Feng Shui
Theories & Books About Feng Shui
Feng shui theories today mainly work with
the goal to arrange the environment made by humans in certain
spots known to have good Qi. In order to find this spot, it
should be the right location and an axis in time based on the
accepted theories. In order to understand it better, here are
some of the theories that feng shui has been known to uphold in
its practice.
Qi
The Qi, pronounce as "chi", is a difficult
word to understand and is usually left as it is, without
translation. In the most literal sense, the word means "air".
In today's feng shui, Qi is similar to the word "energy". A
more traditional explanation of Qi as it relates to
understanding of local environments, the orientation of
buildings, and the interaction between the land to the
vegetation and the soil quality. An instrument that is used to
determine the flow of Qi is the luopan.
The theory of Qi stems from the different
beliefs from the Axial Age. One such belief holds that the
heavens influence life on Earth. This may seem outrageous to
some people, but scientists today now know that space weather
exists and can affect some technology such as GPS, power grids,
communication and navigation systems, etc. and the internal
orienting faculties of even birds and other creatures.
Polarity
Polarity is another theory used in the
practice of feng shui. It is expressed in feng shui as the Yin
and Yang Theory. Polarity that is expressed through yin and
yang can be compared to a bipolar magnetic field. It is made up
of two forces- one creating a force and one receiving it. Yang
is the force acting and yin is receiving. This interaction is
considered as an early understanding of Qirality. The Yin Yang
Theory and connected to another theory called the Five Phase
Theory or Five Element Theory.
The so-called "five elements" of feng shui
are water, wood, fire, earth or soil, and metal. These elements
are said to be composed of yin and yang in precise amounts. The
interaction between the two forces became the foundation for
the practice of feng shui and how it is said to strive to
achieve balance.
Bagua
The two ancient diagrams that are known as
the bagua are common fixtures in the practice in feng shui.
They can be compared to the cardinal points of the compass
today. The bagua diagrams are also linked with the sifang or
"four directions" method of divination that was popularly used
during the Shang dynasty although the sifang is considered to
be much older.
It was also known to be used at Niuheliang
as well as a big fixture in the Hongshan culture's practice of
astronomy. And it is in this area of China that can be
connected to Huangdi, who was also known as the Yellow Emperor.
It was Huangdi who was known to have invented the
south-pointing spoon.
The cardinal directions that contained in
the bagua diagram are said to be determined by the marker-stars
of the mega-constellations known as the Four Celestial Animals.
The East is considered to be the Blue Green Dragon. The South
is the Red Bird. The West is also known to be the White Tiger
while the North stood for the Dark Turtle.
These feng shui theories also loom large
even in today's practice of trying to achieve a good balance in
the environment as well as the lives of
people.
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