A Book Review by Kartar Diamond
This book stands out in my collection in two major ways. Firstly, the author is focused on how Feng Shui is practiced in Singapore. Secondly, the author is not a Feng Shui practitioner; rather Feng Shui in Singapore was part of her thesis for a Master of Arts degree in Geography at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. This led her to interview ten prominent feng shui experts, local to Singapore in the early 1990’s.
Lest you think the information may not be relevant in a general way for all Feng Shui enthusiasts, that is not the case. She has used Singapore as the backdrop for fundamental, universal Feng Shui principles and practices. As well, Noble made a conscious decision to not just blend the sum total of what she learned from each practitioner, but instead allowed them to distinguish themselves in their own words.
Sara Noble admits openly to what makes sense to her and what may appear superstitious or from an unfamiliar culture. Once again it is interesting to read how feng shui was perceived by the author, just prior to the explosion of interest in the West. And yet she still had an inkling of what was to come, writing, “some of the more abstruse aspects of feng shui practice can seem strange from a practical, rationalist point of view and I suspect some elements of its current practice have been degraded through popular use.” She also noticed which practitioners seemed to be more adept at marketing themselves, who had only been consulting for a few years, and unfortunately, a few famous, elderly masters who declined to be interviewed.
She describes the meaning of Feng Shui and some of its essential principles eloquently, citing important historical milestones and its connection to Taoism. When I first began my feng shui studies, before most people had internet access, one could do feeble pre-Google searches that described Feng Shui as “Chinese geomancy,” which Noble does as well.
“Geomancy” literally means divination and there are many divination practices not related to feng shui, so this is only one aspect of a whole complex system. That said, “geo” as in earth is correct when we define Form School or Landscape School. Early feng shui masters were assessing the exterior natural environment (mountains and water courses) as much or more than the built structures.
She refers to feng shui as a “soil science,” and notes that ancestor worship is a big part of Chinese life. It then makes more sense that one branch of Feng Shui is “Yin House,” specializing in the divination of gravesites.
The Chinese who practice Taoism and Feng Shui also believe that providing good feng shui for their deceased family members will benefit their living descendants. Death is considered another phase of life for the eternal soul. This blend of Taoism, Buddhism and feng shui was referred to by some Singaporean locals as “Chinese religion.”
It was surprising when she revealed that most of the Feng Shui services rendered in Singapore were for post-construction evaluations. Instead of using Feng Shui in the land selection phase or the design/build phase, her top ten “geomancers” admitted to being hired primarily to correct and enhance existing homes and businesses (as is the case elsewhere). That has certainly changed over the decades, as Feng Shui continued to have a resurgence of popularity and priority. Without advertising it, corporations have used Feng Shui at all phases of development, almost like a trade secret, to give them an unspoken edge over their competitors.
In describing the importance of locating the ideal site, the word used in feng shui literature translates as “cave,” (xue). The ideal site among ancient dwellers were in fact actual caves, such as those in the Loess Plateau of Central China, ground zero for the birth of Chinese civilization. A safe and comfortable cave was reliant on many natural and weather-related features which we now have the luxury to ignore in our well-built, insulated residential and commercial structures.
There is a typo on page 6 and elsewhere in the edition I have, where she lists “wind” as one of the Five Elements, when it is obvious that she meant “wood.” I only mention it for the sake of someone new to Feng Shui, in case they think they have missed something regarding wind. This is not far-fetched considering how one of the elements in other metaphysical practices is “air.” Take for example Western Astrology, where the twelve zodiac signs are categorized as earth, water, fire or air signs.
After giving thoughtful descriptions of the two main schools of Feng Shui (Form School and Compass School), she then describes actual practices which seem to have little to do with either. She writes: “The most common remedies involve the strategic placement of objects that are considered to have some geomantic power. Often these will be nature paintings, statues, figurines, written talismans or mirrors that are surrounded by the eight trigrams.” Funny, I almost never use those kinds of remedies! Then again, this is the feedback she got from the local practitioners.
Some of these objects would be better described as folk remedies and at this point in the book I am disappointed that she hasn’t inserted a paragraph or two about the Flying Star School and its Space-Time calculations. It is this system and knowledge which guides the practitioner in the more sophisticated remedies unique to each dwelling. These include the elemental adjustments she alluded to in describing aspects of Five Element Theory.
As Noble continues to interview the locals of Singapore, as well as the geomancers, details and practices pop up which I make note of out of self-interest. She reports that the Bank of Boston enlisted the services of a feng shui expert and the many things they did to alter their professional space. They added something to their dealing room which seemed to be a variation on a more popular practice. The Salt Water Cure uses a glass container of water with salt and Chinese coins to suck negativity out of the atmosphere, attributable to the 5 Earth Star. The bank used ink instead of water.
