Feng Shui is also known, as Kanyu is the art of
placing and situating a building so that it is in harmony with its
surroundings. According to Feng Shui cultural and social issues are
influenced by natural, metaphysical and cosmological factors. To
practically use Feng Shui one needs to understand the influence of
cosmology on earth, should have a knowledge of how astronomy and
astrology influence the placing of buildings, understand the Confucian
classic, understand the weathering process and understand the forces of
nature acting on buildings and their surroundings. It is also essential
to have knowledge of the magnetic fields and how they influence man,
knowledge on how to place buildings in order to tap 'chi' or the energy
of the earth, understand the geographical land forms like hill, valleys,
flat land etc. One must understand how environmental factors influence
buildings externally and internally and must know how to place buildings
so that the building has a comfortable physical environment.
The practice of Feng Shui began in the West Han dynasty around the third
century BC. Feng Shui believes that the earth is a living thing and has
life and energy. The energy or 'chi' of a site depends on its topography
and its physical surrounding. A site with revitalizing energy is healthy
and a site with bad energy was damaging to those who lived on it. Ever
since then it has been incorporated into traditional Chinese
architecture and has been followed by the rich and poor alike. In
ancient China a city was planned in concentric rectangles surrounded by
walls surrounded by lakes, hills, valleys, gardens, courtyards and
parks. Chinese tried to ensure that both the natural and the built
environment were planned to enhance positive energy. These were then
landscaped according to the Taoist ideas of Yin and Yang, void and
solid, water and hill.
Buildings were constructed in such a way that they enhanced harmonious
relationships between members of the family and between the family and
the country. People organized the structures in and around the buildings
according to Feng Shui. The left of the building represented Yang or
male force and was connected to the forces of heaven and the right of
the building represented Yin or the female force and was connected with
the energies of the earth. Built areas, sun lit roofs and elevation in
the front were considered Yang. Empty areas, shadowed eaves, set back
structures and elevations at the back were considered Yin. When a
structure was build both the Yin and Yang had to be balanced and if the
building leaned towards any one of these principles then there was
imbalance and thus improper. Emperors build grand palaces and buildings
from the time of the Shang dynasty (1711-1066 BC). Chinese Kings were
considered sons of heaven and used to the principles of Feng Shui while
building their palaces to create an environment favorable to power. The
principles of Feng Shui created harmony between the forces of nature and
this influenced man therefore the emperors ensured the principles of
Feng Shui were followed when they built their palaces.
These palaces were surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. These
were incomplete without water and hills, a contrast between Yin and
Yang, fluidity and solidity. The garden had to be a contrast between
openness and closeness and curved and straight lines. The elements of
the landscape were placed in such a way that the Yin (negative) and Yang
(positive) were in harmony, balance, continuity and balance. These
palaces and their gardens are proof of what the practitioners of Feng
Shui achieved in ancient China.
