| The most common criticism directed at feng shui | | | | and the maximum catchment of natural air and |
| is that it is not in sync with the times. Architects | | | | light besides catering to the activities of the |
| and home designers often balked and turn their | | | | inhabitants. |
| eyes upwards when feng shui is mentioned, | | | | The orientations together with the construction |
| saying that it is an outmoded practice having no | | | | are such as to provide relief during the heat and |
| relevance in our contemporary world of science | | | | humidity of summer and autumn as well as offer |
| and progress. That is quit polite really for I have | | | | protection from the cold of the harsh winters. |
| heard worst. | | | | Prevention against fire and cold winds? Subtly, |
| It is difficult and no point really to debate that. | | | | feng shui is applied. For example, the cluster |
| The Chinese have a phrase that goes like this: | | | | homes are separated by brickwalls. In the old |
| why bother when teaching you would only make | | | | days, timber is the main building material and with |
| you smarter. Hmmm... | | | | the use of oil lamps and candles, fire is a major |
| Community thrives when it is protected from the | | | | hazard. These walls act as fire barriers. |
| elements and nature. Take a look at the news | | | | The toilet areas and cooking area are generally |
| today. We have tsunamis and typhoons that have | | | | zoned towards the east or west minimizing the |
| left lives battered and whole towns buried. These | | | | pollution of the living space which is located at the |
| are nature at her most destructive. Would feng | | | | center. |
| shui have helped? Yes, it would have. | | | | Even physical exercises (think taichi or shadow |
| It may not be obvious but the first role of the | | | | boxing) have been thought of with the |
| feng shui in the setting up of new settlements or | | | | incorporation of the ming tang. Some have |
| cities is the choice of site. This is something which | | | | translated this as the bright hall but qi source |
| is not taken lightly for it could mean the safety or | | | | would be more accurate. |
| annihilation of the entire community. | | | | There are other aspects of deeper feng shui and |
| If you have the opportunity to visit the old cities | | | | a sharp eye would be able to pick them out. It is |
| of Luoyang, Changan, Xian, Beijing and other old | | | | actually a great opportunity to observe how the |
| cities of China, take a good look around. Savor | | | | alignment of streets and doors are built to allow |
| the local fare of course, but observe how the | | | | adjustments through the cycles at the same time |
| cities are designed and built. | | | | making the home a private, comfortable and |
| These cities are designed like a chessboard. The | | | | prosperous place for living. |
| roads crisscross in an orderly fashion and the | | | | Feng shui is not limited to the new age stuff |
| homes generally follow the courtyard design. The | | | | bandied about and hopefully this short write |
| reason behind all this is the ease of movement | | | | succeeds in suggesting that much. |