THE PHILOSOPHY OF CHINESE WISDOM
Feng shui is ancient Chinese Wisdom of harmonious & the Chinese wisdom had already determined that there were invisible forces beneath the earth. (These we later confirmed to be the magnetic forces of the earth) these forces are positive and negative which are called as “Yang” the positive force and you the negative force.
The dark half of the symbol represents the YIN of energy. This is considered to be the feminine side of energy and represents tranquility. Within the YIN is a small element of YANG which is represented by the light dot.
The light half of the symbol represents the YANG of energy. This is considered to be the masculine side of energy. Within the YANG there also is a small element of YIN which is represented by the dark dot.
The Chinese have based their practice of medicine, their art of cooking, theory of martial art, and practice of feng shui on the yin and yan philosophy. Even the words feng, which means wind, and shui, which means water, are derived from the trigrams of yang and yin.
For thousands of years the Chinese have based their divination of the future on the working of the Yi-Jing, the planetary movement, and the magnetism of the earth in relation to the horoscopes and the natural forces of yin and yang. The practice of Chinese medicine and acupuncture is based on the balance of yin and yang energy within the human body. Should and internal organ be suffering from the imbalance of yin and yang, the acupuncturist inserts a needle at the appropriate point in the body to revitalize the energy points and achieve balance.
Chinese food is also classified under yin and yang. A son should eat a balanced amount of yin (cooling) food and yang (heaty) food. Should there be too much yin, a yang herb should be eaten to give balance {and vice versa), or the person might fall sick.
Many forms of martial art are also founded on the yin-yang theory. Tai ji and wu wu ji, for example, are based on the action of balancing on either the yin (left) or the yang (right) food. This belief in the idea of balance has survived for thousand of years.
To Chinese, there an energy which is termed as CH’I (ch’i) means breath. This is the name given to a subtle electro-magnetic energy which flow through the entirty of the physical universe and within each individual human being. It is, in essence, a spiritual energy which has a great influence over our lives. That influence can either be positive of negative, depending on how well or how badly the ch’I flows through ourselves and the environment.There are energy lines of qi, locations in the human body as well as in the earth. They believe that there must be perfect balance of the positive and negative aspects of this energy in the human body for perfect health and in the earth for the production of vibrant qi, or cosmic breath.
Qi in the body produces vitality, energy and balance of mind and body.
Qi in the earth produces growth, regenerating spirit and harmony of natural forces. It is qi that enables people to perform feats of martial ant and it is qi that promotes growth on the earth. Feng shui is the art of detecting this qi in a room, building or on any other place.
Feng shui is also an art of placement of things, ranging from the orientation of buildings to the furnishing of interiors, to influence the qi or cosmic breath of a site. Feng shui helps man utilise the earth’s natural forces and balance yin and yang to achieved through the combination of common sense and good taste in the conception of space, placement of furniture and best use of stricture. Excellent living conditions contribute to good health, which often leads to success and prosperity.
Feng Shui is also known as chinese geomancy. Many ancient cities were geomantically planned within the qi or dragon energy of the mountain ranges. For example, Louyang, once the cultural heart and capital of ancient China, was believed to be within the beneficial qi of the Kunlun Shan, a mountain range, and was sustained by the balance of the yin and yang forces.
The capital of Ming period, Yan Shan, was situated in the midstream of the qi of Kunlun. Tai Shan, the ‘white tiger’, was on the right; and Song Shan formed the protective mountain ranges at the back.
In fact, the imperial cities and palaces of China were planned in accordance wit.h the precepts of feng shui. For example, the Forbidden City built by the Ming emperor and rebuilt by the Qing ruler was very much based on geomantic principles. The palace was symmetrical with north/south orientation, and the main gate facing south, A south orientation was preferable because the wind from Mongolia carried a great deal of yellow dust and was terribly cold. People avoided placing windows and on the north, and such practice became common. Even now, many Beijing houses do not have window or other openings on the north.
The entire Forbidden City was enclosed by a moat so that water flowed past the main gate and entrance. This was don’t because, to the Chinese, water symbolizes wealth. (Water flowing past the main door was like receiving wealth.) In addition, the Tai He Dian, Zhong He Dian, Bao He Dian and the rest of the palaces were given “backing” by a hill which was man made for good feng shui. Backing in this context means protection, especially against wind and cold.
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