From this page you can learn more about Feng Shui and the ancient cosmology behind our system.
FAQ: What’s Feng Shui?
Cosmic Architecture
Beyond treating one’s body like a temple, some people treat their home like a temple too.
Treat yourself like all under heaven.
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Make yourself at home with all under heaven.
貴以身為天下。若可寄天下。
Wind & Water
The name Fēng Shuǐ 風水 literally means Wind & Water.
This name came from the polarity of Water and its Wet Clouds (representing channelled, synchronising, pressurised, coiled-up springy energy — leading to the unified, smooth-flowing Heavens) vs Fire and its Dry Winds (representing split-open, scattering, falling-down autumnal energy — leading to the ground-down, settled Earth).
Because Water itself falls, but in doing so, hydrates, inflates, lifts things up and ultimately encourages brightness; while Fire itself rises, but in doing so, consumes, deflates, burns things down and ultimately encourages darkness.
This is also the basis of Dragon & Tiger theory.
Dragon & Tiger
In Dragon & Tiger theory, the Dragon of the East represents Sunrise and the Spring concept, while the Tiger of the West represents Sunset and the Autumn concept.
Water flows Wet.
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Fire blows Dry.
Clouds follow the Dragon.
Winds follow the Tiger.
水流濕。火就燥。雲從龍。風從虎。
Indeed, as the legend says, the Dragon intones — chanting like Water — and generates the rainclouds, while the Tiger outcries — roaring like Fire — and generates the dry winds.
The Dragon refers to the central vortex in a storm, or the central spine in a plant or animal body, which sends energy upwards (in Yoga this is called the Sushumna Nadi सुषुम्ना नाडी). The Tiger refers to the outer front of a storm, or the tips of the limbs of a plant or animal body, which break things down (like the Claws of a Tiger, or the Claws of Libra).
The Dragon has internal flow while being externally scaled, like the ☵ Water Trigram, while the Tiger has external flow and an inner skeleton, like the ☲ Fire trigram.
The Dragon generates moving momentous impulse without sharp surface impact. In Tai Chi we call this Jǐ Jìn 擠勁. The Tiger generates sharp surface impact without moving momentous impulse. In Tai Chi we call this Àn Jìn 按勁.
By extension
For thousands of years, Fēng Shuǐ 風水, or Fēng 風 for short, has also referred to directional energy emanation in general, as in the Bā Fēng 八風 (the 8 Winds) — not dissimilar to the Greek concept behind the Tower of the Winds.
When combined with the channelling symbolism behind the character Shuǐ 水, which shares a common origin with the ☵ Water trigram, Feng Shui came to refer to the craft of geospatial engineering for energy management in general.
Manipulating the energies of your home to optimise outcomes from key activities happening there.
The Evolution of Feng Shui
Feng Shui’s history — especially its Dragon & Tiger theory — can be officially dated back to at least ~4500 bce at Xishuipo.
Ancient cosmology
Common sense dictates that for as long as humans have existed, they will have observed the forces of nature and attempted to live their lives in harmony with these forces. Especially sunlight and darkness, and by extension, hot and cold conditions.
Being busy in the day, and sleeping at night. Getting up at sunrise, and settling down at sunset. Wearing less in Summer, then wearing more in Winter. Considering the graduation of intention throughout the day and throughout the year.
Ancient funeral etiquette
Aside from through Tai Chi, ancient knowledge of Feng Shui was also remembered through funeral etiquette. Especially the idea of sitting north, facing south, with sunrise (gain) on the left and the sunset (loss) on the right.
Fortune favours the left.
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Misfortune favours the right.
The Deputy stands left.
The Chief stands right.
As in funeral etiquette.
吉事尚左。凶事尚右。偏將軍居左。上將軍居右。言以喪禮處之。
The same basic idea re-appears in modern left wing (liberal) vs right wing (conservative) political theory, since gain (acquisitio) warrants a liberal mood and loss (amissio) warrants a conservative mood.
Ancient air conditioning
Feng Shui itself, being the application of cosmology in the design of dwelling spaces, became increasingly popular with the necessity to manipulate the flow and quality of air. Especially for ☰ Oxygen levels, ☷ Dust levels, ⤡ Humidity and ⤢ Temperature. Both ☵ Indoors and ☲ Outdoors. Especially in places of weak or harsh airflow.
