Feng Shui

Science or
Fiction?

An opinion based
on research and readings

Jovi W. Tupaz
Licensed Real Estate Lecturer
Licensed Real Estate Broker
Licensed Real Estate Appraiser
Licensed Real Estate Consultant

1 JWTUPAZ 2015
 2 What is Feng Shui ?

Feng shui is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing

everyone with the surrounding environment.
The term feng shui literally translates as "wind-water”.

The feng shui practice discusses architecture in metaphoric terms

of "invisible forces" that bind the universe, earth, and humanity
together, known as Qi.

Historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings—often

spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings
and other structures—in an auspicious manner. Depending on the
particular style of feng shui being used, an auspicious site could be
determined by reference to local features such as bodies of water,
stars, or a compass.

Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering

water. JWTUPAZ 2015
 3 What is Qi ?

Qi（氣）(pronounced "chee" in English) is a movable positive or

negative life force which plays an essential role in feng shui.

A traditional explanation of qi as it relates to feng shui would

include the orientation of a structure, its age, and its interaction
with the surrounding environment, including the local
microclimates, the slope of the land, vegetation, and soil
quality.

Polarity is expressed in feng shui as yin and yang theory. Polarity

expressed through yin and yang is similar to a magnetic dipole.
That is, it is of two parts: one creating an exertion and one
receiving the exertion.

JWTUPAZ 2015
 4 What is Yin and Yang ?

In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang (also, yin-yang or yin yang)

describes how apparently opposite or contrary forces are
actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent
in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other as
they interrelate to one another.

Many tangible dualities (such as light and dark, fire and water,
expanding and contracting) are thought of as physical
manifestations of the duality symbolized by yin and yang

JWTUPAZ 2015
5 April 10, 2016
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7 What is Yin and Yang ?

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 10 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

1. What is feng shui?
a. A specialty of Chinese cuisine
b. The study of time and space
c. A belief system of warding off
evil spirits using mirrors
 11 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

2. You should always sleep with your
head pointed north.
a. True
b. False
 12 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

3. Which instruments are used by a
feng shui practitioner?
a. A smudge stick
b. Crystals
c. A compass
 13 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

4. You’re practicing good feng shui
when you:
a. Open the window to let fresh
air in
b. Hang a mirror in a small room
c. Hang a wind chime in your
entrance
 14 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

5. Which sort of house promotes a
more healthful well-being?

a. A house made of bricks

b. A house built on a level lot
c. A house built on a hilltop
 15 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

6. You and your significant other
have submitted an offer on a new
house. At the last minute, you
discover the previous two sets of
owners divorced while living in the
dwelling. Do you withdraw your offer?

a. Yes
b. No
 16 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

7. You should always keep toilet lids
down so your money qi (pronounced
chee) won’t flush away.

a. True
b. False
 17 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

8. Feng shui can help you:

a. Find love and romance

b. Increase your earning
potential
c. Gain fame and respect
 18 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

9. The object of feng shui is to
activate your fame, marriage,
children, helpful people, career,
knowledge, family, and wealth qi
sectors within your home.
a. True
b. False
 19 April 12, 2016

The Feng Shui IQ Test

10. Feng shui is practiced by:

a. Individuals like yourself

b. Major corporations
c. The Asian population
 20 April 12, 2016

“Modern” Feng Shui

◆ They are often linked with Life Aspirations or Black Sect (also
known as Black Hat Sect Tantric Buddhist feng shui) theory.
Developed during the 1970s and 1980s respectively, these
commercialized schools are referred to as “modern” or
“Western” schools of feng shui.

◆ They divide a home into eight “life aspirations” or eight “life

stations” of career, knowledge, family, wealth, fame, marriage,
children, and helpful people.

◆ They use the location of the front door to determine the

orientation of the eight life aspirations/stations. See the following
figures (Life Aspirations theory and Black Sect theory).
 21 April 12, 2016

“Modern” Feng Shui

◆ They match each of the five phases of qi (fire, earth, metal,
water, and wood) with its affiliated direction. Stated another
way, fire “activates” the southern fame aspiration/station; earth
activates the northeastern knowledge and southwestern
marriage sectors; metal activates the western children and
northwestern helpful people sectors; water activates the
northern career sector; and wood activates the eastern family
and southeastern wealth sectors.

◆ They also use “cures” such as mirrors, crystals, bamboo flutes,

red ribbons, and statues or sculptures of fu dogs, frogs, and cats,
among other things, to “activate” the eight life
aspirations/stations. Statements like “A mirror will help to ward off
evil spirits,” “A fish tank placed in the north will bring prosperity,”
or “Hanging bells inside your door will ring in joy and
happiness” are commonplace among these schools.
 22 April 12, 2016

Life Aspirations Theory

 23 April 12, 2016

Traditional Feng Shui

◆ The principle tool of the practitioner is a Chinese luopan compass and
it contains many concentric rings of information.

