Is Feng Shui a science? The fastest way to make money in Feng Shui
"Feng Shui" sounds very folk, while "Kanyu Science" looks very academic. As everyone knows, the same thing transformed between different "vests" will actually lead to a big debate between "superstition" and "science". It seems that when the word "Feng Shui" is mentioned, doubts and debates are inevitable in society.
Just like Hong Kong Feng Shui programs always use this disclaimer: "Feng Shui numerology is metaphysics, not a sophisticated science, and is for audience reference only." Indeed, some of the views raised in this article cannot be officially confirmed or False. Here, please allow reporters to apply the disclaimer of "copycat": "for reference only."
For the time being, the difference between Feng Shui and science is a matter of opinion.
The culture of "living"
The formation of Chinese Feng Shui has a long history and can be traced back to ancient times.
As early as in primitive society, although there was no theory of Feng Shui, people at that time had to "choose a place to live" because of the survival challenges posed by the harsh natural environment and the importance of farming and pastoral society. , choose a place "near water and facing the sun" that is suitable for human reproduction and habitat. This is an adaptive choice.
After entering civilized society, traces of Feng Shui began to appear in written records. For example, there are many records about house divination in oracle bone inscriptions. It can be seen from the large number of oracle bone inscriptions, "Book of Songs" and "Shangshu" excavated by later generations that the Chinese during the Shang and Zhou dynasties divided the land into different terrains such as mountains, ports, hills, plains, mausoleums and hills. Water areas are divided into rivers, springs, rivers, streams, marshes, swamps, rivers, tuos, etc. At that time, the differences of the earth were classified in extremely detailed ways, which laid the foundation for the future development of "Phaseography".
Later, with the development and popularity of the "Book of Changes" and the Yin-Yang and Five Elements theories, academic ideas led by "looking up at astronomy and looking down at geography" began to be established. After Qin Shihuang unified China, he not only inherited the previous concept of "Tu Yi" but became more specific, and at the same time began to have the concept of "Qi". From the "Book of Jin" we know that "during the time of the First Emperor, those who looked at the Qi said, 'Five hundred years from now, there will be the Qi of the Emperor in Jinling', so the First Emperor traveled east to suppress it, changed the name of the place to Moling, and cut the northern mountain to eliminate its power." At that time. With the term "qi gaozhi", it can be seen that there are already professional workers in the Feng Shui industry.
In the Western Han Dynasty, the art of physiognomy became even more popular, and the name "Kanyu" began to appear. According to Sima Qian's "Historical Records", Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty gathered to occupy the family and asked if he could marry someone, but the family members said no. At this time, the Kanyu family was proficient in astronomy and geography, and the art of physiognomy was also called "form method". In the Han Dynasty, there were also Feng Shui works such as "Kanyu Golden Chamber", "Palace Terrain", "Migration Law", and "Picture House Art", which marked the preliminary induction and summary of Feng Shui in theory.
Famous Yi scholars in the Song Dynasty such as Chen Tuan, Shao Yong, Zhu Xi and Cai Yuanding explained and identified Feng Shui. Some Feng Shui works were published one after another, which laid the foundation for Jiangxi Xingfa School and Fujian Lifa School as the main body. Feng Shui theoretical system.
Li Jialin, the person in charge of Shanghai's "Mei Ming Pavilion" and a researcher in both nameology and Feng Shui, said in an interview with "Xinmin Weekly" that throughout history, the pre-Qin Dynasty was the gestation period of Feng Shui theory. , the Song Dynasty was a period of prosperity, and the Ming and Qing Dynasties were a period of proliferation.
Li Jialin told reporters that in both the Tang and Qing dynasties, there was a "Sitianjian". In addition to observing the sky and recording astronomy, it was also responsible for building mausoleums. Therefore, officials in the Sitianjian must understand Feng Shui. . "It can be seen that most of the famous Feng Shui experts in ancient times were imperial officials."
Until after liberation, although Feng Shui continued to exist as a custom, its theory suffered a heavy blow. Being labeled as "feudal superstition".