Noble gathered from more than one source that the most important rooms in a home are the primary bedroom, the stove location and “writing desks.” Keep in mind this was written a decade before your average adult, and child, became addicted to the internet and the home office became an integral addition to most households. She relays what some in my field consider a “kitchen myth” by pointing out a supposedly serious flaw in having sink and stove directly opposite each other in a kitchen lay-out. At the very least, we have to superimpose the modern kitchen and lifestyle over this long-held belief. If the occupants hardly cook, then perhaps this arrangement is of no concern.
Her selection of geomancers gave her sample case studies where it appears that small details made a huge impact on the lives of their clients. While I’ve always been a “Big Picture” gal, my Singaporean counterparts are pulling out feng shui rulers, measuring desks, doorways, cash receipt boxes, and other furnishings.
There are also directives for clients to wear clothing or paint walls certain colors to match the occupant’s dominant birth element. Now, without knowing more details I should not judge this practice. But I do know enough about Chinese Astrology to know that we are a mixture of elements and an effort to “balance” one’s chart could entail bringing in elements (via color) that the person is deficient in, not the element they are dominant in. With even more emphasis on the person vs. the place, the author reports that angling furnishings to suit the owner is very common. This is debatable among different schools and practitioners. Which is more important: personal best directions or optimal Qi flow within the room, regardless of birth data?
There is also an emphasis on natural landscape paintings, as psychological relief from not having as much time outdoors as would normally be ideal. I can get behind that. It’s subjective, but important. This is one reason why some apartment dwellers crave having potted plants.
The geomancers she interviewed had resigned themselves to making small adjustments on behalf of clients because, like everywhere else in the world, clients either cannot afford to make structural changes or they are not allowed to, based on other limiting circumstances, including governmental regulations.
One consultant was personally against the practice of remodeling because he considered the structure of a building to be the “bones,” which should not be altered. If we continue with that analogy, we know that if someone with scoliosis or some other skeletal problem can be rescued with surgery or chiropractic manipulation, why not?
It also becomes evident in the case study samples that some of the practitioners are using other forms of Feng Shui instead of the Flying Star School, such as the reference to a door’s direction and the associated hexagram (from the I-Ching: Book of Changes). Other Schools include Xuan Kong Da Gua and Qi Men Dun Jia, where the compass points reveal an entirely different set of interpretations.
Feng Shui adjustments, from any School, can sometimes take care of more than one issue. In my own practice, I have seen cases where the placement of water in one location was able to address as many as five distinct benefits. One geomancer advised a client to move their front entrance away from direct alignment with the main gate of the property. This was done in the name of Qi Flow. However, changing the door location (regardless of the gate) could have had an even bigger influence on the occupant’s life based on what directional Qi the new door gained access to.
Noble points out that many of the remedies and recommendations have blurred lines in terms of where the Feng Shui ends and the Chinese cultural beliefs begin. Bouganvillea plants are popular in Singapore because they symbolize money. One practitioner recommended his client occupy the 16th floor of an office space because the numbers are lucky and use green carpet because the word for green sounds similar to the Cantonese word for happiness. Homophones are taken very seriously in Chinese culture.
The geomancers she spoke with had different opinions about the efficacy of using the infamous Ba Gua Mirrors, with some admitting they appear superstitious at the hands of people who do not understand the depth of what they symbolize or how to correctly use a concave vs. convex style of mirror. One gentleman was quoted comparing the use of trigram mirrors “like Americans use vitamins-just in case” and often used incorrectly. Come to think of it, maybe I will back off the creatine a little.
A building in Singapore was destroyed by fire years ago. New owners sought the advice of a geomancer when building a new shopping center on the site. The shopping center features a three-story waterfall fountain to commemorate the souls who died in the fire. This reminds me of New York’s Trade Center 9/11 Memorial, which also has reflecting pools, with the names of those who perished engraved in adjacent bronze parapets.
The author delves into a unique section of Form School Feng Shui when sharing what she learned from the geomancers about how they interpret the island of Singapore in relation to the larger region and adjacent Malaysia, the island’s own shape and areas within. She compares traditional practitioners and their observations from the past with the current-day experts, how they each have their own opinions, but how they also agree on many concepts. Whether the island is described as a pearl (in shape), a crab, an eagle, or a Chinese gold coin, they all agree it has enduring auspicious features, which explains Singapore’s steady, thriving economy and high quality of life.
After describing the land and mountain variations as “dragons,” she references the Five Celestial Guardians (North, South, East, West, Center), and notes there are human-made dragons as well in the form of structures and roads. Noble continues to describe the “Dragons” which run the length and width of Singapore, including the significance of places where the head of the dragon resides, such as the Changi Airport, or where the tails coil together. Her narration instills confidence, as if she were an actual believer in these mystical images. The author features specific well-known areas and how they are regarded by practitioners as good feng shui sites.
Human-made “dragons” include the mass rapid transit system, built years ago and how its ability to move Qi contributes further to the prosperity of the whole area. Here I am reminded that the Chinese concept of a “dragon” is very different from the Western fantasy-fiction versions of a threatening earth-bound, fire-breathing reptilian monster. The dragons of the East and in feng shui parlance are elevated “wind water” creatures which are respected and considered sources of magnificent Qi and powerful Qi distribution.
