What is Feng Shui?

“Feng Shui” are Chinese words. “Shui” means water, and “Feng” means wind. These two elements change quickly and affect our lives the most. That’s why it’s called “Feng Shui.”

Many people think Feng Shui is about decorating, like placing mirrors, crystals, or fish tanks. This is wrong. In ancient times, Feng Shui was practical. It helped plan cities by using knowledge of land and weather to choose places for the capital, military bases, farms, burial sites, and homes.

The luopan, or Chinese compass, is used in classical feng shui to find the exact direction of locations and building.

Feng shui starts with choosing the right location, making it about design, not just decoration. It works with natural elements and energy called chi or qi. A special Chinese compass, the lou pan, helps place things to bring wealth, health, and harmony. Feng shui is over 1,745 years old, dating back to 239 BCE. This is called Classical Feng Shui.

In the late 1970s, a monk named Thomas Lin Yun brought a new style, Western or Black Hat Feng Shui, to the West. This style uses crystals, mirrors, bamboo flutes, and fish tanks, and is under 55 years old. Both styles arrange furniture and beds, but Western feng shui often makes spaces look very Chinese, while Classical feng shui lets you choose your own style.