Such things are still of utmost importance today — the only difference being we now have modern solutions — but in the interest of energy efficiency and resilience, we shouldn’t need to depend on modern technology completely.
Environmental psychology
Eventually, Feng Shui developed into a much more complex craft as it came to also consider the intricacies of the flow of people and the manipulation of mood through seemingly trivial design features.
Feng Shui Today
Modern Feng Shui is variable.
Here at Cosmic Tai Chi, we’re all about knowing our culture, mastering our craft and making it practical for today.
Good Feng Shui can brighten our lives. Bad Feng Shui can have undesirable consequences.
If you want nothing but the best for your own sacred space, get in touch — we’re here to help.
2 Approaches
Feng Shui is ultimately just cosmologically attuned architecture, and as with any architectural discipline, there are two approaches, as follows.
There’s the As-Is approach, aka Current State Optimisation, aka Outside Inward — and there’s the To-Be approach, aka Target State Installation, aka Inside Outward.
As-Is Feng Shui is applied from the outside inward, directly finessing the gross friction of LiangYi (II) toward the fine flow of TaiJi (I).
To-Be Feng Shui provides direction from the inside outward, escaping the gross friction of LiangYi (II) by installing a new central authority of WuJi (0) before the fine flow of TaiJi (I).
As-Is Feng Shui works Ad-Hoc by going straight to Nurture (I).
To-Be Feng Shui works Ad-Omnia by installing Nature (0) before Nurture (I).
This pair can also be seen in the old gym adage: “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. Because To-Be is ideal, like natural talent, while As-Is makes the most of a bad hand without escaping it.
Both approaches have their merit and can be worked simultaneously.
As-Is Feng Shui
Current state optimisation
This approach is traditionally called the Circumstantial School (XíngShì Pài 形勢派) aka the Form School.
Working from the outside inwards, we work with what we’ve got and we look to make quick wins from a glancing perspective.
Most people can benefit from a few pointers regarding space optimisation for less friction, more flow.
Small changes all add up, and any single one of them has the potential to make a big difference depending on the current state of the home.
But this is a hacky approach, which if you’re not careful, can mask and enable the build-up of underlying issues. This is called Design Debt.
It’s like you’re firefighting the symptoms rather than tackling the arsonist. Still, it has its place as a pragmatic intervention and can complement simultaneous rehabilitation work.
To-Be Feng Shui
Target state installation
This approach is traditionally called the Jadework Energy School (LǐQì Pài 理氣派) aka the Compass School.
Working from the inside outwards, we look to get a firm foothold, anywhere available, but the more spacious, neutral, central and in-keeping with our long term vision the better. From here, we create our ideal sacred space, with ambition to expand.
Even if we only have access to a random corner, we can still create a microcosm in that realm.
In stubborn renovations, we can overcome resistance by employing a Ship of Theseus strategy — also called a Strangler Fig strategy. This involves conquering territory opportunistically, with bias inwards until the centre is eventually secured, all the while being careful not to pollute our new sacred grounds.
Cosmic coordination — for temple-grade inspiration
When Compass Work is fully applied as a complete package, we establish altars in all directions and track the sun’s movement — potentially the moon too. We turn our home, or at least some part of it, into a Mandala and a Sundial and a Medicine Wheel. Each room and/or wall becomes a reminder of the cosmic concept traditionally represented by that direction, based on real conditions when the sun shines from that direction each day, as well as parallel conditions in the annual cycle. This can get as granular as you like.
With a room well dressed in respect to each directional energy, we can then circumambulate — or simply look around — at our new 3D mindmap, to consciously study the various cosmic forces, and to use them as a scaffold from which to play with any other system. This also encourages revelation through intangible synchronicity.
Both ends of the homeowner spectrum can do Compass Work. Whether building a palace or pitching a tent, or reworking a spare room in a family home, it’s just a matter of scale.
Compass Correspondences
4 Directions plus Centre
After the Centre Palace is established, add South, North, East and West to trace a cosmic template charting the 4 Directions, the 4 Seasons and the 4 Elements.
People are often happy to leave it there. This level of cosmography makes very tidy systems. It’s comprehensive enough for most needs, while staying efficient and focused. But it’s easy to get carried away. How much nuance do you need?
The people’s champ hangs in the thick of it, not the thin of it —
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and stays for the fruits, not the flowers.
