Meaning of feng shui (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Feng Shui:

The word Feng Shui is translated as "wind and water". It was well known for its eastern ancestors, who practiced in their daily life the observation of nature and its cycles. It is said that in ancient China it was developed on the banks of the Yellow River and because of this, its inhabitants were always concerned about protecting themselves from the strong currents of the river when it grew as well as from the furious winds that could collapse their homes and even an entire village.

Feng Shui is an ancient art, it has a life of more than 4000 years, it was created, studied and developed by the Chinese culture, understood as a culture that, belonging to the Far East, understands and analyzes differently from the culture Western, the first since ancient times, understands that the earth, and we as a being, are a small particle in space, in the cosmos, that we are affected by the energies of the universe at all times and in any aspect of our day to day, as in health, emotions, thoughts, which affects us directly.

It can be said that the basis of the doctrine refers to Chi, and this is nothing more than the energy of nature, it is the primordial energy of the universe, and we can have or lack that great energy, and that is where the secret of Feng Shui is found, which manages to concentrate Chi in our places of coexistence and that can benefit those who reside there, since Chi becomes useless when it is dispersed. For this correct handling of Chi, the fundamental elements are wind and water.

Feng Shui is based on the philosophical currents of Confucianism and Taoism, the first prays that the human being is an integral part of the universe, therefore, it is affected by the cosmos, by virtue of being a particle in that great space, the second, it defends that the tao, or way of life, goes hand in hand, to the fate of heaven, earth and that of the human being. These great currents are the basis of Feng Shui, and for this reason, this art seeks to maintain the balance of the human being with the environment, as well as with the materials that make up its habitat.

It is stated then, that Feng Shui is a discipline that seeks to improve the environment, design, architecture and interior design of the site where the human being is located or develops, be it the house, apartment or office, seeking the balance and harmony between the environment and everything that surrounds it.

Feng Shui History

The Chinese were very cautious and careful when choosing the site for their homes, since it was vitally important to choose a good site, which would provide protection and progress to its inhabitants, because otherwise, they could be unlucky enough to go hungry or go to war. This profession was carried out by those who were considered more experts, so it was the wisest and oldest who could perform those tasks by virtue of their extensive experiences, these in turn, passed the knowledge from generation to generation to what today we know today as Feng Shui.

In Imperial China, Feng Shui was considered a matter of state, that is why, these applications were reserved for emperors and kings on duty, and at that time there were two ways to apply it, or for homes (Yan Chai) or for the graves (Yin Chai), and it is that greater care should be taken in choosing the location of the burials of their ancestors, because this could affect all their offspring and make them prosperous or unhappy.

Once the Republic was installed, there were many things from ancient Imperial China that were banned and prohibited, among them is the art of Feng Shui, which was forced to migrate to neighboring Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia, which is currently where you can find a great variety of its practitioners.

Elements of Feng Shui

Currently, this theory explains that the energy of the universe, of nature and of the cosmo, are expressed through 5 forms or elements, among which are earth, fire, metal, wood and water. And, these five elements are the fundamental basis for understanding the cures or solutions proposed by Feng Shui. Similarly, they are the foundation of the compass, Chinese astrology and numerology of the calendar and the ancient medicine of China.

Yin Yang is the symbol of the maximum expression of complement and balance, it is considered Tai Chi, which represents the principle of the duality of perfection and balance united. This symbol is also considered as the 2 great energies of the universe that have manifested and that may be the most basic energies of all, for this reason, some have said that it represents good and evil. The principle of perfect balance of Yin Yang is the best basis of Feng Shui, from observing a particular landscape or site, to the location of the water within it.

Who is governed by the principles and techniques of Feng Shui manages to bring order, control and balance in almost all environments that unfolds, be it work, sports or personal, since all its bases serve to reach that maximum point of balance with the environment and with the person himself.