Blackburn Art History: Feng Shui "Wind and Water"

Feng Shui Garden

Feng Shui is the art of adding harmony and balance to any kind of space or enviroment. The history of feng shui dates back over 3 thousand years. There is no concrete date as to when the art and science of feng shui was established, however it is know it pre-dates the invention of the compass.

Historically feng shui was used as an asthetic and spiritual practice of arranging space and color to bring positive energy or qi (pronounch Chee) to a piece or art, home, building of importance or tomb.

Auspicious Structure, Forbidden City, Bejing, China

Qi and feng shui focus on the age of a structure, the position and surrounding elements to reflect a balanced qi. Qi an endless cycle of energy, like nature has its endless cyle of life and death and the harmony of them. In feng shui this energy is manifested into the surrounding objects. Feng Shui is in a sense using the balance of qi (good and evil or Yin and Yang) to create a positive enviorment.

Feng Shui Compass

To create this balance in a space by using feng shui, a compass or bagua (pronounced Ba-gwa) is used. The bagua illustrates each cardinal direction: North, South, East and West; as well as identifies the 5 essential elements: Water, Earth, Fire, Metal and Wood. Surrounding these are the Guas or nine major areas of life and the colors that best reflect them: Prosperiety, Fame and Reputation, Relationships, Health and Family, Creativity and Children, Skills, Knowledge, Career and last of all Helpful People.

It is fairly easy to understand how the bagua works. Holding the bagua level with your stomach with career, helpful people and knowledge closest to you; stand in the main door-way facing into the home. Looking at the bagua you can see wehre each object positions, what material, color etc should be found to obtain a balanced qi in your home. The ultimate goal in using feng shui, however, is to place buildings and objacts in palces where there is positive balanced qi. A balanced positive qi will bring whoever occupies that space great happiness, prosperity and harmony with nature. At least if the feng shui design is applied properly. Negative qi, will have the opposite effect.

Symbols of Prosperity and abundance in Feng Shui

Feng shui was unfortunaly suppressed in China during the Cultural Revolution in teh 1960's. However, since then there has been a rise of popularity spanning from Asia to the United States. Feng shui is now a popular path for many interior decorators. However deep the traditions for feng shui go, it is now used for everything from the life-styles of the rich and famous to medicinal purposes outside of modern medicine. Creating a fear of scams with this ancient art in the West.

"There will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house.

There will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation.

There will be peace in the world."

-Chinese Proverb

Reference sites:

http://www.wikipedia.com/

www.fengshuiistevie.health.officelive.com/images/Bauga.jpg

www.chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa041700a.htm

http://www.worldofquotes.com/

www.thaiexotic treasures.com/fengshui/fengshui