The Chinese New Year is upon us and people are bracing themselves for the year of the metal Ox. This is also the time where the Chinese belief system comes into full force. One of the most particularly popular acts would be consulting on Chinese zodiacs and Feng Shui. Medias and books everywhere will be dwelling on how the fortune of the year unravels. Although shrugged off by may as mere superstition, one cannot deny the fact that Feng Shui plays an irreplaceable role in the psyche of many Chinese since the dawn of the Chinese civilization. With such a long, unbroken history and practice, one cannot help but to wonder if Feng Shui has any scientific if not psychological basis. This article thus aims to find the possible reconciliation between Feng Shui and psychology. 

What is Feng Shui? 

To those unfamiliar with Feng Shui, it is a form of divination called geomancy. It is composed of two words: Feng (風)which means wind and Shui (水) which means water. The two elements are chosen because they corresponds to the flow of energy or qi (氣)1. Hence,  should the orientation or placement of objects disrupt the qi, this may have undesirable effects to the people in the room2. 

Feng Shui and environmental psychology

Researches have pointed that Feng Shui may have uncanny similarities with environmental psychology (a branch of psychology that studies the relationship between people and the socio-physical elements of the environment). The similarities are born majorly out of the fact that both Feng Shui and environmental psychology acknowledge the presence of influence of the physical environment that can have on people. According to Bonaiuto et al. (2010), the two converging points between Feng Shui and environmental psychology are restorativeness and control ¹.

Restorative qualities are design elements that may have therapeutic benefits to well-being, like window views or aquariums. Particular importance is given to natural elements and natural views because studies have shown that they are able to influence perceived stress, environmental satisfaction, and blood pressure ¹. In a study involving post-surgery patients (Ulrich, 1984), patients that were able to look over a green area from their windows demonstrated reduced complications, reduced use of analgesics and reduced recovery time ¹. Having a window visual access to a green area or even just by having a pot of plant in a room is important to create positive energies, according to Feng Shui. When a pot of plant is placed at a corner, circulation of qi is made possible and when placed at a protruding area, sharp edges can be shielded from ¹.

Control, on the other hand, is defined by Evans and McCoy (1998) as the ability to alter or regulate the physical environment ¹. Some examples of control exertion are temperature adjustment, light adjustment, and open-closing of windows and doors. Studies showed that environment lacking in control may have impact on job satisfaction and stress ¹. Just imagine if  you are not able to turn on the lights or close the door in a room, it would no doubt be irritating. In Feng Shui perspective, uncontrollable environment may have negative effect on energy balance. Hence, it is always advised in Feng Shui to locate the desk in a location where control of door is possible. 

Feng Shui and positive psychology

Being a remedy to problems in life, Feng Shui is undoubtedly associated with positive feelings to believers, else it would not have been practiced for centuries. One particular feeling that is associated with Feng Shui is hope. In a study by Wang et al. (2013), confidence and hope about future could be instilled by Feng Shui instead of anxiety and fear ³. This is very related to the human propensity to want to avoid uncertainties. When faced with issue as uncertain as destiny and future, Feng Shui is able to provide the believer with solutions that the person can act upon. The belief that a negative outcome can be avoided helps to reduce anxiety and stress, leading to the development of hope in the person ³. As Feng Shui is greatly influenced by Chinese philosophies, this might add on to the notion of hope. According to the Confucian’s Doctrine of Mean, or 中庸 (zhongyong), people are advised to stay in balance and moderation ³. Thus, believers are usually advised to not expect overly great outcomes. This doctrine in Feng Shui would then prevent believers from great disappointment and subsequently allowing some sense of hope to be retained.

Wang et al. (2013) delineated that hope can also be transferred and shared collectively within a social group ³. For example, a family may identify important locations in the house that could affect particular members, and then take necessary Feng Shui actions to facilitate the individual’s goals. By doing this, not only is the individual’s hope increased by the Feng Shui actions, but the family’s hope for the individual is also made known and transferred to the individual ³. One’s own hope can be strengthened through the support of other’s collective hope. In this sense, Feng Shui may also be associated with positive interpersonal relationships. It is then said that happiness may be achieved not only from positive outcomes but also the harmony created during the hoping process ³. As Feng Shui is believed to benefit all members of a social network (family, friends, colleagues), deeper emotional connections and harmony are encouraged. This is very relevant to the belief ‘家和万事兴’ (jiā hé wàn shì xīng) meaning family that lives in harmony will prosper as Feng Shui believes that disharmony can create negativities to the people.

Written by: Ryan Wong (Aizen) (MPS Psychological Services Intern)

Supervisor: Mr. Liang Yaw Wen

Reference:

1. Bonaiuto, M., Bilotta, E., & Stolfa, A. (2010). Feng shui and environmental psychology: A critical comparison. Journal of Architectural and Planning Research, 27(1), 23-34. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43030890
2. Charles, R., Glover, S., Bauchmüller, K., & Wood, D. (2017). Feng shui and emotional response in the critical care environment (FARCE) study. Anaesthesia, 72(12), 1528-1531. https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.14105
3. Wang, J., Joy, A., & Sherry Jr, J. F. (2013). Creating and sustaining a culture of hope: Feng Shui discourses and practices in Hong Kong. Journal of Consumer Culture, 13(3), 241-263. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540513480168