Feng Shui explains how the environment in which people live affects their lives. Beyond this, it is the art of using the environment to influence the quality of a person's life.
Gardens have featured prominently in Chinese life for at least 3000 years. The key principle used in creating a traditional Chinese garden was that it should always harmonise with nature. Therefore, designers placed great importance on preserving and enhancing natural surroundings, blending together man-made features with the dominant natural scenery.
The ancient Emperors' palaces had vast gardens that resembled parks, in which many kinds of birds and animals were raised. According to ancient records, the famous fourth century Jingu Garden had beautiful landscapes with lush foliage, medicinal herbs, fruit trees, bamboos and pine trees, clear running water and a monumental fish pond.
Garden Feng Shui principles in modern times focus on natural landforms, well placed water, suitable man made structures and the balance of yin and yang, working in different compass areas with organic elements, shapes, colours and foliage textures to create a harmonious and peaceful space.
Gardens can be laid out using a bagua map, with the bottom of the map at the entrance to the garden.
Different schools of thought may recommend different plants. For instance, sweet-smelling honeysuckle, roses or jasmine growing up along an open-sided building is conducive to chi. Once again, however, opinions conflict. While some consultants advise putting stone figurines and crystals in a garden to attract good chi, others say that the objects themselves are irrelevant and that placement is all that is necessary to get chi properly flowing.
A Fountain in the East area of your home will bring benevolent Chi to your family. Be mindful about keeping the water clean at all times.
Having a clump of bamboo on the left hand side of your home can signify the dragon which is highly auspicious however if it is planted at the back of the house Feng Shui bamboo signifies solid support and would be especially lucky for those involved in business. If bamboo planted near the front of the home, bamboo can attracts auspicious Chi flows. Grown everywhere else bamboo represents longevity and good health.
Whenever Feng Shui is brought into the exterior grounds of a garden, the energy within the connecting interior space also becomes subtly enhanced by the flourishing vital chi of the garden as it flows beneficially into its nearby surroundings.
There are a number of accredited consultants who have specific expertise to advise you on enhancing your garden design using Feng Shui principles, helping to bring a more harmonious energy into the interior atmosphere of your property.
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