Many mistake feng shui as just the arrangement of things about the house. Orientals think it is getting a good grave alignment. But feng shui is more than that.
The end result has always been the first consideration. The objective has always been to squeeze the maximum advantage out of the environment, the situation of time, cosmic influences and last but not least the individuals’ attributes and potential.
We live in a modern knowledge orientated world. Our life spans are longer because of advances in medicine. We know about radiation and photons. We are also getting glimpses into the human psyche. All this enables us to make our lives better. However, our lives must be happy and fulfilling. For this to happen there must be harmony and this is precisely why feng shui and other related astrological sciences is used for.
Harmony is paramount. In the sections on astronomy and astrology of the Four Collections*(see below), the objectives of feng shui, date selection, astrology and decision making are made based on harmonizing four points. What are they?
1 Harmonising the heavens, topography and human relationships
2 Considering the annual, monthly, daily, hourly calendrical cycles and qualities
3 Understanding and Judgment of the relationship between man and the society
4 Considering of the four directions
From these four factors, we can see that feng shui, astrology and other like sciences, is a science of living. When all things are in harmony, the good life is possible. For example, we can get the best master to makeover our house but if we fail to consider the ants and they start invading our living space, we are in trouble. No amount of auspicious symbols or water wheel is going to help.
Feng shui and Chinese astrological related sciences tend to be both subjective and objective in nature. Their only justification is that they have a long history and once properly understood explains the way things are.
The popular folk quote is: first fate, second timing, third fengshui. I would often correct this by saying first self will, second karma, third timing, fourth fengshui. The reason is that we are thinking creatures with conscious self will and control. We can exercise our will and change things. It is a present-here-and-now ability and has far greater potential to change and manage things more than anything else.
Getting to the point. Whatever feng shui we do, these four points have to be considered. Without them, the square is not complete.
(We know this because we are fortunate that records of ancient writings and thoughts have been preserved. The most outstanding of these is the “Complete Books of the Four Collections” of the Qing Emperor Qian Long. This collection totals 3503 volumes with writings that span pre-Qin dynasty till emperor Qian Long. That would be roughly 221bc to 1796ad. A very long time.
Previous dynasties too have their four collections but apparently most have been lost. Even the Four Collections did not escape this fate. Some of the records were lost through the strife that afflicted China.)
