My last journey

[wasis]

Dear Cecil,
I just came back from Hong Kong and China. I would like to share my observation during my journey.
1. The trend in Hong Kong now is wearing a crystal bracelet. Or one could wear more than one. Black crystal is said to bring luck/fortune whereas yellow one to counterfeit bad luck. Those bracelets cannot be touched by anyone else except the owners. And before a seller hand over one to a buyer, he/she must say a mantra (or pray, I'm not sure). When I asked my cousin how to differ that kind of crystal among other common crystal, she said that kind of crystal has some "eyes" inside. The price is more than HK$ 100 depending on the size. I have seen a man wearing one with the size of each crystal is bigger than marble. My cousin said it was recommended by a fengshui practitioner.
2. There is one more product, crystal cave. It is said to capture fortune. The price could be more than HK$ 16000. I'll find the picture on the internet. It can be easily found at many crystal shops.
3. In Beijing and Guangzhou, many banks place a pair of male common lions made of brown fiberglass, instead of stone Chinese Lions. At the CCTV Tower, they place a pair of dragons.
4. Some restaurants attach capsized "fuk" character on their windows. This kind of character is copied from Prince Gong's Palace.
5. Many hotels in Beijing use semi-circular design such way like to retain wealth. For example: Grand Hyatt, Sheraton, Swissotel.
6. When I attended electronicAsia exhibition, I saw an interesting product: electronic windchimes. No need to worry about no wind because it generates virtual wind. But the company doesn't produce 6 rod windchimes yet. I already suggested to produce that one.
Could you please make some comments based on my observation?
Regards,
Wasis

[wasis]

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Wasis,
Thanks for your e-mail and sharing with all of us the lovely pictures taken:)
Please see below:-

Quote

On 11/12/2002 10:08:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Cecil,
I just came back from Hong
Kong and China. I would like
to share my observation during
my journey.
1. The trend in Hong Kong now
is wearing a crystal bracelet.
Or one could wear more than
one. Black crystal is said to
bring luck/fortune whereas
yellow one to counterfeit bad
luck. Those bracelets cannot
be touched by anyone else
except the owners. And before
a seller hand over one to a
buyer, he/she must say a
mantra (or pray, I'm not
sure). When I asked my cousin
how to differ that kind of
crystal among other common
crystal, she said that kind of
crystal has some "eyes"
inside. The price is more than
HK$ 100 depending on the size.
I have seen a man wearing one
with the size of each crystal
is bigger than marble. My
cousin said it was recommended
by a fengshui practitioner.

In my opinion, this has more to do with commercialisation. Much like buying a rabbit's foot for luck.
Frankly, since it costs not much, there is really no harm wearing them. Unless, one may be `conned' to buy anything more than say US$50 or more. Usually, the purchase price for a crystal piece is not more than US$5 or US$20 dollars at most.
Locally in Singapore, lots of buddhists/toaists also purchase these beads be it crystal or made of wood. The longer ones are also hung inside the car i.e. strung along the rear view mirror at the dashboard side.
The original purpose of such beads were intended for e.g. a monk or a follower to feel each bead at a time and circulate the movement with the thumb and index finger during meditation. By doing so, it is some sort of exercise as well as a routine to keep some monks awake.
Frankly, as mentioned, there is relatively no harm using such beads.
There is another set of beads that come from a specific tree. This type of bead is popular with buddhists (India) where a hole is made in each bead and strung. Some claim that such natural beads depending on the flower pattern on it yields some power.

Quote

2. There is one more product,
crystal cave. It is said to
capture fortune. The price
could be more than HK$ 16000.
I'll find the picture on the
internet. It can be easily
found at many crystal shops.

Yes, this is quite common. Sometimes, it is made of purple quartz exterior and contains white crystals.
To activate mountain under Flying Star, something cheaper or equivalent even a red brick can be just as effective. But if one really has the money to depart with, then, frankly, there is not much problems.
In fact, some other cheaper versions include molded clay that looks like a small mountain can be used as an alternative.

Quote

3. In Beijing and Guangzhou,
many banks place a pair of
male common lions made of
brown fiberglass, instead of
stone Chinese Lions. At the
CCTV Tower, they place a pair
of dragons.

Yes, sometimes because such stone lions may be too heavy and exceed the specific load of an area in a building, these `solid stone' or `metal lions' cannot be used at some locations due to the resticted load or kilo newton load imposed on a specific floor area calculated by structural engineers.
This load limitation is especially true for some older designed Automated Teller machines. And one way to offset this limitation is to spread the load with a specified piece of metal sheet placed either prior to the exterior floor tiles or placed under the machine to spread the load of the floor area.
Fibre glass ones can be used, since one key element in Feng Shui is the `power of symbolism'.

Quote

4. Some restaurants attach
capsized "fuk" character on
their windows. This kind of
character is copied from
Prince Gong's Palace.

Yes, an upside down Fu character is equally commonly used in some Chinese homes and business. These are equally widely used by overseas Chinese in the Far East e.g. Singapore, Malaysia and HongKong.

