Houses and Feng Shui in China

Houses and Feng Shuiin

China Joanne Chen2015

Presentation Outline

• Housing in China has a varied history with many diverse styles

• Houses were identical in different regions and ethnic groups Traditional Architecture Modern Architecture House and Feng Shui

1. Imperial Architecture2. Traditional Chinese

residences3. Religious Architecture

1. Housing / residence in China2. Shanghai World Financial

Center3. National Center for the

Performing Arts, Beijing

1. Feng Shui tips2. How to create good feng shui3. Feng Shui rules

Garden of Forbidden City Shanghai Shanghai ally Ba Gua

Basic principals of traditional Chinese house design emphasis on orientation, layout and symmetry.

Traditional Courtyard

Symmetrical design

Si He Yuan (Courtyard house)

北京四合院 Beijing Si He Yuan

The four buildings of a siheyuan are normally positioned along the north-south and east-west axis. The building positioned to the north and facing the south is considered the main house.

A siheyuan (Chinese: 四合院 ; pinyin: sìhéyuàn;) is a historical type of residence that was commonly found throughout China, most famously in Beijing.

Imperial Architecture

Beijing: Forbidden CityThe Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty—the years 1420 to 1912. It is located in the center of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum.

福建客家土楼 Fujiang Tu Lou (Hakka)A tulou ( 土楼 )or "earthen building", is a traditional communal residence found in Fujian Province South China, usually of a circular configuration surrounding a central shrine. These vernacular structures were occupied by clan groups.

A tulou is usually a large, enclosed and fortified earth building, most commonly rectangular or circular in configuration, with very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls between three and five stories high and housing up to 80 families.

Suzhou Garden 苏州庭园 The Classical Gardens of Suzhou are a group of gardens in Suzhou region, Jiangsu province. From the 11th-19th century, most of them built by scholars. The gardens are comprised of two parts - a residential section and a garden.

The key features: classical Chinese garden design with constructed landscapes mimicking natural scenery of rocks, hills and rivers with strategically located pavilions and pagodas.

安徽古城马头墙 Huizhou Local Resident HousesHuizhou Local Residential Houses appear as constructions of gray tiles and white walls. They were built originally by the merchants from Anhui.

Unlike the tradition ones facing south, the houses here face north in accordance with the popular saying that 'Merchants' gates should not face south and tax collectors' gates not face north'.

Religious Architecture

Shaolin Temple, Shanxi Temple of Heaven, Beijing Longshan Temple, Taipei

Tibetan Housing• Architecture in Tibet contains Chinese and Indian influences. Typically, Tibetan

structures are constructed of natural materials such as stone, clay, and wood. • Religious structures fall into two main types: temples, which are used for religious

ceremonies and worship; and stupas (Chörtens), which are reliquaries and symbols.

Village cottages are built up by stone slices that are connected with clay, and the gaps between the slices are filled with the crushed stone pieces.

Stupa

Potala Palace

Yak Tent

Stone House

Mongolian Yurt 蒙古包 – A House to Go • The yurt (mongolian: Ger) is the traditional dwelling of the

nomads in Mongolia.• It is a tent-like structure made from a wooden frame and covered

by wool felt. A traditional yurt is very easy to collapse and assemble again, and it can be transported on no more than three animals (horses, camels, yaks).

Farmers‘ Caves ( 窯洞 Yaodong)

• A type of dwelling that exists only in Northern China• A cave is around 20-26 feet long, 9.8 feet wide and

3 9.8 feet high. From the outside, it appears in the shape of an arc, which presents the ancient opinion of “Heaven is round and ground is square.

The most important characteristic of a Yaodong is that inside it is cool in summer and warm in winter.

A Blend in Chinese style and Western Style 1840-1949

The Bond, Shanghai, 1928 Guangzhou, 1920s Guangzhou, 1920s

Qianmen Railway Station, Beijing, 1900s Hong Kong 1900s Hong Kong 1900s

Modern Chinese Architecture

CCTV Tower, BeijingBird Nest, Beijing Shanghai

World finance center

Shanghai TowerTaipei 101Suzhou MuseumShenzhen

Housing in China

• In recent years, housing development has ballooned in China as its economy has developed. Property development has become big business in China, with new cities and suburbs springing up with new apartments, and house prices have rocketed in recent times.

What is Feng Shui?• Feng shui ( 风水 pinyin: fēng shuǐ), is a Chinese

philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment. The term feng shui literally translates as "wind-water" in English.

Fengshui is based on Yin-Yang Theory and Five Elements Theory. It's a form of geomancy.

Fengshui philosophy states that qi ( 气 / 'energy') exists in all things and is the life of the nature.

The core idea of fengshui is the harmony between humans and nature (or the universe).

Good fengshui means good fortune, while bad fengshui means bad luck. It is believed that fengshui can affect the destiny of an individual and even a country.

Yin and Yang qi

Major Principles of Fengshui

• Take the environment as a whole

• In accordance with local conditions

• Leaning against mountains and facing water

• Observing Terrain• Examining Geology• Analyzing Water Quality• Facing South• Moderate Size and Well

Situated • Taking Advantage of Qi 气 • Remolding Feng Shui

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/astrology/fengshui/principle.htm Beijing: The best Fengshui city

China Cities with Good Feng Shui

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/astrology/fengshui/city.htm

Feng Shui followers believe Feng Shui is closely related to the rise and decline of a city. A city with good Fengshui, no matter how small it is, has the magical power to produce creative minds and gifted talents from generation to generation. Listed below are some prime examples of these cities.

Tekes in Iil, Xinjiang BeijingNanjing

KunmingXianLuoyangChengdu

Hangzhou

Feng Shui Decorations

• Paintings• Couplets• Feng Shui Sword• Eight Diagrams

Mirror• Fish Bowl• Pot Plants• Wind Chime• Wooden Floor

They are used daily to bring good energy in health, finance, relationships, and career, drive off evil spirits, and break taboos.