大丈夫處其厚，不處其薄；
居其實，不居其華。
| South Summer 5 Palaces Bǎi Xìng 百姓 Hundred Surnames (of the General Public) 4 Winds Wēi Fēng 微風 Light (Footed) Wind 5 Chambers Míng Táng 明堂 Bright Hall 5 Families Ratna Kula 5 Hand Seals Varada Hasta Serving Hand | ||
| East Spring 5 Palaces Xiàng 相 (Civil Chief) Minister 4 Winds Xié Fēng 協風 (Crowd) Aligning Wind 5 Chambers Qīng Yáng 青陽 Aqua Yang 5 Families Vajra Kula 5 Hand Seals Bhumisparsha Hasta Grounding Hand | Centre 5 Palaces Lì 吏 Admin / Head Office 5 Chambers Tài Shì 太室 Great Room 5 Families Buddha Kula 5 Hand Seals Dharmachakra Hasta Ballbearing Hand | West Autumn 5 Palaces Jiàng 將 (Military Chief) General 4 Winds Yí Fēng 彝風 (Two-Handled) Tureen Wind 5 Chambers Zǒng Zhāng 總章 Joint Section 5 Families Padma Kula 5 Hand Seals Dhyana Hasta Analysing Hand |
| North Winter 5 Palaces Jūn 君 Honoured Commander 4 Winds Yì Fēng 役風 (Border) Guard Wind 5 Chambers Xuán Táng 玄堂 Dark Hall 5 Families Karma Kula 5 Hand Seals Abhaya Hasta Unfearing Hand |
Those called Pythagoreans, who first took up mathematics…
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Regarded its principles as the principles of everything…
More than in ☲ Fire and ☷ Earth and ☵ Water.
Such correspondences of numbers were:
☲ Dikaiosyne (Justice),
then ☷ Psyche (the Receptive Mind) and Nous (the Effective Mind),
then ☵ Kairos (Opportunity)…
οἱ καλούμενοι Πυθαγόρειοι τῶν μαθημάτων ἁψάμενοι πρῶτοι … τὰς τούτων ἀρχὰς τῶν ὄντων ἀρχὰς ᾠήθησαν εἶναι πάντων … μᾶλλον ἢ ἐν πυρὶ καὶ γῇ καὶ ὕδατι, ὅτι τὸ μὲν τοιονδὶ τῶν ἀριθμῶν πάθος δικαιοσύνη τὸ δὲ τοιονδὶ ψυχή τε καὶ νοῦς ἕτερον δὲ καιρὸς …
8 Winds, 9 Palaces
To represent the relationships and transitional energies between cardinals, we can add corner altars, thus completing the 8 Winds and the 9 Palaces.
| SE Beltane 8 States Praśaṃsā प्रशंसा Chēng 稱 Praise 8 Winds Ruò Fēng 弱風 9 Palaces YīnLuò 陰洛 Southern Waters 9 Hands Cǎi 採 | South Mid-Summer 8 States Sukha सुख Lè 樂 Pleasure 8 Winds Dà Ruò Fēng 大弱風 9 Palaces TiānGōng 天宮 9 Hands Péng 掤 | SW Lunasa 8 States Yaśas यशस् Yù 譽 Fame 8 Winds Móu Fēng 謀風 9 Palaces XuánWěi 玄委 9 Hands Zhǒu 肘 |
| East Mid-Spring 8 States Lābha लाभ Lì 利 Gain 8 Winds Yīng Wù Fēng 嬰兀風 Coiled / Wrapped Wind 9 Palaces CāngMén 倉門 9 Hands Jǐ 擠 | Centre 9 Palaces ZhōngGōng 中宮 9 Hands Sōng 鬆 | West Mid-Autumn 8 States Alābha अलाभ Shuāi 衰 Loss 8 Winds Gāng Fēng 剛風 Cutting Wind 9 Palaces CāngGuǒ 倉果 9 Hands Àn 按 |
| NE Imbolc 8 States Ayaśas अयशस् Huǐ 毀 Defame 8 Winds Xiōng Fēng 凶風 Boring Wind 9 Palaces TiānLiú 天留 9 Hands Kào 靠 | North Mid-Winter 8 States Duḥkha दुःख Kǔ 苦 Pain 8 Winds Dà Gāng Fēng 大剛風 Great Cutting Wind 9 Palaces YèZhé 葉蟄 9 Hands Lǚ 捋 | NW Samhain 8 States Nindā निन्दा Jī 譏 Blame 8 Winds Zhé Fēng 折風 9 Palaces XīnLuò 新洛 Choppy Waters 9 Hands Liè 挒 |
9 Palaces, 12 Branches
The 12 Outer Faces of the 9 Palaces can map to the 12 Branches and the 12 Months of the Eastern and Western Zodiacs. This enables us to distinguish between the left, right and centre of any wall.
