The element of your sign will have an
influence on your life. By knowing your own strengths and weaknesses,
keeping a low profile when your luck is down and going for the gold when
fortune is at your door, your ride through life might just be a little
less bumpy. Bon Voyage .....it will last a lifetime. Begin your journey here at Beginners' module.
|