◆ The magnetic (space) sitting or backside of the dwelling (as opposed

to the location of the front door) and the year (time) the building was
built are used to draw up an intricate numeric qi map of your dwelling).
This technique is called Flying Star, the most sophisticated method of feng
shui. Like a snowflake or a fingerprint, each home is unique and
individual.

◆ The year the occupant(s) was born is an important factor in

determining his or her innate compatibility with the house.

◆ Only the five phases of qi (fire, earth, metal, water, and wood) are
used to transform the home’s qi into a productive cycle, fostering the
probability of increased prosperity, better health, and beneficial
relationships. Where each phase is placed depends on the number
combination in the area in question.
 24 April 12, 2016

Traditional Flying Star Map

 25 Feng Shui Buildings
City Hall, London, UK
The radical shape minimizes the surface area exposed to direct sunlight
(approx 25 per cent less than an equivalent rectangular building) and saves
energy.
From a strictly Form School perspective, the flowing design is ideally placed on
the South Bank of the River Thames, although it does resemble a pile of coins
falling over. In Feng Shui terms it is the metal element, which is good for a
municipal building.

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 26 Feng Shui Buildings

British Airways HQ, UK

Developed to create a village type community and improve staff morale and
efficiency, it has a unique street atmosphere with shops, library, a fitness club, cafes,
restaurants, and quiet work and meeting spaces.

Surrounded by a 280-acre park and three small rivers, its angular forms make this a fire
building, although from the picture it does look more of an earth type building.

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 27 Feng Shui Buildings

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, U.A.E

This unique luxury hotel completed in 1999 is built on its own island in the shape of
a dhow, a type of Arabian vessel. An interesting example of wind and water! It is the
fourth tallest hotel in the world, although almost forty per cent of its total height is
made up of non-occupiable space.

Standing on an artificial island, it is connected to the mainland by a private curving

bridge. In Feng Shui terms, this is a wood type building, which means that it receives a
lot of support from its water environment.

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 28 Feng Shui Buildings

Sydney Opera House, Australia

Begun in 1957 by Architect John Utzon with his competition winning design and
eventually completed in August 1973 under the direction of Sir Peter Hall, this building is
surely an architectural landmark of the 20th century.

In Feng Shui terms, its angular designs mean it is classified as a fire type building; perfect
for housing the arts. However, its water environment may lead to disagreements,
particularly amongst staff.

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 29 Feng Shui Buildings

Kansai Airport Terminal, Osaka, Japan

Opened in 1994 to relieve overcrowding at Osaka, Kansai is on a man made island.
Sinking into the soft soils of Osaka Bay, it sits on hydraulic jacks. The soaring wing-like
passenger terminal stretches for over a mile and wide atriums reach over 60 meters to
the curved ceiling, where colourful mobiles float on a gentle breeze.

This water type building within a water environment is perfect for travel and
communication.

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 30 Feng Shui Buildings

Kingdom Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Winner of the "Best New Skyscraper of the Year" for design and functionality in 2002 is
based on historic geomantic principles and houses commercial offices, residential
apartments and the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh.

This 99-storey, 992 ft skyscraper is the second tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia and the
world's third tallest building with a hole. This is a metal type building, in a fire and earth
type zone.

JWTUPAZ 2015
 31 The Hungry Ghost Festival

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival in

modern day, Zhong Yuan Jie or Yu Lan Jie (traditional Chinese:盂蘭
節) is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in Asian countries.

In the Chinese calendar, the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the
seventh month (14th in southern China).

In Chinese culture, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the

lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general
is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits,
including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower
realm.

During Ghost Festival, the deceased are believed to visit the living.

Chinese Ghost Month August 3, 2016 to August 31, 2016

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 32 Ghost Month Tragic Events

1. August 1, 1944: Death of Manuel L. Quezon

The first president of the Philippine Commonwealth Manuel L. Quezon
died of tuberculosis on August 1, 1944. His body was buried in Virginia
but was later brought to the Philippines and moved to the Quezon
Memorial Circle monument in 1979.

2. Aug 21, 1971 – Plaza Miranda bombing

During the Liberal Party’s campaign rally for the mayoralty race in
Manila in 1971, hand grenades were reported to have been tossed
on stage, causing nine deaths and around 90 injuries involving
innocent civilians. The rally was attended by about 4,000 people.
Among the injured were senators, including Jovito Salonga, Eddie
Ilarde and Eva Estrada-Kalaw, as well as other politicians supporting
mayoral candidate Ramon Bagatsing.