The metaphor is admittedly strange. Feng Shui scholar Dr. Stephen Skinner relayed to me that the meaning behind the English chosen word “dragon” is a misnomer and has been partially lost in translation. And while there are many other strange ways the ancient Chinese described both natural and man-made features and objects, there was likely always a perfectly good reason behind the cryptic terms and imagery. Think about all the computer-related metaphors we use today. The “X-Y Position indicator” quickly became known simply as the “mouse.” Perhaps all the animal and animal-hybrid descriptions from Chinese culture were created with similar whimsy and/or by taking into account what was already familiar and symbolic to people at the time.
Singaporeans usually don’t have much choice in where they live, but most of the geomancers interviewed “walked their talk” by managing to live in the areas most people regarded as having the best Qi. She continues with an historical progression, with Singapore having been acquired by Sir Stamford Raffles through a treaty in 1819 and how this original European colonist had no interest or knowledge in master planning the island according to any feng shui principles.
This continues in contemporary Singapore, where various building and permitting bureaucracies have no desire or mandate to accommodate any feng shui beliefs whatsoever. One might have otherwise assumed that a location heavily populated by Chinese residents and business owners would have its city planners appease some of their concerns. That was hardly the case in the 1990’s when Noble did her research. Small concessions were made such as building units with staggered doorways, so that occupants would not have their entry door aligned directly with another unit’s door. The planners wrote it off as simply a good design for the sake of privacy.
At the time of her research, 80% of Singapore’s population lived in state housing and with little control over the exteriors or even how often the units could be sold. We take so much for granted in the USA, and yet even in America you can’t just build a house anywhere you want or face it in any direction you want, unless you own quite a bit of land and would not be violating any set-back laws.
The author also interviewed architects, landscape designers and interior designers from the area. Consistent with her findings from the local geomancers, only a small percentage of architectural and landscape design clients enlisted the advice of a geomancer to collaborate on a project. It was the interior designers who engaged with feng shui concepts and recommendations far more often, precisely because that has been the limited scope under which the people could utilize feng shui. Even when the Straits Times reported on the surging popularity of feng shui, it was handed out with a dose of skepticism or poked fun of in cartoon strips, much like what we saw in the U.S.
Some feng shui practitioners quietly theorize that this body of knowledge can potentially be so powerful, that the various governments of the world have not wanted their people to be that autonomous. Perhaps feng shui is the OG of all conspiracies and the political elites decided long ago that the best way to tamp down on its public use is to just ridicule it. World-wide and as recently as ten years ago, you may have been called a kook to believe in UFO’s; now they seem to be discussed openly by government officials.
On a more serious note, the author continues with a very perceptive and thought-provoking chapter on where geomancy fits in with modern-day environmentalism. She points out feng shui’s fundamental principle to respect nature and proceed with caution. There is an understanding that humans and nature are inseparable and it is not Man’s prerogative to conquer nature. True science is open to change and making adjustments with new information, but sadly the scientific community is still at odds with this ancient metaphysical wisdom. In reality, “the science” is not “settled” on hardly anything, so the denigration of feng shui as myth or superstition is very short-sighted, to say the least.
And yet, Noble also noticed that some geomancers have tried to mimic the Western world approach, perhaps as a reaction to those close-minded, by touting their methods as “scientific” or by trying to conduct their practice with a certain level of precision which still guarantees nothing. It becomes ironic and contradictory at the core because feng shui theory understands that Nature is in charge and that we can only manipulate our environment to a point. At a certain stage, either Nature or personal human destiny can over-ride our experiments.
Noble asked several geomancers their opinion about reclaimed land and if that practice could be auspicious or not. She got different opinions about whether or not it is wise to change a landscape to that extent. Some practitioners doubted that the reclaimed land would have good Qi. However, others thought that it could be auspicious with careful planning. My instinctual reaction is that since “reclaimed land” can happen naturally over time with lowered sea levels, that it would be possible to create a positive effect with the reclaimed land.
This is an excellent book and I wish more like this had been written. The author sums up her thoughts and findings in the Appendix. At its core, feng shui practice is synonymous with environmentalism and it was obvious to her that many fundamental aspects of feng shui are being ignored in modern times, due to a variety of societal constraints.
She could also sense the seeping intrusion of Western mechanistic and technological ideologies. The East and West do have starkly difference world views, where the East seeks to find harmony between humans and nature, whereas the West assumes that mankind has a divine right to be a steward of the planet and control the surroundings as he or she sees fit. We know how that has turned out.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that the geomancers of Singapore were forced to limit the scope of their consultations and recommendations. That has played out in other countries as well and over the decades it is a trend that has endured.
Author: Kartar Diamond
Company: Feng Shui Solutions ®
From the Book Review Blog Series