| 150° 1000 Gemini ♊︎ Sì 巳 MíngTáng ZuǒGè 明堂左个 | 180° 1200 Cancer ♋︎ Wǔ 午 MíngTáng TàiMiào 明堂大廟 | 210° 1400 Leo ♌︎ Wèi 未 MíngTáng YòuGè 明堂右个 | ||
| 120° 0800 Taurus ♉︎ Chén 辰 QīngYáng YòuGè 青陽右个 | Wet | Heaven | Hot | 240° 1600 Virgo ♍︎ Shēn 申 ZǒngZhāng ZuǒGè 總章左个 |
| 090° 0600 ♈︎ Aries Mǎo 卯 QīngYáng TàiMiào 青陽大廟 | Water | Space TàiMiào TàiShì 大廟大室 | Fire | 270° 1800 Libra ♎︎ Yǒu 酉 ZǒngZhāng TàiMiào 總章大廟 |
| 060° 0400 ♓︎ Pisces Yín 寅 QīngYáng ZuǒGè 青陽左个 | Cold | Earth | Dry | 300° 2000 Scorpio ♏︎ Xū 戌 ZǒngZhāng YòuGè 總章右个 |
| 030° 0200 Aquarius ♒︎ Chǒu 丑 XuánTáng YòuGè 玄堂右个 | 000° 0000 Capricorn ♑︎ Zǐ 子 XuánTáng TàiMiào 玄堂大廟 | 330° 2200 Sagittarius ♐︎ Hài 亥 XuánTáng ZuǒGè 玄堂左个 |
The Great Net
Beyond the 8 Directions and the 12 Directions, the 24 Directions are commonly mapped using the 24 Mountains system, or the 24 Solar Terms of the Chinese Farming Calendar.
The 28 Lunar Mansions are also commonly charted adjacent to the 24 Mountains. In ancient times, the overall composite framework was traditionally called the Great Net (Dà Luó 大羅).
Feng Shui Priorities
Survival priorities dictate Feng Shui priorities.
Because Feng Shui is all about helping your environment to help you survive & thrive.
So, we tackle obvious Health & Safety concerns that most commercial risk assessments cover, as well as less obvious concerns that most people overlook but are still affected by.
Our regular resource needs include Quality & Quantity of Air to breathe (which people usually take for granted), as well as Water to drink and Food to eat (which people usually seek to acquire). Beyond this, Shelter materials are important — from Clothing to Bedding to Housing to Landscaping, whether you craft it yourself or not. In the long term, people also struggle to live without Family, Friends & Communities. If your home has an abundance of all these resources, you’re likely to feel a lot better than if it doesn’t.
On a more abstract level, the creative awareness afforded by the empty open mind is the ultimate foundation and fallback of the survivalist, enabling timeless improvisation in case lacking in resources like goods, skills and energy.
In 9 Palaces theory, the empty open mind corresponds to the Centre Palace — the free space in the middle of any room.
In Tai Chi, embodied emptiness is called WúJí 無極 (Unbound) or HúnYuán 渾元 (General Origin) or Sōng Jìn 鬆勁 (Opening Power). It also corresponds to Huà Jìn 化勁 (Flipping Power) and Tīng Jìn 聽勁 (Listening & Sensing Power) and Dǒng Jìn 懂勁 (Understanding Power) as well as the concept of Wú Wéi 無為 (doing without doing) and The Art Of Fighting Without Fighting.
We cut doors & windows to make rooms.
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Their use is in what they lack — that’s where there’s room.
鑿戶牖以為室。當其無有，室之用。
Holy is the inner altar of everything.
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Palace of the fortunate. Hospital of the unfortunate.
道者萬物之奧。善人之寶。 不善人之所保。
