Discover Feng Shui
Feng Shui History
Origins
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese study which has evolved over many thousands of years and is the practice of creating a beautifully balanced environment.
This is done by studying energy or qi (pronounced chi) which is in and part of everything around us.
The practice of feng shui was in its ancient years regarded as a secret and many Masters of this practice were employed by Emperors to ensure their palaces were full of positive energy and set up for success as an advantage over their enemies.
The Masters would not be allowed to share their knowledge or services with the common folk and in some cases were executed if found to do so.
Many Masters also did not share all of their learnings and secrets with their students and hence many of these secrets were lost. Some were written in books and many books were burned up when those who disbelieved in these practices were in power.
Some Masters waited till they were old and ill to share their secrets with one or two loyal students whom they trusted to keep it a secret.
These secrets were also shared in symbolic nature in books i.e. a story or rhyme however the student selected to receive this would instantly recognize what the secret was.
Many of these texts written in story or rhyme were also purposely written with incorrect or false information to foil those who were not dedicated students of the subject.
Over the last 30 years Feng Shui has branched to the Western World and has been embraced enthusiastically by many as it is a practice that identifies root causes and works with, not against our environment just like many other new age practices.
Philosophies
Following are the philosophies and tools that are used in feng shui analysis. These are combined and/or used individually along with mathematical formulas that are specific to the property or personal chart.
Yin Yang
As referred to in ancient Chinese texts, if there was a beginning to our existence, there was a state of nothingness. This nothingness gave birth to two aspects and is known as Yang and Yin.
The diagram below is well known world wide as the symbol of Yin Yang. It represents how the sun travels across the earth with sunlight on the left and darkness on the right.
Yang is male and Yin is female. They coexist and are the balance for each other. Without one the other cannot survive. The concept of yin and yang can relate to everything that we are or have around us. It is a way to identify the cyclic activity in anything. When yin commences, it is the end of yang and vice versa. The circles in the diagram also show that there is no absoluteness; there is still yin in yang and yang in yin.
Here is a list of some examples:
Yang |
Yin |
Male |
Female |
Strong |
Weak |
Bright |
Dark |
Active |
Passive |
Summer |
Winter |
Hard |
Soft |
5 Elements
Wu Xing is the Chinese name for the 5 elements and describes the 5 types of qi or energy that surrounds us in different times via our seasons, forms or objects and activities.
These elements are represented in all the feng shui tools for property or personal feng shui analysis.
They are also represented in the Hsia Calendar which the Chinese have created to record the 5 elements in time. This calendar is also known as the Farmer's Calendar as it would give useful information for Farmers to ensure successful crops.
This calendar is also used for Personal Feng Shui analysis where the elements for the year, month, day and time of birth would be derived which would give many details about a person. Click here for more information about our Personal Feng Shui Consultations.
The diagrams below show the relationships between the elements. There is an enhancing, weakening and controlling cycle. They are not meant to be understood in a literal sense however for those who are beginning to learn about feng shui, the literal explanation can help you to remember the cycles easily.
Following is a list of the properties of each type of chi or element:
| Element or Qi |
Properties |
| Wood |
Represents life and determination. Grows upwards, enduring, kindness, the season spring, the color green, the shape of a rod or beam (long rectangle) |
| Fire |
Represents emotion. Spreads in all directions, radiant and hot, politeness, the season summer, the color red, the shape of a triangle |
| Earth |
Represents conservation. Attracts and concentrates, stable, faithfulness, all 4 seasons (in between change of seasons), the color yellow, the shape of a square or cube |
| Metal |
Represents advancement and solitude. Pierce inwards, sharp and pointing, loyalty, the season autumn, the colors gold, silver or white, the shape of a sphere or circle |
| Water |
Represents wisdom and love. Runs downwards, liberal, cleverness, the season winter, the colors blue or black, the shape of a wave, curvy |
Ba Gua
Termed as the first tool for Feng Shui, the Ba Gua is a map of energies of the earth. These are the gravitational and magnetic energies which come from the south to the north. This map shows the energies coming from 8 directions and are different forms of energy
As you can see on the diagram below the directions are associated with different forms of energy namely the 5 elements of wood, fire, earth, metal & water and the Ba Gua is traditionally drawn as an octagon.
Another new age feng shui school of thought (Black Hat) allotted each sector with a certain aspect of our lives (as per the 2nd diagram below) and their discipline centered around the idea that placing this ba gua over your house would identify the areas of the house that affect or are representative of the aspects in your life. This is a very simplified version of feng shui and although it is easy to use, has only captured a single layer of energy analysis and therefore cannot be totally relied upon.
Lo Shu
The Lo Shu is a chart of nine stars or energies that represent a special combination within the universe. They are usually identified by numbers and as you can see by the chart below they are layed out in a special combination.
As you can see if you add any in a row, diagonally, horizontally or vertically, they all add up to 15. This is considered a magic combination and represents the 'earth chart' when looking at property feng shui.
Each number has different properties and one of the 5 elements assigned to it also.
| Number |
Property |
| 1 |
Positive energy, Water element |
| 2 |
Sick energy, Earth element |
| 3 |
Misfortune energy, Wood element |
| 4 |
Clever & Indecent energy, Wood element |
| 5 |
Ferocity & Disaster, Earth element |
| 6 |
Chivalry, Metal element |
| 7 |
Solemness, Metal element |
| 8 |
Wealth & Happiness, Earth element |
| 9 |
Vivacity, Fire element |
He Tu
This is another chart of special energies and is referred to in special circumstances within a property chart. The combination of two special energies produces resulting elements which can provide another insight into the energies of a property.
The Chinese Calendar (Hsia Calendar)
As mentioned in the 5 elements section, this calendar is also known as the Farmers Calendar. This calendar records time according to the 5 elements. Every day, month, year and 2 hour period consists of 2 elements which either have a supporting, controlling or weakening relationship. This calendar gives us an accurate interpretation of the energies that exist at a certain time and is used when deriving a personal four pillars chart. This chart consists of 8 elements (2 for the year, month, day and hour of birth) and when analyzed can give you lots of information about a person including character, personality, strengths, weaknesses, luck cycles, positive and negative aspects as well as an understanding of where their success potential lies.
Click here to find out your 8 element 4 pillar chart via our on line calculator.
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