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  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.


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  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


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   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?



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   Feng Shui is practiced all over the world. In Vietnam, for example, i

   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. Anyon

   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.



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  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?




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   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?



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   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.


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  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?"





Feng Shui Chinese Geomancy (p10

   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


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   is, however, of demonstrated benefit in changing men. Blood sacrifice

   are to be condemned as barbariccash sacrifices usually benefit

   only one party. 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?



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   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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