What is Feng Shui 風水?
Feng Shui (pronounced "fung shway") is an ancient Chinese wisdom and art based on Environmental Sciences (geology, topography, ecology, etc.) and Astronomy, with a history dating back more than 5000 years. Feng Shui 風水 literally translates as "Wind & Water", Wind (feng 風) is said to carry the energy (Qi 氣) and Water (shui 水) is where the energy stops and collects.
In its early development stages Feng Shui was known as the art of Kan Yu, which is interpreted as "Divination by the canopy of Heaven and the Chariot of Earth", in other words, the study of Heaven and Earth in relation to its inhabitants. Kan translates as "visual inspection or measurement" and is concerned with the Heavens, Cosmology, Astrology, the Metaphysical and Invisible Energies. Yu translates as "a pattern or an explanation of what is being examined" and relates to the Earth, Geology, Lay Lines, the Physical and Visible Energies.
Therefore, Feng Shui is a study of assessing the quality of life through observations and analysis (SPACE), utilizing formulas and calculations (TIME), in order to determine the effect of existing and potential energy patterns on an environment and its inhabitants, over a period of time. Through the influence of the environment it is believed that Feng Shui can impact and/or alter human fortune and destiny.
