Contents 01 02.7 Positivism 04 06 07.6 Cosmetic Table 09.3 East Group House Chart Issues 11 01.1 Shrinking Spaces 01.2 Spiritually Alienated 02 17 02.1 An Ancient Wisdom & Belief 02.2 One Subject, Myriad Approaches 02.3 Meander like the river 02.4 What is Qi ( 气 )? 02.5 Dialectic Theory 02.6 Family Members & The Eight Trigrams ( 八卦 ) 02.8 Colours 02.9 Five Elements ( 五行 ) 02.10 Home For The Living 03 Entrance 35 03.1 Entrance Hallway 03.2 Lightings 03.3 Height of Ceiling 03.4 Ceiling Beams 03.5 Paths in the Home 03.6 Shoe Cabinets 03.7 Floor Mats & Shoes 03.8 Colour Theme Living Room 45 04.1 Living Room 04.2 General Arrangements 04.3 Sofa Shapes & Placements 04.4 Ceiling & Colour 04.5 Clean & Simple 05 Kitchen 57 05.1 Kitchen 05.2 Stove & Sink 05.3 Water Tap & Refrigerator 05.4 Window, Door, Stove Dining Room 65 06.1 Dining Room 06.2 Decoration & Mirrors 06.3 Location of Dining Area 06.4 Shape of Dining Table 07 Master Bedroom 75 07.1 Master Bedroom 07.2 Arrangements 07.3 Air-Conditioning 07.4 Privy 07.5 Wardrobe 07.7 Lightings 08 Study 89 08.1 Study Room 08.2 Placements of Work Desk 08.3 Circulation & Lighting 08.4 Bedroom & Study Hybrid 09 Something to Try 99 09.1 Eight House Feng Shui 09.2 Personal Auspicious Direction 09.4 West Group House Chart 09.5 Application (Overall + Individual Rooms) 09.6 Application (Auspicious Directions) 09.7 Application (Auspicious Directions) 09.8 The Four Auspicious Directions 6 7
Preface This book is based on my final year project while studying in Nanyang Technological University s School of Art, Design and Media. Feng shui is often misunderstood as being superstitious and religious in nature. This project re-imagines feng shui culture and its practices in a fresh perspective. It injects a fresh design direction through the use of isometric view illustrations which are accompanied by easy-to-understand text explaining the principles. The colour theme and design direction has been kept neutral to allow readers to focus on the fundamental feng shui concepts: the art of placement, lighting as well as the organisation of spaces. As living spaces are gradually getting smaller, new homeowners have difficulties in adapting to them. In this book, I present an alternative solution and provide knowledge for new homeowners who have just received their key to their new apartments as well as families who are moving to smaller premises.
Introduction Comfortable Living with Smaller Spaces... Our personal space is getting smaller and the constraints on space become even greater with a growing population. Some of us may just feel an imbalance of temperament and moods while others are badly affected by it. The constraints on space can have a diverse effect on our health, both physically and mentally. Our homes and how we live, define how we grow up, our personalities as well as the company we choose to be with. Most people visit parks, gardens and reserves to enjoy nature and also for the sense of space there. It is an escape from the rigidity and monotony of city living. Many of us have forgotten how we should be living and thus, encounter many difficulties in our lives. To live is to be happy and carefree. These difficulties are primarily caused by our surroundings. It begins at home and affects our mood. It is important that we maintain our environment to make ourselves feel comfortable, instead of creating more issues to worry about. This book discusses spaces based on generic public housing in Singapore, and incorporates feng shui principles on managing our living space. However, these basic concepts are applicable anywhere in the world. Contrary to common belief that feng shui is superstitious and religious, it is actually an art of arrangement tried and tested by ancient Chinese scholars. It is siad to mirror the natural order of things, and also believes that the interior of a room reflects the personality of its owner. As with everything we read or come across, heed the advice in this book with a pinch of salt and keep an open mind! 10 11
02 Basic Concepts
2.1 An Ancient Wisdom & Belief 2.2 One Subject, Myriad Approaches... Feng Shui was an ancient practice formulated by Chinese scholars and philosphers. It was only accessible by the Emperor and imperial families. Feng Shui, means wind that cannot be seen with the naked eye, nor can it be felt and cannot be grasped as it is as elusive the water. The word feng shui first appeared as a technical term in a guide to funeral rituals called the Zhang Shu ( 葬书 ) or The Burial Book. This passage about the burial principle is regarded as one of the classical feng shui works and was attributed to Guopu (276-324), a historian of the Jin Dynasty. In a frequently quoted passage, the author writes, Concerning the tomb, let it ride upon the living breath. The Classics say qi (cosmic breath or breath of life) is dispersed when