Houses and Feng Shui in China

Chinese house and feng shui

1. Houses and Feng Shui in China Joanne Chen 2015

2. 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 Imperial Architecture Traditional Chinese residences Religious Architecture Housing / residence in China Shanghai World Financial Center National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing Feng Shui tips How to create good feng shui Feng Shui rules Garden of Forbidden City Shanghai Shanghai ally Ba Gua

3. Basic principals of traditional Chinese house design emphasis on orientation, layout and symmetry. Traditional Courtyard Symmetrical design Si He Yuan (Courtyard house)

4. 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.

5. Imperial Architecture Beijing: Forbidden City The 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 安徽古城马头墙 Huizhou Local Resident Houses Huizhou 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'.

9. Religious Architecture Shaolin Temple, Shanxi Temple of Heaven, Beijing Longshan Temple, Taipei

10. 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

11. 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).

12. 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.

13. 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

14. Modern Chinese Architecture CCTV Tower, Beijing Bird Nest, Beijing Shanghai World finance center Shanghai Tower Taipei 101 Suzhou Museum Shenzhen

15. 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 .

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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 Beijing Nanjing Kunming Xian Luoyang Chengdu Hangzhou

19. 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.