FengShui Paradigm as Philosophy of Sustainable Design

FengShui, an old Chinese discipline, dates back to more than 5000 years, is one of the design principles that aim at creating habitable and sustainable spaces in harmony with nature by systematizing data within its own structure. Having emerged from Chinese mysticism and embodying elements of faith in its principles, FengShui argues that the positive energy in the environment channels human behavior and psychology. This argument is supported with the thesis of quantum physics that ‘everything is made up of energy’ and gains an important place. In spaces where living and working take place with several principles and systematized rules, FengShui promises a happier, more peaceful and comfortable life by influencing human psychology, acts, and soul as well as the professional and social life of the individual. Observing these design properties in houses, workplaces, offices, the environment, and daily life as a design paradigm is significant. In this study, how FengShui, a Central Asian culture emanated from Chinese mysticism, shapes design and how it is used as an element of sustainable design will be explained. Keywords—FengShui, design principle, sustainability. I. FENGSHUI PHILOSOPHY AND BASIC CONCEPTS ENGSHUI is a tool that enables understanding and shaping the energy within a space [1], [2]. According to John Mitchell, FengShui is the science of perceiving the energies that vitalize the nature and organizing these in a way that would consider the benefits of the ones living within the environment [3]. The principles of FengShui consider the earth, sky, and human as a whole. Everything rests upon specific properties and follows a specific order that create the form of the universe [4]. Feng and Shui have created the mountains, rivers, and plants, the most insatiable elements for the living things on the world. For this reason, the ancient Chinese thought that humans should follow natural rules when choosing a place to live. According to Taoist philosophy, humans follow the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows Tao, and Tao follows the nature. The properties and orders comprising Tao are shown with the yin yang structure, 5 element model, and 8 trigram model [5]. The foundations of Erdogan, E., is with the Interior Architecture and Environment Design Department, University of Selcuk, Konya, Turkey (corresponding author to provide phone: 555-419-2432; fax: 332-241-3028; e-mail: [email protected]). Erdogan, H. A., is with the Architecture Department, University of Selcuk, Konya, Turkey (e-mail: [email protected]). Tao means “path” in Chinese. Taoism is the philosophy of constantly looking for harmony and balance everywhere and in everything, and of the endeavor to stay on the path of combining Yin and Yang equally and transforming this into usable action energy. The concept of Tao has evolved out of the nature observations of the ancient Chinese and their identification with it. Tao is an integrity arising from balance and the harmonious combination of the opposites interacting with each other. FengShui lie within the belief of Taoism. For this reason, according to FengShui, humans should live in harmony with nature and human acts should be designed with the nature in mind [6]. The concept of "place" is important in FengShui. With its characteristic of creating spaces with identity and purpose, Feng Sui is considered to be a natural discipline of “creating place” [6], [7]. FengShui should be considered as a philosophy rather than belief or religion. It brings a variety of the fields of science including astronomy, climatology, geology, topography, ecology, and landscaping [8]. This philosophy is divided into two main schools as the "Form School" and "Compass School". Form School emphasizes the manifestations in on the surface of the earth while Compass School focuses on cosmic pattern and magnetic fields. FengShui philosophy shares a common ground with scientific design theories such as Environmental Psychology, Bioclimatic design and Ecological design. All of these components have a strong relationship with nature and emphasize the importance of harmony with the universe. Wei has underlined scientific design methods and the relationship between these methods and the Form School of FengShui [9]. In this study, each FengShui building answers to or is related to the contemporary design methods which includes air temperature and movement, sun direction, relative humidity, sustainable design, the analysis of climate, geology, hydrology and topography and environmental psychology [9], [10]. The basic purpose of FengShui is to establish balance and harmony between the forces of nature and the spaces where people live and to obtain the greatest amount of peace, welfare, and profit [5]. In the concept of FengShui, chi the breath of life, life force, and the soul of everything is presented. The impact of chi is the coalescence of the energy of nature and human behavioral impacts. FengShui optimizes chi circulation by orientating the spaces and environment very skillfully. There are two basic criteria to organize chi; its diffusion by wind and collection by water [11]. For this reason, chi, wind and water are the inseparable concepts of the Form School. All matter has vibration. This invisible electromagnetic energy defined as chi by the Chinese is spread from the objects of all shapes and sizes in specific templates. Detailed maps of chi in the body indicate the energy paths called meridian and comprise the basis of shiatsu massage therapy with acupuncture application [12]. Chi is a force that acquires form within an area and continuously in fluid form. Chi also constitutes the basis of the dynamism of consciousness, thought, sensational awareness, and feelings [13]. A good FengShui Paradigm as Philosophy of Sustainable Design E. Erdogan, H. A. Erdogan F World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Social, Behavioral, Educational, Economic, Business and Industrial Engineering Vol:8, No:10, 2014 3328 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 8(10) 2014 scholar.waset.org/1999.10/9999817 In te rn at io na l S ci en ce I nd ex , N uc le ar a nd Q ua nt um E ng in ee ri ng V ol :8 , N o: 10 , 2 01 4 w as et .o rg /P ub lic at io n/ 99 99 81 7 spatial organization and a proper functional cycle strengthen constructive activities and positive psychological feelings [5]. Fig. 1 Mapping nonlinear data to a higher dimensional feature space In opposition to chi, which is beneficial and flows softy, sha is a negative, harsh, and harmful energy. Sha emerges in spaces like smooth and long corridors where chi flows fast. In particular, pointed edges create the harshest sha. This impact is called “poison arrow” in FengShui [14].