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                                 FENG SHUI FAQ
                                       
    Copyright (c) 1995 by William L. Cassidy. All rights reserved.
    
  WHAT IS FENG SHUI?
  
   
   
   The term feng shui is literally translated as "wind and water." Feng
   Shui--sometimes called Chinese "geomancy"-- first developed as the art
   and science of orienting dwellings, buildings and cities. At a later
   date, Feng Shui also came to be occupied with the situation of
   gravesites.
   
    Certain places in the landscape have life breath (sheng ch'i). Feng
   Shui is concerned with discovery of such places and due note of their
   individual qualities.
   
  WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF FENG SHUI?
  
   
   
   Although its origins are lost in antiquity, Feng Shui appears to have
   developed in widespread consciousness during the Warring States
   period. With the advent of the compass, two schools of practice came
   into being: the "Form" School and the "Compass" School.
   
   The Form School--the earliest--is concerned with the essence of
   terrain, climate, and ch'i. The Compass School--a later
   development--adds the use of a specialized compass (and, later, a
   specialized ruler) to make its determinations.
   
  CAN FENG SHUI BE PRACTICED WITHOUT A COMPASS?
  
   
   
   Certainly.
   
  ARE THERE ANY FENG SHUI "MASTERS?"
  
   
   
   Feng Shui has, unfortunately, become corrupted. True masters of the
   art are rare. There are perhaps a half-dozen practitioners in the
   world who can claim mastery of the subject and none have much contact
   with the general public. They are concerned primarily with new temple
   construction, consultation with builders and architectural firms, and
   city planning.
   
  HOW IS FENG SHUI CORRUPTED?
  
   
   
   Feng Shui has become corrupted to contain absurd notions of interior
   decoration, the use of charms and talismans, the runaway concept of
   site "improvement," and by several generations of practitioners who
   know nothing of its true essence. There are scores of people who cater
   to popular superstition, offering to decorate homes, "improve" new
   businesses or resolve neighborhood conflicts, all for a hefty fee.
   Recent (and popular) English and Chinese language books on the subject
   have just compounded the problem.
   
  IS THERE A TIBETAN FENG SHUI?
  
   
   
   Yes and no. There are some modern Chinese "practitioners" who, in
   order to make themselves seem more "mysterious," claim to have studied
   "Tibetan Feng Shui." There is no indigenous Tibetan Feng Shui per se.
   The whole art of Feng Shui as practiced in Tibet descended from the
   Chinese Form School, and entered Tibet in the 7th Century. There is an
   indigenous Tibetan practice concerned with the location of secret
   places wherein religious treasures are concealed, but this has almost
   nothing to do with basic Feng Shui principles.
   
  IS FENG SHUI PRACTICED IN ANY OTHER COUNTRIES?
  
   
   
   Feng Shui is practiced all over the world. In Vietnam, for example, it
   is known as Dia Ly. Regardless of where it is practiced, it is still
   fundamentally a Chinese science. Thus, traditional Feng Shui
   principles in Vietnam (or America, for that matter) are the same as in
   China.
   
  CAN FENG SHUI GUARANTEE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS?
  
   
   
   Not in and of itself, to the exclusion of all other factors. Anyone
   who claims differently is a fraud.
   
   It is important to remember that Feng Shui originated in an
   agricultural society and is founded on concern for environmental
   health and well-being.If a site is in harmony with forces seen and
   unseen, tangible and intangible, certainly this is of much benefit.
   
  CAN FENG SHUI BE TAUGHT?
  
   
   
   Certainly. A really gifted student will devote about twenty years of
   intense study and experience to reach the first stage of proficiency.
   
   It is helpful to wander around the earth, visiting remote places,
   villages, farms, towns, cities, etc. It is helpful to sleep alone in
   the mountains, hills, or deserts, and experience changes in weather
   and climate. It is helpful to read all of the classics on the subject,
   and to further study the modern sciences. Extremely well developed
   powers of observation are necessary, and these are difficult to teach.
   After a time, however, one gets a sense of knowing what to look for.
   Later, this becomes a "felt" experience that really shouldn't be
   described.
   
  IS FENG SHUI A RELIGION?
  
   
   
   No. Feng Shui is similar to natural science.
   
  IS FENG SHUI CONCERNED WITH DIVINATION?
  
   
   
   No. Although you can make certain observations concerning the probable
   outcome of certain activities, there is no divination aspect to Feng
   Shui.
   
  ARE THERE "LUCKY" AND "UNLUCKY" PLACES?
  
   
   
   All places are "lucky." Some places are "luckier" than others. The
   deepest place in the ocean is lucky for sea-turtles.
   
  CAN FENG SHUI CHANGE LUCK?
  
   
   
   In the mundane sense, perhaps yes. In the ultimate sense, certainly
   no.
   
  WHAT ARE "DRAGONS" AND "TIGERS?"
  
   
   
   Dragons and Tigers are symbolics used to describe topographical
   formations. Such symbolics can also refer to two of the four quarters:
   the Azure Dragon of the East; the White Tiger of the West.
   
  WHAT ARE DRAGON "VEINS?"
  
   
   
   Dragon veins or Dragon pulse are generally considered ch'i conducting
   sinews and features of topography. One also hears of the Dragon's
   "navel," which is generally considered an ideal place.
   
  WHAT ARE "SECRET ARROWS?"
  
   
   
   The sha are noxious channels, or, in the alternative, evil influences
   or stagnant exhalations. Sha are bad vapours or inhibiting courses.
   
  DO MIRRORS REPEL "SECRET ARROWS?"
  
   
   
   Not in my experience. Yet, thousands of people believe that mirrors
   have such value, giving rise to the infamous "mirror wars" we always
   hear about.
   
  CAN (AND SHOULD) A GRAVE BE "SITED?"
  
   
   
   Any respect or care one shows to one's ancestors cannot be wrong. This
   should be done for its own sake and not to confer wealth, fame or
   other benefit to the living.
   
  CAN (AND SHOULD) SITES BE "IMPROVED?"
  
   
   
   Within reasonable limitations, some improvement is possible. Common
   sense can work wonders. There is some argument about whether or not
   ch'i can be "attracted." It can, but the question is what kind? In
   general, you cannot "put" ch'i in a place where ch'i is weak, but you
   can (occasionally) diminish sha. 
   
  DO PRAYERS AND SACRIFICES PLAY ANY ROLE?
  
   
   
   While it is certainly possible that prayer could change the course of
   rivers and the lay of mountains I have not personally seen it done. It
   is, however, of demonstrated benefit in changing men. Blood sacrifices
   are to be condemned as barbaric and cash sacrifices usually benefit
   only one party.
   
  CAN (AND SHOULD) FENG SHUI BE APPLIED TO INTERIORS?
  
   
   
   Not in the classic sense. Feng Shui can open the mind and train the
   eye, giving rise to a sense of balance, harmony and order. This can be
   reflected in the placement of objects in interiors, or in a general
   awareness of space and circulation. A beautiful, well-maintained fish
   tank pleases the eye and has an interesting quality if you like that
   sort of thing. It is not a cure-all for Feng Shui problems. Color and
   light are likewise important, but here we begin to get away from the
   essence of what Feng Shui is and what Feng Shui does. Again, the idea
   is to use common sense.
   
  WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FENG SHUI AND ASTROLOGY?
  
   
   
   Later schools of Feng Shui incorporate astrological conventions and
   fate calculation conventions into the basic concept of Feng Shui. To
   the extent that both can be founded on five element theory there is a
   definite relationship. But developed Feng Shui is much "larger" in the
   sense that it can incorporate heaven, earth, man and fate into one
   cohesive whole.
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