The principles of Feng Shui have existed for thousand years and are based on concepts described in the I-Tjing, a book known in English as The book of Changes, an ancient Chinese book which emphasises balance and harmony.
The practice of Feng Shui has been common in Asian communities for centuries and it is gaining popularity in Western countries.
Its basic idea is that our surroundings have a powerful effect on our life and on our fate.
Many of the old palaces in China were constructed based on the Book of Changes. “The union of the human being and nature” is the main idea.
It is about the order, the harmony of heaven and earth and about the ways in which humanity can best keep nature’s balance intact.
The Forbidden City in Beijing
The Forbidden City in Beijing is a perfect example. The emperor had ordered his Feng Shui masters to use as many positive Feng Shui elements as possible. He left behind a masterpiece of architecture, which follows principles of symmetry, harmony, yin and yang, Bagua and the five elements.
Curves are preferred during construction activities because they are a symbol of vitality in Feng Shui. In China, many bridges are built with arches, corridors are winding.
Building HSBC Honkong
Most of the earliest buildings in Hong Kong, and many buildings constructed thereafter, were built with the philosophy of Feng Shui in mind.
The HSBC building, for example, has a wide open area (the Statue Square) in front of it, with no other buildings blocking its view of Victoria Harbour – which is considered a good Feng Shui.
