The Imperial Feng Shui Company
Consultations provided by orientally trained and apprenticed experts.
7 Halford Road, Ettington, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7TH. England
Tel: +44(0)1789 748 012 § Mobile: +44(0)7796 148 160
e-mail: info@fengshui-school.co.uk
Feng Shui Explained
Traditional Chinese Feng Shui, which in reality is the only true and authentic practice of Feng Shui, is a highly complex medical science based on Daoist Philosophy. Effectively, the practice of Feng Shui balances and harmonises energy (traditionally known as Qi in Chinese) within buildings and landscapes. When used properly it can have the most powerful effect on people’s lives, in both homes and businesses.
Of course, apart from dealing with medical problems, utilising Feng Shui can improve overall health, finances, psychological and emotional problems, and relationships in general.
The origin of all aspects of Feng Shui is astrological and is based on the Yi Jing (Book or Classic of Change), which outlines the underlying theory of Daoist Philosophy and its cosmic principals. From the Yi Jing comes the appreciation of Yin and Yang and the Five ‘Elements’ or ‘Actions’ of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Understanding the harmonious relationship between these Elements is the basis of all this philosophy and Chinese Medical Science.
Translated as the Book of Changes, the Yi Jing studies the law of changes in the Universe, concerning everything under Heaven and on Earth. It emphasises the Daoist cosmic principals of Yin and Yang, which represent the interacting dualities of nature, female and male, shadow and light, and winter and summer, covering the five primary elements of the Universe: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. It maintains that the Universe — and hence everything within it — consists of the two categories and their components. The elements must constantly remain well balanced, or harmony will be broken.
Probably because of the way the Yi Jing has been written, it is widely thought that it is the world’s only ‘protected’ book of philosophy in that it has not been edited or altered since its origin. Of course, there have been many commentaries since the earliest versions, written during the time of Confucius.
Are there different styles of Feng Shui?
There are two basic schools of thought in Feng Shui, known as ‘Form School’ and ‘Compass School’, but these are not separate approaches to the subject. Detailed knowledge of both aspects needs to be integrated for the results of a consultation to prove successful.
Form School deals with an understanding of the interrelated energy created by different shapes of landscapes and buildings as well as the comprehension of the flow of energy both toward and within buildings.
Compass School details the exact nature of the electromagnetic energy within a building by use of a complex Chinese Compass known as a Luo Pan. Within this branch of Feng Shui there are various ‘styles’, such as Ba Zhai (Eight House or Mansion), San He (Three Combinations) and San Yuan (Three Periods or Fates), but the most complex and powerful is Xuan Kong ( the ‘Mystery of the Void’) and it is this style that was taught to Tony Holdsworth.
San He (meaning the bringing together of three elements, ie, Heaven, Earth and Human) emanates from Canton and is generally practised in Hong Kong nowadays.
San Yuan (sometimes known as Ho Ken Feng Shui, meaning Three Fates) emanates from South Canton and is also practised in Hong Kong as well as Taiwan and elsewhere.
Xuan Kong (meaning the Mystery of the Void, or Fate is Nothing, or Fate is Heaven) is the original empirical Feng Shui and is practised by specialist Masters in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.
Ba Zi (meaning Eight Characters) is the Chinese horoscope and is a sophisticated system of prediction and counselling, originating in ancient China about 4,000 years ago. With eight characters in four pairs, indicating year, month, day and hour of birth, very accurate prediction can be achieved and a building can be chosen or altered to support its occupants.
What are the origins of Feng Shui?
Feng Shui, often referred to as the Chinese art of placement and harmony within buildings and landscape, is, in fact, an orientally based science. It is based on the Daoist Philosophy, originally expressed in the Yi Jing, which is one of the world’s oldest books outlining the philosophy of the origin and nature of life on Earth.
The name ‘Feng Shui’ is derived from two Chinese characters — Feng (meaning wind) and Shui (meaning water). Both singularly and together the words can be applied to the location of premises, geomantic omen, human resources and human blood.
Imperial Feng Shui Company § About Tony Holdsworth § Feng Shui Consultations § School of Feng Shui