it rides on the wind (feng), and is halted when it is bounded by water course (shui). The ancients were able to accumulate it and prevent it from dispersing. They could channel it and keep it in one place. And so, it was called feng shui. The basis of feng shui lies in the concept of qi. The basic premise of feng shui theory is that Man, both living and the dead, is under the influence of qi that is prevalent in Heaven and Earth. It also acts as a conduit related to change and growth. The interaction of two forces, yin and yang gives rise to all phenomena in the world. All exists under the influence of the cosmic force of qi. If this qi is not properly managed, then the destiny of Man in relation to his environment will be affected. Chinese tradition believes that the currents of qi and its presence on Earth are visibly linked with the geographical features of mountains, watercourses and nature. The term geography to the Chinese refers to both the appearance of surface contours and configurations of Earth as well as the inner life force of qi. The development of feng shui principles and theories was a cumulative wisdom passed down by wise sages of Chinese culture and have been around since 1046 256 BC where it all began with divination by scapulimancy (predictions that uses the shoulder blades of oxen). Little is known as to how the concepts came about, but what was recorded was during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC); many fundamentals concepts such as as Yi Jing, Daoism, Five Elements (Wu Xing), Confucianism, theories of yin and yang and Ba Gua (Eight Trigrams) became popular. The first written records of feng shui consultations date from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) and from it, various schools of practice and approaches came about. Some well-known approaches that are still practiced today are the Landform School, Eight House School and Flying Star. 20 21
2.3 Meander like the River Household feng shui principles caution us against protruding corners which can create vertical sharp corners that send out negative energy and decrease the luck of family members with prolonged exposure. Presently, corners at awkward places cause an irritable sight, which is similar to having a cupboard blocking half of the entrance, making exit and entry difficult. A favourable setup would be to transform any awkward shapes into regular ones such as a square, rectangle or circle. The goal of feng shui is to arrange the home in a way that allows qi to meander and linger, creating a sense of a balanced and conducive environment. The qi is believed to flow in a wavelike or in a circular pattern, and the home must admit its natural flow by emulating nature and avoid sharp corners and straight lines which is similar to that of a meandering river. Alternatively, installing bright lights to lift the energy in the space may help too. In feng shui manuals, the instructions regarding house forms and arrangements are associated with certain features of Chinese ritual and the Confucian moral system. For instance, the house should be upright and in good order but it should not possess a sharp or inclined silhouette. 22 23
2.4 What is Qi ( 气 )? The concept of qi, which is commonly translated as breath or breath of life/ nature, is fundamental to Chinese natural philosophy. It is said that qi is prevalent in Heaven and Earth; and it is believed to flow underneath the Earth as a conduit and is related to the growth and change of all the phenomena in the world. In early Chinese philosophy, qi already existed prior to the material world. According to the Han Dynasty, philosophical treatise from c. 200 BC, the first original qi was born of the continua of space and time. This qi was heavy and stable, but its lighter parts rose and formed the sky. Its heavier counterparts gathered to form the earth. After that, the qi of sky and earth met to become yin and yang. The idea that qi gave rise to material substance is also reflected in Daoism. The philisopher Laozi described Dao as one of the basic manifestations of qi: the beginning was undifferentiated chaos, shape without form, form without objects. Dao was the origin and principle of all things, from which the yin-yang duality rose. Yin and yang combined to become plurality, and from that, individual things came into being. Generally, the concept of qi is borrowed from Chinese cosmological thought. It is ambiguous and all-inclusive. It can be a physical existence but also a psychological feeling. Therefore, it brings about a mysticism and sometimes, magical atmosphere to feng shui practice and to the assessment of the dwelling.this is the relationship between people and the pedological qualities of soil temperature and soil moisture. In the context of modern society, it refers to the characteristics of the immediate environment and the quality of house formulations. This type of qi should not be too strong or weak otherwise, it would be problematic for the building eventually result in psychological problems for the people living there. 24 25