Li Jialin analyzed that this is because in recent hundreds of years, Western science has gained the upper hand in the competition between countries, so that the world has formed a one-sided pattern, and more and more people Believe deeply in Western science.
"In addition, there are some charlatans and sorcerers involved in Feng Shui, so that the researchers are mixed, and the reputation of Feng Shui is ruined.
" Li Jialin emphasized, "The cultural heritage of people who are engaged in Feng Shui and name studies today is much inferior to that before the Republic of China. The reason is that there are serious faults in the entire Chinese culture, and modern people have too little time to read and memorize. "
Li Jialin repeatedly emphasized that Feng Shui is an important part of five thousand years of Chinese traditional culture. "Feng Shui is culture, and science is two different systems. Nowadays, some so-called scholars interpret Feng Shui as "environmental science" in order to develop it better. I think this is a bit of a waste of time. "
Weng Jingfang, a professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University and an expert in Chinese architectural Feng Shui, further subdivided Feng Shui culture, "Chinese people talk about food, clothing, housing and transportation, and Feng Shui is about the culture of 'living', and it cannot be all about it. Use science to compare. "
World Trend
Li Jialin told "Xinmin Weekly" that he was not surprised by the listing of Xintiandi Company in London. "Feng Shui culture originated from China, but after the 17th century, it As the Chinese people go to the world, Feng Shui culture also goes to the world, sprouting and bearing fruits everywhere. ”
It is understood that in Hong Kong, Singapore and other places, relevant institutions have higher recognition of Feng Shui culture, and even the chief executive does not shy away from looking at Feng Shui. In Hong Kong, some large companies will frequently invite Feng Shui masters to come forward Come to give guidance and even give lectures to employees. Unlike in the Mainland, Feng Shui masters are not only social activists in Hong Kong, but also have access to the ivory tower. Some universities’ further education departments are willing to hire relevant experts to give lectures and teach college students about this unique China. Classical culture.
Hong Kong Feng Shui masters are a "mixture" of professionals and people in the entertainment industry. They teach classes, publish books and educate people, and "go north" across the border. They are very busy. . Their income is on par with professionals such as lawyers and doctors. It is reported that the price for a house and office feng shui inspection by Su Minfeng is HK$7,500, while Mai Lingling starts at HK$10 to 12 per square foot. Negotiable outside Hong Kong. p>
In Japan and Southeast Asia, many vocational university architecture professors are studying astrology and Feng Shui. Yin Hongji, a well-known expert in Feng Shui in Southeast Asia and the Department of Geography at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, once wrote in "Research on the History of Natural Science", "Feng Shui is a landscape rating system for the location of building signs. It is the art of site selection and layout in ancient China. It cannot be simply called superstition or science. "
The same is true in Western society. After the 1970s, in addition to Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States and other regions also set off an upsurge of "researching" Chinese Feng Shui, which led to more and more foreign countries People began to use Feng Shui theory to guide their lives.
There are currently 17 universities in the United States that offer majors such as Yijing Feng Shui, and scholars from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries have successively conducted special studies on this topic. In the lobby of the shipping company's headquarters, an entire wall is covered with a huge indoor fish tank. Relevant personnel said that this is related to Feng Shui.
Some foreigners believe that Feng Shui is similar to foreign environmental studies. It makes sense. “If the house is ventilated and open, the people who live in it will feel refreshed, and their career and family will naturally be smooth! ”
“It can be seen that Feng Shui is not a patent of Asians or Chinese. Li Jialin said that the prosperity of multiculturalism has allowed more people to have an objective and comprehensive understanding of Feng Shui.
In fact, as early as 1985, with the strong support of Hou Renzhi, the then director of the Department of Geography, Peking University once officially opened a Feng Shui course. At that time, Professor Yu Xixian, known as "China's No. 1 Feng Shui Master", was the speaker.
However, due to the policy environment in mainland China and the differences between Hong Kong and Taiwan. Differently, Feng Shui companies in Mainland China are generally more low-key, and the clients of Feng Shui companies tend to be more low-key. An industry insider admitted in an interview that he was once invited by a domestic bank to see Feng Shui for him, and later wrote about it in his blog. Talked about it, but was asked by the client to remove the content.