Cecil Lee

1. Yes, Feng Shui is indeed an in-exact science. 2. In my opinion, water-mountain stars with it's 81 combinations are more widespread. And period is also considered under this overall assessment.

Anonymous wrote: 1. In view of fengshui, what advice would you have for sleeping direction with the leg facing a bay window? Is there any concern as we intend to have the room set up for the parents who are in their old age. 1. It depends. For many developments the bay windows have a half wall and above this is the bay window. In such a situation, there is no issue or concern. 2. However, if the entire bay window and the lower portion is made of glass; then if symbolically, if one's legs face this window; it is considered inauspicious:- 2.1. This is the coffin position when legs face an "opening" 2.2. Commonsense: usually lower part of the body is "exposed" thru the bottom window of the bay window. Thus, especially if one is living on the first level or 2nd level, people walking below the unit can have a full view of the inside of the room - including the lower half of the body. 3. Otherwise, it can easily be solved by placing say a "matt" or opaque film over the glass or draw down the day curtain. Anonymous wrote: 2. What is your advice of a water curtain acting as a partition between the main door and the balcony, (a sliding door separate the living room and the balcany)? Which direction should the water be flowing, the side facing the main door or the side facing the living room/balcony? 4. Under Shapes and Forms Feng Shui, it is considered inauspicious for water to flow either towards the "outside" of the home via the main door or vice versa thru the balcony area. 5. Another consideration is the Flying Star Feng Shui. Where an analysis of where is the water wealth location is; or that if this location happens to have the mountain star and you wrongly activate water.. this is rather bad. Thus it depends on what flying star numbers are associated with that sector. 3. Ourunit is near to a little bamboo garden, is this good? Our unit is on the higher floor where the bamboo garden is on the groundfloor 6. Again, other than trial by error Feng Shui, there is such a thing as Flying Star Feng Shui to determine whether the bamboo garden is suitable or not. For example, if the area or garden is influenced by bad wood #3 Quarrels, conflicts, lawsuits, gossips and if the garden is at that sector, then it is not so good. 7. Thus, one of the main tools is to apply Flying Star Feng Shui to analyse whether a sector can or cannot accept certain elements or colours or associations. Other than that then.. throw a dice?

If one has one's own garden, it is advisable not to anyhow place unknown scultures such as those in some of the pictures taken in the Imperial garden. This is because; under symbolism in Feng Shui, we try to avoid any objects that may look like "hungry mouths" or monster looking figurines.... these are considered inauspicous especially if their mouths are aimed towards one's home.

A walk in the Imperial Gardens of the Forbidden city yields: very beautiful trees and most importantly; stones landscaped by the weather. Emperors would walk in the garden and ponder over the various shapes of these stone formations. Standing at different angles viewing some of the landscape art maylet a person to visual different objects.

This lovely tree is at the fringe of the Forbidden City: Imperial Garden. This tree with lots of "twists and turns" is very popular with Chinese paintings by famous authors...

Yang Xing Zhai = Study of the cultivation of nature This two storey building was built in the form of the Chinese character that echoes with Jiang Xue Xuan = Pavilion of crimson and white. This building is secluded and has beautiful surroundings. Emperors JaiQing and Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty came here very often to have a rest or to read. It was also here that Sir Reginald Johnston, an Englishman gave English lessons to the abdicated last Emperor Pu Yi.

In this example, a partition (may) or could or can be placed without creating internal sha qi or poison arrow aimed towards say the dining table.

In some layout plans such as this; it is considered inauspicious to place a partition (as highlighted in yellow)....

Jewelry of the Ming period More than 200 pieces of jewelry were unearthed from Ding Ling. Majority are hair pins and eardrops; made with gold, silver, pearl and precious stones. The patterns on these items are mostly of good luck and happiness. The workmanship is superb, almost reaching near perfection.

Ming Empress Crown Numerous empress crowns were unearthed from Ding Ling. This dragon crown design was made by embossing method that gives it a three-dimensional shape. This crown uses colourbright coloured bird's feathers. The crown is also decorated with pearls and gem stones. One of these crowns has more than 3,400 grains of pearls and more than 150 pieces of precious stones.

China managed to get the Temple of Heaven ready before the Beijing Olympic games. If not, there is no opportunity to visit it so close-up. Can you see the motifs on the roof sidewalls? The dragon symbolises Male while the Phoenix represents the Female. Many traditional Chinese wedding cards have a dragon and phoenix symbol in embrace....

In the forbidden city, these are the primary means of storing rain water. Common areas use earthen clay like water storage urns. While important areas use bronze or bronze coated urns.

Further to what I had mentioned, this is some of the past resources on partition or divider for a home:- http://wiki.geomancy.net/wiki/Divider_or_Partition