Quote

5. Many hotels in Beijing use
semi-circular design such way
like to retain wealth. For
example: Grand Hyatt,
Sheraton, Swissotel.

Thanks for these pictures. This semi-ciruclar design is a traditional profile.
This is widely called " Ming Tang or bright hall". The `flat' semi-circular feature provides clear space. Thus this is why the frontage of the building is called `bright hall'.
Since there is clear space at the frontage of the building, there is thus light or `brightness' at the front of the building. Thus conducive for good business.
In addition, the semi-circular shape (usually with water inside it) radiates out of the building providing added protection.
And this "Ming Tang or Bright Hall" is a standard feature (if one has space at the frontage of the building to do so).
Usually, a Feng Shui Master who provides advise to clients of such buildings would thus opt for this safe and well used method. Like they say it is best to " follow the crowd".

Quote

6. When I attended
electronicAsia exhibition, I
saw an interesting product:
electronic windchimes. No need
to worry about no wind because
it generates virtual wind. But
the company doesn't produce 6
rod windchimes yet. I already
suggested to produce that one.

Yes, if we are going to introduce metal to neutralise a sector or enhance a water feature with metal; then it is indeed a good method to use such an electronic windchime.
A heavy windchime for show that does not make sound may be considered ineffective. Since it does not make constant metal sounds especially to neutralise bad earth #5 or multiples of #5 or #5 with #2 or with #3 and #4.
Good luck in your production. If your wind chime is available, do let us know:)

Quote

Could you please make some
comments based on my
observation?
Regards,
Wasis
Once again, thanks for sharing with us all the available information:)
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[wasis]

Dear Cecil,
Thanks for your comments. Please see below:

Quote

>4. Some restaurants attach
>capsized "fuk" character on
>their windows. This kind of
>character is copied from
>Prince Gong's Palace.
Yes, an upside down Fu character is equally commonly used
in some Chinese homes and business. These are equally
widely used by overseas Chinese in the Far East e.g.
Singapore, Malaysia and HongKong.
May I know the purpose?
>6. When I attended
>electronicAsia exhibition, I
>saw an interesting product:
>electronic windchimes. No need
>to worry about no wind because
>it generates virtual wind. But
>the company doesn't produce 6
>rod windchimes yet. I already
>suggested to produce that one.
Yes, if we are going to introduce metal to neutralise a sector or
enhance a water feature with metal; then it is indeed a good
method to use such an electronic windchime.
A heavy windchime for show that does not make sound may be
considered ineffective. Since it does not make constant metal
sounds especially to neutralise bad earth #5 or multiples of #5
or #5 with #2 or with #3 and #4.
Good luck in your production. If your wind chime is available,
do let us know:)
Sorry but you were mistaken. I don't produce any but I saw a company promoted
that product during the exhibition. In fact, I don't receive any commision from
them. :)
Regards,
Wasis

[Cecil Lee]

Quote

On 11/13/2002 7:11:35 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Cecil,
Thanks for your comments.
Please see below:
>4. Some restaurants attach
>capsized "fuk" character on
>their windows. This kind of
>character is copied from
>Prince Gong's Palace.
Yes, an upside down Fu character is equally commonly used
in some Chinese homes and business. These are equally
widely used by overseas Chinese in the Far East e.g.
Singapore, Malaysia and HongKong.
May I know the purpose?

The Three popular figurines that come as a set are:
Fu (Prosperity)
Lu (Luck)
Shou (Longevity
Some pictures of each of these symbols are found here:-
http://www.geomancy.net/mypictures/cgi-bin/mypictures.cgi?img=0&search=prosperity&cat=all&bool=and&x=12&y=14
The rationale for an inverted " Prosperity/wealth" is symbolic. Since Fu (prosperity is inverted) it implies that you are pouring wealth downwards.
And since, some homes place this inside their main entrance: it literally means prosperity (wealth) is pouring down e.g. from heaven to earth.

Quote

>6. When I attended
>electronicAsia exhibition, I
>saw an interesting product:
>electronic windchimes. No need
>to worry about no wind because
>it generates virtual wind. But
>the company doesn't produce 6
>rod windchimes yet. I already
>suggested to produce that one.
Yes, if we are going to introduce metal to neutralise a sector or
enhance a water feature with metal; then it is indeed a good
method to use such an electronic windchime.
A heavy windchime for show that does not make sound may be
considered ineffective. Since it does not make constant metal
sounds especially to neutralise bad earth #5 or multiples of #5
or #5 with #2 or with #3 and #4.
Good luck in your production. If your wind chime is available,
do let us know:)
Sorry but you were mistaken. I
don't produce any but I saw a
company promoted
that product during the
exhibition. In fact, I don't
receive any commision from
them. :)
Apologies, thanks for the clarification:)
I believe, some one wrote that there is a mechanical windchime in the market to this forum recently, also.

Warmest Regards,
Cecil