2.5 Dialectic Theory The basis of feng shui, along with its various practices such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) or divination, involves an art of logical deduction by observing the positive and the negative; this theory is also known as the Yin-Yang ( 阴阳 ) theory. There are no definitive answer to eastern metaphysics as there is to the western logic which was mentioned by Aristotle s law of excluded third (tertium non datur), no third (possibility) is given. However, in Yin-Yang theory, there is always a third reconciling aspect, based on the symbol of the Yin-Yang, the third aspect is the dot that exists on the opposing portion, it represents the existence of duality and cyclical nature of all forms of phenomena in the material universe. Hence the symbol, known as the Taiji is a symbol that incorporates a portion of each other within it, the positive and the negative with a third aspect: the white dot within the black and vice-versa. Based on its theories, the formation of the universe as well: the yin, being the passive became the sediments and eventually earth and the yang, bearing motion and movement became lighter and formed the heavens. In the body and also TCM theories, the yin represents the organs and the yang being the superficial that can be seen with our naked eyes. Therefore, this theory forms a fundamental basis of all discussion and discourse in this ancient art of Chinese cumulative wisdom. 26 27
2.6 Family Members & The Eight Trigrams ( 八卦 ) South 2nd Sister/ Daughter Southwest Matriarch/ Mother West Youngest Daughter Feng shui utilises a versatile system known as the Eight Trigrams. The Eight Trigram is an octagonal table divided into eight segments and the eight individual characters and symbols is derived from yin and yang. The system involves calculations that enable practitioners to determine which position or sector in the house is best suited for the family. It also enables the practitioner to determine how auspicious the current year is and allow flexibility in determining the colour and objects to be used to enhance the qi in the home. There are two different types of configurations of the Eight Trigram: The Early Heaven Arrangement and the Later Heaven Arrangement. In Chinese culture, it is believed that the quality of the burial site directly affects the its descendents, their growth, health, wealth etc... As time, space and our environment are constantly shifting and changing, it is preferable to use the Later Heaven Arrangement. The sequence of the Later Heaven Arrangement is expressed upon the contemporary feng shui compass. Southeast Eldest Sister East Eldest Brother Northeast Youngest Son North 2nd Son/ Brother Each compass direction corresponds to a member of the family. This is important role as it is believed to affect those who reside within the different sectors. The northwest sector holds the position of the patriarchial figure which is normally the father. Therefore, he commands the highest authority within the context of the household. However, if the youngest son occupies that sector, he may demonstrate an overbearing attitude towards his family members or even towards his father. Northwest Patriarch/ Father 28 29
2.7 Positivism 2.8 Colours Popular feng shui culture either explicitly or implicitly refers to personal problems such as depression, anger and lack of success. Typically, large sections in books promise instant change to a reader s life, but this does not happen. It is actually the willingness to change and which begins from small actions that eventually leads to happy events. These books usually address audiences that do not seek to preserve the harmony in their homes or to protect their own personal status quo. They want change. Many book titles include phrases such as: Feng shui s potential for improving your life and lifestyle is truly awesome Feng shui can improve your life Most books state a range of reasons for a personal life not doing well. Bad furniture arrangement, old things, collections of objects, photographs from the past, fatigued relationships, annoying people, etc are all impediments to personal success. They also restrain the flow of vital energy around us and must be removed mercilessly in order to gain new vitality. Since space is limited in Singapore, much attention is devoted to colour in feng shui using common colour charts or colour associations by means of colour schemes built in accordance to the ba gua. It is commonly assumed that colours should be adapted to Singapore s sunlight, the function of the room and the personality of the inhabitants. The ancient classification of