1. Good thoughts & observations. 2. Generally, these are guidelines when installing a partition:- 2.1. It need not be air-tight. For example, it can be made of staggered vertical wooden poles. 2.2. Usually a Feng Shui ruler is used to measure and install the width of the partition. For example, in many instances the best size of the width of the partition can be 42 inches (auspicious Feng Shui ruler dimension). The biggest partition size is 49 3/4 inches. 2.3. Often, it is best that the partition does not have reflective glass facing the main door. Here, symbolically, one does not want to have wealth reflected out of the main entrance door. While the commonsense explanation is that when we open the main door; one may suddenly see one's reflection and get a "shock" to see an image of a person standing "in-front" of us. 2.4. A partition need not be of full height. Often for cosmetic reason, it can cover up to the door frame or lower. This is to allow reflected light to penetrate towards the ceiling and to the main door - not so dark. 3. The above are some of the considerations when installing a partition: You said: "1) Leaving the main door close most of the time. I thought this might be an alternatives for some who has problem keeping their window closed instead. For new apartments like condo and newly built HDB, this can be easily achieved." 3.1 Thus it does not need to cover fully the main door nor again be air-tight. Yes, it is true. Often, permanently closing one of the window panels and drawing the curtain on that side of the window facing the main door can be one possibility. 2) What if the inflow of air from the window is larger than the door? Is the partition still necessary? 3.2 As mentioned under Para 2.2. Often, it is recommended that the partition use auspicious Feng Shui ruler dimension(s). And that the window facing the door if possible could be either closed most of the time or not fully opened. 3.3 In many "older" generation homes, these homes have balcony sliding doors and an open balcony no windows. Here, many home owners use the sliding door facing the main door as a kind of partition. 3) What is the window is far away from the door? Say for instance 8 to 10 metres away? In school, we study that flow of air will slow down over distance. Assuming distance is far, "Qi" won't flow in from the door and then flow out from the window. 3.4 Technically, you are correct, here. But equvalent to "legally" so long as the main door face a window be it 8 to 10 metres away, this is still a direct path of qi. What I meant is for example: even if we keep a safe distance from another car; but if another car slams the back of that car andas a resultthe car slams intothe back of the front car; legally, solong one slamsor kiss another car's backside for whatever reason; legally one is wrong.

Jade Belts Jade belt is an important part of the ceremonial attire of the emperors and empresses of the Ming Dynasty. Common officials were not allowed to wear jade belts. These jade belts were unearthed in Ding Ling. Both belts were made of high quality jade: One belt is of green jade. While the other belt is of cream jade. Most likely the material holding all the jadge pieces on each of the belt has disintegrated after so many years.

Wugong (Five Sacrificial Utensils) Wugong refers to the ancient symbolic stone carved sacrificial utensils. Can you spot the incense burner? It is of round tripod shape (this is an ancient style with two loop handles and with three legs). It has bothclouds and dragons carved on the lid. This incense burner is always in themiddle with candlesticks and vaseson eachside of it: making a total of 5 utensils on thesacrificial altar. Picture shows one of the Ming Emperor's tomb / monument...

Leather hat was the official hat worn by the emperor during summons, burning of incense and during sacrificial ceremonies

This Ceremonial Crown: Is a ritual crown worn by Ming emperors at grand ceremonies to offer sacrifices to the heaven and earth; at the ancient temple, to the god of the land and the god of grain and to the god of arming. It is also worn during the Chinese Lunar New Year's Day. Worn also on holy festivals and the conferring of noble titles.

This is the December month in Beijing (Peking). And do know how to differentiate a Chinese dog from other dogs? Well, very easy.. in winter... some owners use left over cheongsam material and cloth their dog... Hopefully, it is not pure silk... else.... wow! We should call this dog: a Regal Dog....

Till today, no one is able to replicate such a refined Emperor's gold crown. Look at the fine quality of the crown! And the most outstanding feature is the "wire mesh" - no current soldering method can ever duplicate such a superb workmanship. A crown made in heaven for the son of heaven (emperor)!

More pictures...

1. The placement of a pair of Lion Statues originated from the Hokkiens of Fujian province. And in the past, it is very popular in Southern part of China. As many homes would place a pair of these lion figurines outside of their door. 2. While if you were to visit Beijing or northern part of China, only palaces or places of worship are most likely to use these Lions. 3. In the South all lion figurines are made of stone. While those as seen in the attached pictures of the Forbidden City, two sets of these lion statues suppose to be made of bronze are placed outside the palace. 4. Following Chinese writing, where characters are written from right to left; the Male Lion figurine is always on the Right side. (if we were to stand facing the figurines). The Female Lion is always on the left side. 5. In these pictures, most likely the bronze figurines are coated in bronze and due to wear and tear, part of the bronze has actually been removed.. 6. The Male figurine is playing with a silk ball. While the Female figurine is playing with a baby lion. 7. Please look at the pictures. The two lions have smiling face! And under symbolism in Feng Shui, any figurines placed or displayed should be well endowed - not undernurished nor fierce looking. 8. The act of these two bronze lions playing and their well endowed size and smile are all symbolic - signify auspiciousness. 9. Today, some of these lions are placed to adorn both sides of a main door of some homes or offices or restaurants or business. A few are used at some main entrances to ward of sha qi. Under this link,the Bank of India placed a pair of such stone figurines, please see link, below:- http://www.geomancy.net/events/CDL_FS_Talk/talk_1_slide_42.htm

The Temple of Heaven is literally known as Altar of Heaven. This is where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held their annaul ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. In this picture, did you notice that the roof tiles are Blue? In this case, Blue rof tiles are only reserved for the highest form i.e. Heaven. Even the roof where the Emperor lives can only use Yellow (Yellow emperor). No other buildings in that period is allowed to use Blue roofing tiles.

This is a series of photos from my last visit in Beijing, China. The photos will include visit to the Great Wall, Ming Tombs and other interesting historical sites in China. Over the next few months, I will be posting some interesting photos from my perspective... Colour of Roof Tiles:- Highest Rank : Blue = reserved only for Heavenly Temple. Not even the Emperor'spalace or abode can use this blue tile roofing. Yellow roof tiles = reserved only for Emperor's palace or abode. Other colours: Green = officials and other high ranking people Grey roof tiles = common people. The figurines found in this picture can be found at most ancient roofings all over the Forbidden city, temples and ancient buildings...

Best that the actual home is completed with photos is a good choice. As currently, this one picture unfortunatelydoes not give enough depth of understanding.