THE SITE
Although we have scrutinized the skyline and noted all the possible shapes and features that are likely to affect the Feng Shui of the location, we have yet to discover whether these features are favourable or otherwise - something that can only be assessed once some knowledge of the basic principles of Feng Shui has been attained. For the time being, then, our checklists of environmental features, our notes on the positions of the Dragon and the Tiger, and our sketch plans, if we have made any, can be left to one side while we take a look at the site itself, considering one of the basic principles of Feng Shui, namely, the topic of ch'i, the good influences, and sha, the bad ones.
The word ch'i is a much used, even overworked, term in the Chinese sciences. Among its variety of meanings are 'breath', 'air', 'fortnight', and, in modern chemistry, 'gas', while it has an even wider usage in such subjects as acupuncture. In Feng Shui, however, the term is generally understood to mean favourable currents, particularly the beneficial influences that might be brought to a site by a well-positioned Dragon hill, but equally may apply to healthy currents of air flowing through a room.
As the reader will have gathered, the presence of a well-sited and well-defined Dragon hill generates an abundance of positive ch'i, which not only produces a healthy environment and prolongs the exectation of life but, by promoting a harmonious and happy atmosphere within the home or a workplace, is also able to bring prosperity in a material sense as well.
Ch'i should be encouraged to enter the site and meander through it before leaving at the opposite side. In rooms that need a lively environment, such as a living-room or workroom, ch'i can be encouraged to energize the area by being reflected back and forth by carefully positioned mirrors. Conversely, in rooms that are meant to be restful, such as bedrooms or lounges, ch'i should be funnelled gently round the room. For this reason, it is not a good idea for bedrooms to have mirrors, as there excite the ch'i, making the atmosphere stimulating rather than restful. On the other hand, in hotels that are favoured, let us say, by honeymooners, the provision of mirrors can be a welcom addition.
Obviously, if there is no exit for the ch'i, they will be unable to leave; the same door or window cannot admit ch'i and let them leave at the same time. For example, a room without windows and only one door lacks the means to let the ch'i circulate. Such rooms, in which the ch'i die and become stagnant, are really only suitable for storerooms and cupboards.
The converse of ch'i is sha, which are said to be the carriers of unfavourable currents that have an adverse effect on the family obliged to reside in that unfortunate spot. The function of the Feng Shui expert is to advise how the beneficial ch'i may be harnessed to permeate the home with its life-enhancing powers and how to deflect the unfavourable sha from exerting their influences.
It is generally accepted that beneficial ch'i waft slowly, in gentle undulating curves, while sha travel in harsh straight lines. For the moment, we shall look at the kinds of situations that are regarded as producing harmful sha.
(a) Geographical faults
Sha are produced bygeographical faults and fissures in the earth, Feng Shui would declare that the city of San Francisco is situated in one of the worst locations possible, on account of the 'San Andreas' fault, which would be deemed to produce highly adverse sha. (Western geologists would come to the same conclusion, though for entirely different reasons.) Curiously enough, despite this, San Francisco not only continues to be a thriving city, but it also has one of the largest Chinese communities outside China!
Natural gulleys that form straight lines directed at the site also produce sha. These may at one time have been river-beds, though now dried up; but they could be quiescent sources of danger in a time of exceptional rainfall, as they would carry flood waters directly to the site.
(b) Buildings and roads
Corners of buildings that have the angle pointing at the site are deemed to be the source of a special kind of sha known as a 'secret arrow'. The angle is considered to be a bow, poised with its threatening arrow direct at the site. People living in such a spot are likely to suffer from continual illnesses, and the atmosphere is said to be debilitaling.
The edges of buildings, almost always associaated with roads, paths, passageways and alleyways leading towards the front door of the house, are considered to encourage sha to be directed at the house. Actually, in the case of roads leading up to a house, the inherent dangers from fast traffic may indeed be greater nowadays thay they were in former times. Roads that lead up to a house and then turn at a sharp right angle are considered to be especially harmful, combining the ill-effects of both ordinary sha and the secret arrow.
Although the subject of tunnels and railway lines is actually something to be considered when looking at the location, rather than the site, nevertheless, when tunnels or railways approach the site with the same proximity that roads nearly always do they should be regarded as potential carries of sha.
(c) Interior structures
A house that is divided by a central passageway, or one that has the back door opposite and visible from the front door, is not regarded as a favourable site. Although the central passageway acts as a carrier for baleful sha, it is the fact that it causes the rapid dispersion of favourable ch'i that is the main problem. The rational explanation is that a house built in this manner tends to become a house divided against itself; those members of the family livng mainly on one side of the house subconsciously become a counter-party to those living on the other side of the devide. Another explanation is that a central passageway makes it easy for burglars and sneak thieves to assess the security of a household.
There are two other structural arrangements that are considered bad from a Feng Shui point of view. The first is the western 'sunshine' or 'through' lounge which has windows opposite each other. In such a room, there is no fixed point, no sense of repose. As a lounge, therefore, the design fails. Feng Shui explains the sense of unease by pointing out that helful ch'i pass right through the room, without having a change to release their beneficial influences.
Most likely for the same reasons. Chinese people do not favour the western practice of having stairs directly opposite the front door. Chinese prefer to have the stairs away from the front door, perhaps on a side wall, and, if possible, turning at the half flight.
(d) Service cables
Telegraph wires and power cables are no less unsightly in the city than they are in the country, but from a Feng Shui viewpoint they are also regarded as modern-day conductors of unfavourable sha. If they must approach the building, it is better for them to do so at an oblique angle, almost parallel with the exterior wall.
