A LOOK AT FORM AND THE EFFECTS OF LAND MASS, OPEN SPACE AND WATER IN TRADITIONAL FENGSHUI

Shan Shui:
This brings us to the concept of Shan Shui.
Ask almost any Chinese person about feng shui and the one thing they are sure to know above all else is this concept. The principle of the Mountain and the Water. The Mountain to the rear and the Water to the front. However, as can be seen in the drawing above, although this is indeed the case, the point of entry is incorrect here. If we are to accept that water is synonymous with the bringing of wealth and affluence then it makes sense that we want to have the face ie. the main point of entry to the house also facing the water.

It needs to be remembered at this point however, that there can be exceptions to this general rule. These exceptions have to do with both the Time/Space dimensions of feng shui and the personal effects of Directional/Locational Influences. These are beyond the scope of this article but cannot be left aside.

The final picture:

These illustrations demonstrate simple rules that need to be observed in building and when assessing the feng shui using the San He Schools .

Now lets look at a number of simple factors that complement these issues.

Early Chinese scientists began to make observations of certain other factors within their environment which they noted had profound effects on those who lived and worked there. As already discussed, they found that there were certain locations that when eggs were buried in the ground, preserved the eggs even for several months while another simply allowed the eggs to rot and quickly perish..

They concluded that if these places were good for preserving such things as eggs, how much more so for life, were they to build their houses there. (In the first instance it appears that these locations were sought out as ideal grave sites.)

They noted that a single object such as a tree or a rock or a post placed within an immediate direct line of a main used door caused problems for those living and working within the structure. But when either removed or joined by a second item, the problem was resolved.

They found that people sleeping, sitting or working under exposed ceiling beams were more subject to aches and pains in muscle joints and limbs. I myself have observed that in offices and factories where these occur the tends to be a higher incidence of Repetitive Strain Injury. (rsi)

They found that where land mass was greater on what became referred to as the 'Tiger' side of a building, that is the right hand side when facing out from the structure, the females tended to dominate the males. It is the opposite if the mass is to the left of the building.

They found that buildings which had stairways directly in front of their main entrances tended to create specific problems for those within the building.

And on the list of these environmental factors goes. We know now that these phenomena within the environment work their effects whether we are aware of them or not. Some can be remedied while others simply must be avoided at all costs. This leads me then to the two golden rules in feng shui: