Feng Shui in the Far East Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction Feng Shui has been practiced in chinaw be for centuries. Throughout ancient china, masters of Feng Shui were highly respected meteorologists, astronomers, and other scientists and who were supercharged with sustaining the good fortune and prosperity of the royal court. It has been guardedly passed down the generations d unitary very proper(postnominal) lineages (Feng Shui Advisors). It was widely practiced in modern-day mainland China until the Cultural Revolution when Ch logical argumentman Mao utilized mass take to destroy those with different ideas (Craze 9). It has evolved to be both a science and/or an art, depending on whose opinion is being given or taken. The science comes from the calculations and methodology used to analyze the space/site that one lives or whole kit and boodle in. Some consider it an art because there are some(prenominal) aspects to it, and, ultimately, it is up to the person living/working in the space to determine whether it feels s ecure for him/her. Chuen states, It is an analytical system developed, not by one person, but by a centuries-old cumulative tradition based on meticulous rumination and experimentation (8). Feng Shui is also described as an art of arranging ones life in accordance with the forces of the universe, and it stretches back over at least 7000 years and probably far further (Chuen 14). Feng Shui literally stands for leading and water two of the most basic forms of lifes energy. Without air we die within seconds. While we can live weeks without food, without water we in short perish (Chuen 14).The I Ching, or Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese vaticination manual and book of wisdom. It is a sacred text that ancestors of ancient China received through their meditative and spiritual practices. Made up of ogdoad trigrams, or gua (kua) and sixty-four hexagrams (combinations of two trigrams) the symbols of the I Ching are known for its enigmatical qualities (Chuen 24). Each of the eight trigrams, or gua (kua) is associated with an element and a set of specific qualities, polarities, colors, etc. The I Ching, combined with the five elements theory, form the foundation of many Chinese arts, including martial arts, medicine, music, and of course Feng Shui. The I Ching is important to Feng Shui because it contains the 64 hexagrams that are important as they combine the eight house directions ... ...earchers and authors of Feng Shui literature. This was an enormous puzzle for me because half of what I read say one thing, and half said something different. I believe that the discrepancy may have come when the principles and rules of Feng Shui were translated from Chinese to English. For future study, one could compare all of the different discrepancies, and try to determine the original belief or principle. References Chuen, Master L.K. (1996). Feng Shui Handbook How to Create a Healthier Living and Working Environment. New York Henry Holt and Company, Inc.Craze, R. (1999). Feng Shui Made smooth An introduction to the basics of the ancient are of feng shui. New York Godsfield Press.Feng Shui Advisors. (1999). What is Feng Shui A sketch Feng Shui introduction. Internet Source. Last Modified 03/09/2002. Internet Explorer April 2, 2002. Available http//www.168fengshui.com/Articles/whatis.htmWeightman, B. (2002). Dragons and Tigers A Geography of South, East and Southeast Asia. New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc