FengShui and Town Houses

[myfs_91938]

Dear teachers,
I have a question in doing some basic feng shui assessments relating to 2
floors town-house homes. with the shapes and forms method, what approaches
and perspectives and considerations should be done.
Aside note, I understand traditional fengshui has many various
branches/schools. Am I correct if buddhist and taoist temples are designed
and constructed according to their own 'fengshui' methods or there is some
precedence?

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Scott,

Quote

On 1/3/2004 11:56:54 PM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear teachers,
I have a question in doing
some basic feng shui
assessments relating to 2
floors town-house homes. with
the shapes and forms method,
what approaches
and perspectives and
considerations should be done.

Wow, the question is short yet, it nearly encompass the enquiry into the entire Shapes and Forms Feng Shui.
Dear Scott, How, I wish, I can summarise or squeeze everything into this two lines. But, well, frankly, with so many information, both on the web (and even on this website) and in so many Forms books, I believe, you should be able to find your way.
If you are born in the Star Wars era, than this adds meaning Scott (LUKE) "MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU! FOLLOW YOUR....."
GET THE POINT?

Quote

Aside note, I understand
traditional fengshui has many
various
branches/schools. Am I correct
if buddhist and taoist temples
are designed
and constructed according to
their own 'fengshui' methods
or there is some
precedence?

These are the points to note.
For example, take my country's evolution of temples:
1. When many Chinese settled in Singapore, either they pooled around (money) or some philantropist, donates money to build a temple.
2. Please note that for the Chinese, there are lots of different types of temples.
3. For example, there is a temple devoted to Sea faring. And, more importantly, it has to be close-by to serve the needs of their devotees.
4. In the past, because, there WERE still virgin land, often, temples were built facing the sea. Here, some temples sit on a hill facing the sea. This is literal translation from Hokkien phrase: " CHAY SWAR KWAR HAI " - sitting on the mountain facing water.
5. There are also Buddhists temples. And this can range from Thai Buddhist to Chinese buddhist temples. There are also Toaist temples. And temples devoted to specific god. For example, in Singapore, The famous Goddess of Mercy temple is located at Waterloo street.
6. Temples often have carvings of animals on their roof. Most common are two dragons on the roof "facing a pearl".
7. And many do have a certain link to Feng Shui. For example temples that house human urns often face a specific direction.
8. There are in-fact some temples are "instructed" by Gods. For example, 20 years ago, a certain temple was constructed based on the specification of the god(s) of the temple.
What happened was that some temple devottes can go into a trance and this is where a specific diety (temporarily)took over the body of this person. And, here, he/she would give instructions on how the temple should look like. Much like the consultant on a temple project.
Please don't ask me whether the diety who gave the instruction is "feng shui friendly or not". If you want to, please visit Singapore and if you can, go to the temple and ask the diety themselves.
URBAN CITIES
Nowadays, especially in a country Singapore with nearly no more virgin land, if one wants to built a temple, one needs the donation in millions to buy a new plot etc.. And, nowadays, even if there is a good site, it does not mean that it will go to become a temple. Since, human beings prefer to use it to make money!
In a pampered city like Singapore, location of places of worship follows our life-style. For example, in real life cases:
For example, a bank has ATM machines. It closed one. Many people, still complaint about it. Why? Because, the nearest ATM machine is 300 metres away -- some consider this too far.
In fact, many of the good temples are often situated in a hill, nowadays, cater more towards, tourists e.g. in Taiwan. For example, one may have to walk as much as 99 steps uphill to visit one temple. As it sits on a hill facing water.
In Singapore, with many wanting convenience, what do you think? Would, the people here, walk up a hill every day to pray at a temple?
Perhaps, they would prefer, if it the (temple) provides a covered tunnel, with travellators that bring them to the temple. Even with such things, it may be highly unlikely to do so.
Another interesting observation is: Singapore has a high diversity of religion.
And, many Singaporeans being English educated, would prefer becoming Christians. Here, the clue is that many cinemas were either purchased, or leased to churches. And these are convenient locations.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[myfs_91938]