(e) Columns, posts and poles
Associated with telegraph wires are the telegraph poles themselves. Neither these, nor lamp-posts, nor tall trees, should be positioned outside a front window. They represent the conifers of the north, and being on the 'Bird' side of the building, are therefore inappropriate to that place.
Another opinion is that such tall columns cast malignant sha over the site by virtue of their unfavourable straight shadows. As an interesting sidelight on this point, I was told by a Chinese Feng Shui enthusiast that the dissolution of the British Empire was foretold by the erection of a monumental column in front of Buckingham Palace. Asked by a Chinese friend to comment on this point, I remarked that the monument actually broke the unfavourable sha of the Mall (the ceremonial approach to the Palace) by causing traffic to veer round the central island, whereas formerly the Mall approached the Palace directly, and then turned at a right angle..
For the moment, there follows a summary of the principal sources of ch'i and sha. In a later section, we shall investigate ways of removing the unfavourable influences from the site.
A well-defined Dragon and Tiger produce good ch'i.
(a) Geographical faults
Sha are produced bygeographical faults and fissures in the earth, Feng Shui would declare that the city of San Francisco is situated in one of the worst locations possible, on account of the 'San Andreas' fault, which would be deemed to produce highly adverse sha. (Western geologists would come to the same conclusion, though for entirely different reasons.) Curiously enough, despite this, San Francisco not only continues to be a thriving city, but it also has one of the largest Chinese communities outside China!
Natural gulleys that form straight lines directed at the site also produce sha. These may at one time have been river-beds, though now dried up; but they could be quiescent sources of danger in a time of exceptional rainfall, as they would carry flood waters directly to the site.
(b) Buildings and roads
Corners of buildings that have the angle pointing at the site are deemed to be the source of a special kind of sha known as a 'secret arrow'. The angle is considered to be a bow, poised with its threatening arrow direct at the site. People living in such a spot are likely to suffer from continual illnesses, and the atmosphere is said to be debilitaling.
The edges of buildings, almost always associaated with roads, paths, passageways and alleyways leading towards the front door of the house, are considered to encourage sha to be directed at the house. Actually, in the case of roads leading up to a house, the inherent dangers from fast traffic may indeed be greater nowadays thay they were in former times. Roads that lead up to a house and then turn at a sharp right angle are considered to be especially harmful, combining the ill-effects of both ordinary sha and the secret arrow.
Although the subject of tunnels and railway lines is actually something to be considered when looking at the location, rather than the site, nevertheless, when tunnels or railways approach the site with the same proximity that roads nearly always do they should be regarded as potential carries of sha.
(c) Interior structures
A house that is divided by a central passageway, or one that has the back door opposite and visible from the front door, is not regarded as a favourable site. Although the central passageway acts as a carrier for baleful sha, it is the fact that it causes the rapid dispersion of favourable ch'i that is the main problem. The rational explanation is that a house built in this manner tends to become a house divided against itself; those members of the family livng mainly on one side of the house subconsciously become a counter-party to those living on the other side of the devide. Another explanation is that a central passageway makes it easy for burglars and sneak thieves to assess the security of a household.
There are two other structural arrangements that are considered bad from a Feng Shui point of view. The first is the western 'sunshine' or 'through' lounge which has windows opposite each other. In such a room, there is no fixed point, no sense of repose. As a lounge, therefore, the design fails. Feng Shui explains the sense of unease by pointing out that helful ch'i pass right through the room, without having a change to release their beneficial influences.
Chinese houses avoid having the staircase facing the door
Most likely for the same reasons. Chinese people do not favour the western practice of having stairs directly opposite the front door. Chinese prefer to have the stairs away from the front door, perhaps on a side wall, and, if possible, turning at the half flight.
(d) Service cables
Telegraph wires and power cables are no less unsightly in the city than they are in the country, but from a Feng Shui viewpoint they are also regarded as modern-day conductors of unfavourable sha. If they must approach the building, it is better for them to do so at an oblique angle, almost parallel with the exterior wall.
(e) Columns, posts and poles
Associated with telegraph wires are the telegraph poles themselves. Neither these, nor lamp-posts, nor tall trees, should be positioned outside a front window. They represent the conifers of the north, and being on the 'Bird' side of the building, are therefore inappropriate to that place.
Sometimes builders go to extraordinary lengths to avoid straight
paths leading directly to a building
Another opinion is that such tall columns cast malignant sha over the site by virtue of their unfavourable straight shadows. As an interesting sidelight on this point, I was told by a Chinese Feng Shui enthusiast that the dissolution of the British Empire was foretold by the erection of a monumental column in front of Buckingham Palace. Asked by a Chinese friend to comment on this point, I remarked that the monument actually broke the unfavourable sha of the Mall (the ceremonial approach to the Palace) by causing traffic to veer round the central island, whereas formerly the Mall approached the Palace directly, and then turned at a right angle..
For the moment, there follows a summary of the principal sources of ch'i and sha. In a later section, we shall investigate ways of removing the unfavourable influences from the site.
Summary of Points Regarding Ch'i
Ch'i move in gentle curved lines.
They should be encouraged to find a route which takes them round the site.
They cannot leave by the same way they entered.
Cupboards and enclosed spaces exhaust the benefits of ch'i.
Mirrors can be used to deflect the course of ch'i.
Summary of Potential Sha
Natural geographical faults.
Gulleys
Tunnels
Corners of buildings
Edges of buildings
Roads and pathways
Central passageways within a building
'Through' rooms with windows at each end
Staircases opposite doors
Telegraph wires
Telegraph poles, lamp-posts, tall trees.
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