Feng shui (traditional Chinese: 風水; simplified Chinese: 风水; pinyin: fēng shuǐ; pronounced /ˈfəŋˌʃueɪ/ foong-shoy in Chinese Mandarin, "fheng-schway" in American English) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu (traditional Chinese: 堪輿; simplified Chinese: 堪舆; pinyin: kānyú; literally: Tao of heaven and earth).

The words feng shui literally translate as "wind-water" in English. This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty:

Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.

Traditional Feng Shui practice always requires an extremely accurate Chinese compass, or Luo Pan, in order to determine the directions in finding any auspicious sector in a desired location.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Feng Shui History - The Art and Science of 5,000 Years

Some say that Feng shui history can be traced back to 3,000 years ago, while others say there are records that show it was in practice even up to 5,000 years ago in China. Whether 3,000 or 5,000, it is astonishing to see how the strength of this powerful body of knowledge has spread around the world and how widely used it is to this very day.

Feng Shui (pronounced fung-shway) means wind water but in ancient China, this art was once known as Hum Yue which translates to heavenly path and earthly path respectively. Both these terms describe the power of harnessing energy or chi in the environment.

The Early Years

Feng Shui history books such as The Book of Songs or Shih Ching, first introduced this ancient wisdom and spoke of how it should be practiced. They were documented over many years beginning in the ninth century BC. During the Han dynasty in China, around 206 BC to 224 AD, the Record of Rites or Li Chi, compiled by Kuo Po, talked about how it could be applied to graves. It was not until the Sung dynasty, around 960 AD to 1279 that Wang Chi documented on how it could be applied to house building.

Feng Shui Today

Feng shui history credits one particular man for it's development over the years to what we know it to be today, Kuen Chok. Kuen Chok mastered the art during the Tang dynasty and published many books on its practice, sharing the knowledge that we use to this day.

If we were to visit Hong Kong, we can see how popular and practiced this study is today as it was many years ago. From millionaire tycoons to family homes, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon and reaped the benefits of this ancient science. In fact, it is fascinating to see how the landscape and geography of the island of Hong Kong itself has been molded with these principles in such a way as to contribute to the wealth and prosperity of the city with the mountains behind and the harbor in front along its financial strip.

In Hong Kong today, experts in the field are often consulted in the preliminary stages of buildings and houses to ensure that they are built on and with the most auspicious placements and spaces. Some indications of this can be seen in eight sided rooms in offices and even a building with a large hole through the middle in which to permit any negative energies to flow through its frame so as not to affect its inhabitants. Using what they've learnt from feng shui history and applying it in the early stages of planning, they eliminate the need to later correct any negative energy captured in the framework of the building or house which can be quite costly when you consider the construction of a large building.

Feng shui history has taught us a lot about using the energies of the environments we live in to live more happier, profitable and satisfying lives in this modern world. It is through the natural energy of the universe that we ultimately attain this balance of power and harmony to give ourselves the best opportunities for love, prosperity, success, health and happiness.



Autor: Lin Mai

Lin Mai is a feng shui enthusiast and author. Visit Way to Feng Shui for more insight into feng shui history and how you can successfully apply it to your modern day life.


Added: January 30, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Feng Shui Furniture

Color plays an important part in both Feng Shui and interior decorating within the home. The main purpose of adjusting the colors in a room is to balance the Yin and Yan elements, being careful to introduce at least 60% Yang for 40% Yin.

If an entire room is painted white and the furniture is cream, the overall effect may be very pleasing, but the Yin/Yang balance will not be satisfactory. Some darker Yin otes will have to be introduced to redress the balance.

Strong colors like red walls or furniture introduce Yang into the room. If it is necessary to introduce Yinhighlights into a very male or Yang environment, then a selection of plants and flowers will soften the Yang and encourage the ch'i to meander and congregate.

Be careful that no wall color confronts its own Direction, by that I mean that you should not paint a wall which faces West red because the symbolic color of the West is red, nor should you paint a North-facing wall black, or a wall confronting a Wood Direction green and so on.

Color can be provided more permanently by paint, or temporarily by colored light bulbs which are useful to illuminate specific sectors. For example, your career could be stimulated by illuminating the North quarter with a blue bulb as the Element Water is associated in feng shui with either dark blue or black.

Too many dark colors and heavy furniture will effect the Yin and Yang harmony. A few lighter colors should be introduced to redress the balance.



Autor: Chris Dimitrova

For more decorating ideas visit our new web sites for Feng Shui tips- http://www.fengshuifurniture.net


Added: January 28, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Feng Shui - Western Style

You might say every person has a particular passion. Something that excites him or her just by thinking about it. Well, one of the things that excites me is Feng Shui.

Feng Shui means Wind and Water. Two of the four main elements on planet earth. Feng Shui originates from China and has been used for thousands of years by only a few privileged to attract abundance in different areas of their lives. These are, but not limited to success, health, personal development and relationship.

Feng Shui is an ancient mystical technology that concerns itself with your space or environment. It is the correlation of the effect of the environment on the body, which is a necessary factor of the law of attraction, in fact 33.3 percent of it, if one intends to use this law to its greatest effect. It is the pathway from the physical to the non-physical you might say. This is one of the reasons it was kept away from the public by the rich and powerful for thousands of years, like many other spiritual technologies such as The Master Key that has been proven to have highly positive effect on the mind and subsequently the prosperity of the individual.

The good news is that Feng Shui is now widely practiced in the world and is accessible to most anyone. Not only that, because of its effectiveness and positive results on wealth, prosperity, health and personal relationship it is now mastered by many western practitioners that have been able to adequately customize it to the occidental way of living and many people are enjoying its positive effects and living a more enjoyable and prosperous life.

Feng Shui teaches you how to harmonize your environment so that the positive energy or Chi as they call it in Chinese, can have a free movement in your home or your office where you spend most of your time. This is done by rearranging your space and inviting the Chi to find a harmonious path in your environment and bring better health, success and spiritual wisdom to your life. It is a gift from the divine that needs to be respected if one is interested in living with clarity and happiness.



Autor: Mike Samii

Mike Samii
Author, Life Success Consultant and Motivational Speaker

For more FREE valuable information on Feng Shui and how it can help you please visit us at http://www.maxwealthcorp.com/blog


Added: January 27, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/