Dear Cecil,
Thank you for your comments. It is very informative insight which you have offered.
Singapore is a lovely green city/country. Recently I was in Singapore during 2003 Chinese new year. I was fortunate to catch sightings of the festival activities with friends and it was quite fun. i'll make a mental note to ask about temple feng shui next time i visit a temple.
Kind Regards
Scott

Quote

These are the points to note.
For example, take my country's evolution
of temples:
1. When many Chinese settled in
Singapore, either they pooled around
(money) or some philantropist, donates
money to build a temple.
2. Please note that for the Chinese,
there are lots of different types of
temples.
3. For example, there is a temple
devoted to Sea faring. And, more
importantly, it has to be close-by to
serve the needs of their devotees.
4. In the past, because, there WERE
still virgin land, often, temples were
built facing the sea. Here, some temples
sit on a hill facing the sea. This is
literal translation from Hokkien phrase:
" CHAY SWAR KWAR HAI " - sitting on the
mountain facing water.
5. There are also Buddhists temples. And
this can range from Thai Buddhist to
Chinese buddhist temples. There are also
Toaist temples. And temples devoted to
specific god. For example, in Singapore,
The famous Goddess of Mercy temple is
located at Waterloo street.
6. Temples often have carvings of
animals on their roof. Most common are
two dragons on the roof "facing a
pearl".
7. And many do have a certain link to
Feng Shui. For example temples that
house human urns often face a specific
direction.
8. There are in-fact some temples are
"instructed" by Gods. For example, 20
years ago, a certain temple was
constructed based on the specification
of the god(s) of the temple.
What happened was that some temple
devottes can go into a trance and this
is where a specific diety
(temporarily)took over the body of this
person. And, here, he/she would give
instructions on how the temple should
look like. Much like the consultant on a
temple project.
Please don't ask me whether the diety
who gave the instruction is "feng shui
friendly or not". If you want to, please
visit Singapore and if you can, go to
the temple and ask the diety
themselves.
URBAN CITIES
Nowadays, especially in a country
Singapore with nearly no more virgin
land, if one wants to built a temple,
one needs the donation in millions to
buy a new plot etc.. And, nowadays, even
if there is a good site, it does not
mean that it will go to become a temple.
Since, human beings prefer to use it to
make money!
In a pampered city like Singapore,
location of places of worship follows
our life-style. For example, in real
life cases:
For example, a bank has ATM machines. It
closed one. Many people, still complaint
about it. Why? Because, the nearest ATM
machine is 300 metres away -- some
consider this too far.
In fact, many of the good temples are
often situated in a hill, nowadays,
cater more towards, tourists e.g. in
Taiwan. For example, one may have to
walk as much as 99 steps uphill to visit
one temple. As it sits on a hill facing
water.
In Singapore, with many wanting
convenience, what do you think? Would,
the people here, walk up a hill every
day to pray at a temple?
Perhaps, they would prefer, if it the
(temple) provides a covered tunnel, with
travellators that bring them to the
temple. Even with such things, it may be
highly unlikely to do so.
Another interesting observation is:
Singapore has a high diversity of
religion.
And, many Singaporeans being English
educated, would prefer becoming
Christians. Here, the clue is that many
cinemas were either purchased, or leased
to churches. And these are convenient
locations.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Scott,
In case you need to some research paper on temples, perhaps, you can also consider looking for the following two books under Dr Evelyn Lip (a trained architect and lecturer) in libraries:
Book 1: Feng Shui for Home
Book 2: Chinese Geomancy A Layman's guide
Publisher: Times Publishing
Both books have good (authentic) references to ancient Chinese as well as some references/pictures of temples.
It serves as a starting point to gather good information if you do need to put up a paper on it.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil