Feng Shui Tips for Your Kitchen

Feng shui

I. Read the following extracts, paying your attention to the new words, and comment on the principles and symbols of feng shui

Feng shui (pronounced /ˌfʌŋˈʃweɪ/ fung-shway or sometimes /ˌfʌŋˈʃwiː/ fung-shwee in English) is an ancient Chinese practice believed to utilize the Laws of both Heaven, (astronomy), and Earth, (geography), to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi. ^[1] The words 'feng shui' literally translates as "wind-water" in English, which is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty:

Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.

Most of today's feng shui schools teach that it is the practice of arranging objects, (such as the internal placement of furniture in an environment,) to achieve harmony with one's environment. It is also used for choosing a place to live, for plotting a burial site, and still others use it for agricultural planning. Proponents claim that feng shui has an effect on health, wealth and personal relationships; critics consider it a pseudoscience.

Early feng shui relied on astronomy to find correlations between humans and the universe ^[4] and it is inseparable from an understanding of political power in premodern China.^[5]

All capital cities of China followed rules of Feng Shui for their design and layout. These rules were codified during the Zhou era in the Kaogong ji (traditional Chinese: 考工記; simplified Chinese: 考工记; "Manual of Crafts"). Rules for builders were codified in the carpenter's manual Lu ban jing (traditional Chinese: 魯班經; simplified Chinese: 鲁班经; "Lu ban's manuscript"). Graves and tombs also followed rules of Feng Shui. From the earliest records, it seems that the rules for the structures of the graves and dwellings were the same.

History

A feng shui spiral at LA Chinatown's Metro station.

Emperor Di Ku was said to dabble in astronomy. Shun consulted the stars before he assumed the throne. There were feng shui devices before the invention of the magnetic compass, which occurred comparatively late in the long history of feng shui. According to the Zhouli the original device may have been a gnomon, although Yao, Huangdi, and other figures were said to possess devices such as the south-pointing chariot.

As Derek Walters observed, "The luopan was originally a scientific instrument, used for astronomical observation." The oldest excavated examples of instruments used for feng shui are astrolabes. These consist of a lacquered, two-sided board with astronomical sightlines. Liuren astrolabes have been unearthed from tombs that date between 278 BC and 209 BC. The markings are virtually unchanged from the astrolabe to the first magnetic compasses.^[12]

Since the invention of the magnetic compass for use in Feng Shui^[13], some feng shui disciplines require the use of a compass. This compass could be a Luopan (Chinese Feng Shui compass of the types San Yuan, San He, and Zong He) or one of the earlier versions such as a south-pointing spoon (zhinan zhen).

The history of the Luopan compass takes us back to the Zhou dynasty (770-476 BCE), when emperor Shing combined the knowledge of the compass with that of the I-ching. The compass consists of a magnetic needle that point towards magnetic north not true north. The foundation of the I-ching is in the trigrams.

Foundation theories

The goal of feng shui as practiced today is to situate the human built environment on spots with good qi. The "perfect spot" is a location and an axis in time. Some areas are not suitable for human settlement and should be left in their natural state.

Some current techniques can be traced to Neolithic China, while others were added in later times (most notably the Han dynasty, the Tang, the Song, and the Ming). Today, to determine a perfect spot, local manifestations of qi must be assessed for quality. Quality is determined by observations and by using a compass (Luopan).

Qi (ch'i)

Qi is a difficult word to translate and is usually left untranslated. Literally the word means "air". In feng shui, "Qi" means "flow of energy". Max Knoll suggested in a 1951 lecture that qi is a form of solar radiation. "Qi", when used to describe martial arts, refers to internal or physical energy. In Feng Shui, however, the word is used to mean natural energy.

Beliefs hold that the heavens influence life on Earth. This seems preposterous to many people, yet space weather exists and can have profound effects on technology (GPS, pipelines, communication and navigation systems, surveys), and the internal orienting faculties of birds and other creatures. Atmospheric scientists have suggested that space weather creates fluctuations in market prices.^[20][21]

Early fundamentals

The history of feng shui covers at least 3,500 years before the invention of the magnetic compass. Feng Shui developed thousands of years ago in little villages of the Orient. It was called Folk Feng Shui^[28]. Their livelihoods were dependent on it. They studied the formations of the land and ways of the wind & water to determine the best setting for their survival. Good Feng Shui would produce bountiful harvest, healthy livestock and abundant life. Harsh winds would destroy their crops, leaving no food for their family and their animals. Violent storms would tear down their homes and villages.

The elements, water, rain, wind, fog, sun were believed to be the energy of heaven and earth. These shaman-kings had knowledge of landforms and weather, that could drive back the elements that threaten a village. This divinization of land forms was the beginning and foundation of Feng Shui.

When China was under imperial rule, feng shui was a secret, known only to a handful of astronomers and scientists commissioned with maintaining the health, wealth, and power of the court.

Imperial palaces and cities were planned according to feng shui, which became a principle of classical Chinese architecture. Beijing's Forbidden City is an example. A spectacular complex of palaces, administrative buildings, and temples arranged around a series of courtyards, the Forbidden City was the capital of China during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Feng shui seeks to promote prosperity, good health, and general well being by examining how energy, qi, pronounced "chee," flows through a particular room, house, building, or garden.

Feng shui can be used to decide the location, construction, and architectural features of buildings, the placement and style of furniture, colors and decorating schemes, and the location of plantings, paths, and other outside features. By creating a more pleasing atmosphere, feng shui has been credited with improving family communication, restoring employee cooperation, and increasing a store's sales.

The principles can be applied to any style of building or decorating, not just to Chinese or Asian modes.

13 Feng Shui Tips
Some suggestions for harmonizing where you live

While a feng shui master, or geomancer, would need to analyze a specific problem for a proper diagnosis, some basic tips can be followed to keep your house in balance.

1. Energy, qi should flow freely through your home, entering through the front door and exiting out the back. Clutter, sharp angles, nooks and crannies, and storage areas can slow down energy, causing it to stagnate and become unhealthful.

2. Energy should not disappear so quickly it has no time to do any good, so if your front door has an unimpeded view to the back door, consider blocking it with screens.

3. Busy streets, train tracks, and airplane flight paths all generate energy that may move too fast to enter your home. A wall, trees, shrubbery, and hanging plants are often used to slow down or to screen out fast-moving or negative energy. A weathervane or water, such as a fountain in the front of the house, might also help.

4. Intersections create lots of qi. If your front door is not well situated, it could become bombarded with energy, making relaxation impossible. A mirror on the front of the house can deflect energy.

5. Balance is a cornerstone of happiness and good design. Everything from exterior lamp poles to inside decorations might need balancing to generate harmonious energy.

6. Sharp, jutting angles need to be softened by placing plants or statues in front.

7. Furniture in the living room should facilitate movement and conversation. Since the living room is a yang area, consider adding yin influences with plants, soft cushions, and perhaps a fish tank.

8. The foot of a bed should not be in a direct line to the door since in ancient China the dead were laid with their feet toward the door of the death house for easier access to heaven.

9. Mirrors should not face a bed because the spirit leaves the body in the night and might get upset at seeing its reflection, causing a disturbed sleep.

10. Round dining room tables are best since the circle symbolized heavenly blessings. Dining room chairs should be of an even number and should be comfortable. Décor should be simple so as not to distract from the food.

11. Food represents wealth to the Chinese, and therefore the kitchens can generate general happiness. Kitchens should be balanced because of the presence of two major elements—fire, with its yang energy, and water, which is a yin force.

12. The bathroom is the most yin room in the house because of the presence of water. Yang elements, such as bright colors or candles may be added.

13. Gardens create a pleasant view. They should contain balance and have a natural look. Flowering plants will bring good luck.

Feng Shui Tips for Your Kitchen

Feng Shui (say "fung shway") associates the kitchen with both health and prosperity. Couple this perspective with the role of the kitchen as "the heart of the home," and you can see that any feng shui problems in this room can have a significant impact on your family. Here are some quick tips for improving the feng shui of this important area of the home.

Good housekeeping is good feng shui! Keep your kitchen shiny and clean for the best possible energy. A cluttered, dirty kitchen will have stagnant, dirty energy, which interferes with your ability to cook and enjoy healthy, nourishing food. When you are poorly nourished, your ability to work hard and earn a good income will suffer.
Hidden clutter counts. An excess of stored food in the pantry or freezer can become clutter if it far exceeds a reasonable amount for your family. Old, stale food has old, stale energy, even if the expiration date is still months (or even years) away. Clean out your food cupboards and refrigerator regularly.
Good nutrition is also good feng shui, so try to add more healthy, organic foods to your diet, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Start thinking of junk food as clutter that you are putting into your body, and maybe you'll be able to resist that next cookie or donut.
A stove that is not in good working order implies a problem with financial resources. If any part of the stove (burners, oven light, fan, etc.) does not work, get it fixed as soon as possible.
An unused stove implies untapped resources or ignored opportunities. Even if all you do is boil water for tea, rotate which burner you set the kettle on so that all of them get regular use! And use the oven, too, from time to time, instead of always relying on the microwave.
If you stand facing the wall while you cook, this leaves your back exposed, a position that is considered weak in feng shui. Hang a mirror on the wall over the stove so that you can see what's going on behind you while you cook.
Hanging a mirror so it reflects the stove burners visually doubles the number of burners. This symbolizes doubling of your income; more good food = better health and strength = ability to earn a good income.
Fire and water fight each other, so the placement of the stove and sink is important. If they are directly opposite each other, this can lead to arguments and conflict within the family. Fix this by placing something green between them, such as a green rug on the floor or a living plant on a table in the center of the room. (A sink and stove that are side by side also weaken the energy of the kitchen. Again, place something green between them.)
The stove is symbolic of wealth, so it is important to keep its fire energy strong. Wood feeds fire, so plants or plant imagery (or again, the color green) are all good to have around and near the stove.
Fresh flowers bring beautiful uplifting energy to the kitchen. Place a bowl of fruit, a vase of flowers, or a living plant on your kitchen table, windowsill, or wherever the layout of your kitchen allows. (In feng shui, dried flowers have no life energy in them, so they are not recommended. If real plants are impossible, you can use very lifelike fake ones, but the effect will not be as strong.)
Since nine is a feng shui power number, and oranges symbolize good luck, you can bring good luck energy into the kitchen by placing nine of the biggest, roundest, most perfectly orange oranges you can find in a bowl in the center of the room, on top of the stove (yes, you can move them while you are cooking!), or in the far left corner of the room. Always keep some oranges on hand, so each time you take one from the bowl you can add another to keep the total number at nine. Be sure to use the older oranges first, so none of them rot or dry out; if it's not good to eat, it's not good feng shui!

When your kitchen is clean, bright, and welcoming, the heart of your home is filled with good feng shui. The care and attention you give to enhancing this important area of the home creates a powerful, positive energy that supports the health and prosperity of your familyю

II. Study a list of new words and reproduce the contexts in which they are used in the text

Shorthand The words 'feng shui' literally translates as "wind-water" in English, which is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty

to retain Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water. To keep to hold

to plot Most of today's feng shui schools teach that it is the practice of arranging objects, (such as the internal placement of furniture in an environment,) to achieve harmony with one's environment. It is also used for choosing a place to live, for plotting a burial site, and still others use it for agricultural planning. Conspire

to dabble in Emperor Di Ku was said to dabble in astronomy. To be in

axis The goal of feng shui as practiced today is to situate the human built environment on spots with good qi. The "perfect spot" is a location and an axis in time. Some areas are not suitable for human settlement and should be left in their natural state. A line around an object

martial arts Qi is a difficult word to translate and is usually left untranslated. Literally the word means "air". In feng shui, "Qi" means "flow of energy". Max Knoll suggested in a 1951 lecture that qi is a form of solar radiation. "Qi", when used to describe martial arts, refers to internal or physical energy. In Feng Shui, however, the word is used to mean natural energy. Warrior

Cluttered Good housekeeping is good feng shui! Keep your kitchen shiny and clean for the best possible energy. A cluttered, dirty kitchen will have stagnant, dirty energy, which interferes with your ability to cook and enjoy healthy, nourishing food. When you are poorly nourished, your ability to work hard and earn a good income will suffer. Messy

to enhance shui! Increase

II. Express your point of view on the problem according to the following plan:

1. The origin and history of feng shui.

2. The essence of the feng shui philosophy.

3. The basic principles of feng shui.

4. Feng shui basic tips can on how to keep your house in balance.

5. Basic tips for improving the feng shui of the kitchen.

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