colours fits in with the five elements (fire, earth, metal, water and wood), comprising of red, yellow, white, black/blue and green, respectively. This differs fundamentally from the modern conception of primary colour combinations. They define what is and what is not; disclosure of the status of our health and inspire a wide range of emotions such as vitality, pureness, awe and danger. Colours are seen to influence the flow of qi, with the auspicious use of colour for homes, clothing, cars, food, health, romance and so forth. In line with western preference for tangible forces, the electromagnetic properties of the colour spectrum are often referred to and the colours interpreted Some interpret personal problems as being inherent, which may be addressed in accordance to the intensiveness of their energy. and improved by means of adjusting the personal qi, such as conscious use of colours The Chinese colour symbolism indicates different properties which are more in accordance to their Chinese zodiac and birth date. often than not, simple green for vitality, red for intensity and love, white for On the other hand, psychological ailments purity and space, and darker colours for groundedness. Common uses of colour may be addressed with colours as proven are inspired by the concept of harmony and balance, that is taking nature inside with art therapy, such as alleviating by using earth-toned colours without any strong outstanding colours to affect the depression by using green and red, harmoniously flow of qi. signifying hope and spring or happiness and liveliness, respectively. The general message contained in feng shui is straightforward and its practice has assimilated subjects such as environmental psychology and/or health sciences. 30 31
2.9 Five Elements ( 五行 ) The five elements of traditional Chinese metaphysics are commonly interpreted as phases of transformation or change. ( 火 ) fire; ( 土 ) earth; ( 金 ) metal; ( 水 ) water and ( 木 ) wood. The creative cycle indicates how each element creates and nourishes the next: wood feeds fire, fire yields ashes of earth, earth pressurises into crystalline, metal is carried by water bodies to proliferate, and water nourishes the growth of wood. Going counter-clockwise, the elements weaken each other on the flipside of creation, the counteractants; fire melts metal, metal cuts wood, wood weakens earth by its roots, earth contains water, and water destroys fire. The cyclical nature of the five elements is similar to the concept of Yin-Yang dialectic theory. In order to achieve balance, feng shui practitioners use shapes or colours that represents the five elements to either create, exhaust certain excess elements of a type, or to avoid any destructive elemental cycles. This creates a dynamic pattern of balance. The respective colours of the elements are as followed: fire is red; earth is yellow; metal is white, silver or gold; water is black or blue; wood is green or dark brown. Each element also has their predetermined geometrical shapes; knowing about their innate shapes and their symbolising element helps the feng shui practioner derive solutions and use decorative objects to be placed in parts of the house that may lack that particular element. 水 木 火 木 土 火 Fire Wood 土 金 火 金 金 土 Earth 木 水 Water 水 土 火 水 金 Metal 木 Creative Cycle Destructive Cycle Exhaustive Cycle 32 33
2.10 Home For The Living Our home is a symbolic representation of the cosmic centre of a family that consists of heaven, earth and man. When a family member returns home, they will feel energised and recharged. This is one of the more obvious characteristics of a wellmanaged qi energy within the home. On the other hand, some may experience perpetual lethargy, lack of drive in their lives or fall ill easily due to the poor management of qi within the home. Qi can be managed with proper arrangement of furnitures and even the choice of colour on the walls. When a balance is achieved, prosperity, wealth and good health are just around the corner. However, achieving a balance is easier said than done. Each room in the home can be regarded as part of a whole. Every direction in the house has a corresponding place that belongs to each family member, locating them accordingly in their right position is like fitting a puzzle piece perfectly in its slot; just as how we would categorise a different sections in a departmental store. On the other hand, each room must also have a semblance that fits its function, if not, it will be confusing. Guests may feel disoriented and the family will be disoriented in their lives as well. The basic thinking is that all elements of our environment have an effect on our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. The natural light in our rooms, the colour of the walls, the style and shape of furniture and ornaments or even the presence of plants. 34 35