3. Aug. 21, 1983 – Assassination of Ninoy Aquino

Upon landing at the then-Manila International Airport after a three-
year exile at the United States, former senator Benigno “Ninoy”
Aquino Jr. was shot in the head and declared dead that Sunday.
Until now, only speculations surround the incident as to who were the
real perpetrators for the assassination. JWTUPAZ 2015
 33 Ghost Month Tragic Events

4. Aug 1, 2009 – Death of Corazon Aquino

Former president Corazon Aquino died of colon cancer on August 1,
2009. Aquino played an important part of the country’s history for
leading the “People Power” revolution in 1986 and served as the
nation’s president from 1986 until 1992.

5. Aug, 23, 2010 – Hostage-taking incident

A tourist bus carrying Hong Kong and Filipino nationals was hijacked
by Philippine National Police officer Rolando Mendoza in Rizal Park
Manila on Aug. 23, 2010. The incident was broadcast live as officers
tried to negotiate with Mendoza to hold fire. The hostage crisis ended
the evening of that same day resulting in nine deaths, including the
hostage-taker himself.

6. Aug 6-8, 2012 – Habagat

The southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” that hit the country on August
2012 left 94 dead and 3.4 million people affected by the heavy rains
and floods. About 40 cities and municipalities all over the country
were put under state of calamity.
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 34 Ghost Month Tragic Events

7. Aug. 16, 2013 - Sinking of MV St. Thomas Aquinas

The passenger ferry operated by 2GO collided with the cargo ship
named MV Sulpicio Express Siete off the coast of Talisay City, Cebu
and sank. Hundreds of passengers had to jump into the water as the
ship began to sink 10 minutes after the collision. At least 75 died as a
result of the accident.

8. Aug. 17-21, 2013 – Habagat

Considered worse than the destructive Typhoon Ondoy, the
southwest monsoon reminiscent of the one that hit the year before
brought a record 600 millimeters of rainfall. By comparison, Ondoy
dumped 455 mm of rain, while rainfall during the 2012 habagat was
recorded at 472 mm. The habagat of 2013 brought about heavy
flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

JWTUPAZ 2015
 35 Ghost Month Tragic Events

7. Aug. 16, 2013 - Sinking of MV St. Thomas Aquinas

The passenger ferry operated by 2GO collided with the cargo ship
named MV Sulpicio Express Siete off the coast of Talisay City, Cebu
and sank. Hundreds of passengers had to jump into the water as the
ship began to sink 10 minutes after the collision. At least 75 died as a
result of the accident.

8. Aug. 17-21, 2013 – Habagat

Considered worse than the destructive Typhoon Ondoy, the
southwest monsoon reminiscent of the one that hit the year before
brought a record 600 millimeters of rainfall. By comparison, Ondoy
dumped 455 mm of rain, while rainfall during the 2012 habagat was
recorded at 472 mm. The habagat of 2013 brought about heavy
flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

JWTUPAZ 2015
 36 Ghost Month Tragic Events

7. Aug. 16, 2013 - Sinking of MV St. Thomas Aquinas

The passenger ferry operated by 2GO collided with the cargo ship
named MV Sulpicio Express Siete off the coast of Talisay City, Cebu
and sank. Hundreds of passengers had to jump into the water as the
ship began to sink 10 minutes after the collision. At least 75 died as a
result of the accident.

8. Aug. 17-21, 2013 – Habagat

Considered worse than the destructive Typhoon Ondoy, the
southwest monsoon reminiscent of the one that hit the year before
brought a record 600 millimeters of rainfall. By comparison, Ondoy
dumped 455 mm of rain, while rainfall during the 2012 habagat was
recorded at 472 mm. The habagat of 2013 brought about heavy
flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

JWTUPAZ 2015
 37 Ghost Festival Don’ts

As the ghosts and the suffering spirits will come out from the hell to
visit their homes during the 7th lunar month (the ghost month), many
things should be avoided during this month including the ghost day:

Don't stroll at night.

Don't swim.
Don't move to new a house, start new businesses or marry.
Don't hang clothes outside at night.
Do not pick up coins or money found on the street and if one does,
never bring any home.
Do not step on or kick the offerings by the roadside
Do not wear red because ghosts are attracted to red.
Don't sing and whistle as these may attract ghosts.
Keep away from the walls as it is believed that ghosts like sticking to
walls.
If someone is born during the ghost month, avoid celebrating
birthday at night. It's better to celebrate during the daytime.

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 38 When is Ghost Day ?

When is Ghost Day ?

August 17, 2016

JWTUPAZ 2015
 39 Common Feng Shui Myths

Myth #1: Feng Shui is a religion or spiritual practice

Myth #2: If your stairs face your front door, all your money will roll
out of your house

Myth #3: Your front door must be painted red in order to bring good
luck

Myth #4: A mirror can be used above your front door to keep away
negative energy

Myth #5: One should never sit or sleep under a beam because the
beam is pressing energy down on you and can cause all sorts of
calamities

Myth #6: The bathroom is an evil, terrible place and if you don’t
keep the drains, the door, and the toilet lid closed, all your money
will run out of the home

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42 House on Streets

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43 House Placements

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