What is Feng Shui?

(continued from last month's issue)

In the last issue of Freshly Brewed, I mentioned that Feng Shui is based on the prevailing view that everything in our environment, living or inanimate, is imbued with energy.

The energy (or Chi) of an object, person, or place,relates to whatever is in space, and the flow of Chi is unique in every living environment. These forces are always moving and always seeking balance (Yin and Yang), which rely on the Five Elements of water, wood, metal, earth, and fire, and they are believed to affect everything we do. Each element has its own particular energy that radiates to everyone and everything else in its proximity.

Although the properties of Feng Shui elements are individually important, what is more important is the positive or destructive effect that each element can have on the other. If for example, you have a room that lacks the wood element, you would have to supply a water element as well, because water is what enables wood to grow. Feng Shui elements can either be harmonious and unified, or they can be ridden with conflict and cause anxiousness, worry and depression. Each element has its unique properties, and I've listed them below:

Water

Water is fluid, and can signal networking, communication, professional opportunities and wealth. It also indicates travel and communication and relates to literature, the arts, and the media. Water can be both gentle (like soft rainfall) or violent (like a hurricane). Water nourishes all living things, but can also wear away the hardest rock.

Metal

Metal elements are transmitters and they conduct energy. Metal generates harvest, business and success. On the negative side, metal also indicates the sword and can be destructive and violent. Various types of metals are considered very precious for their association with health. For example, many people wear copper bracelets for this reason. But too much metal in a living space can attract too much energy and can be destructive.

Fire

The element of fire is considered the most powerful of all five elements and represents energy and passion. It can also be a sign of danger. When there is too much fire present, it can be destructive. Fire warms and cheers, but it can also burn and destroy.

To Feng Shui believers, each of these elements has its own unique personality that either enables it to "get along with" the other elements, or it will be in discord with them when the balance is not right. To find such balance, it would indeed require a systematic study of spiritual Feng Shui. Happy trails to those seeking Feng Shui enlightenment; seek and you just might find!

Going Shopping

Last month, we covered Numbers, Counting and Currency. Now let's go spend some money shopping! In China, the best buys are: silk, tea, antiques, paintings and calligraphy, Chinese medicines, handicrafts such as cloisonne, paper-cutting, replicas of terra-cotta horses and warriors, jade & pearls, etc. Depending upon the product, it may be better for you to buy goods at department stores and factories, where the quality can be guaranteed and you don't have to worry about such things as getting back phony money. Also, it's better to buy local specialties in different cities rather than purchasing everything in one place. China is a big country; different cities are famous for different items. For example, Beijing is famous for cloisonné & cashmere sweaters, Xian is famous for replica of Terra Cotta soldiers and rugs and antiques, and Shanghai is famous for jade, Hangzhou for tea & fresh water pearl, Suzhou for silk, Guilin for scroll paintings and China South Sea Pearls.

All consumer prices are set by the Government, and there is no price bargaining in department stores, although it is possible to haggle fiercely in small outdoor markets (of which there are many) for items such as jade, antique ceramics and also silk garments. All antiques over 100 years old are marked with a red wax seal by the authorities, and require an export customs certificate. It's advisable to keep receipts, as you may be asked to produce them at Customs prior to your flight home. Listed below are some helpful phrases you'll want to know:

China's local markets are fun places for purchasing inexpensive items. The markets usually have many small stalls selling a great variety of stuff. Pirared brands of almost anything are rampant, so your motto should be "if it seems to be too good to be true, well then, it probably is."

Detecting Phony Money

RMB_learn chinese_speak Chinese So you've successfully made some purchases; you've even haggled down the price on a few transactions, and you still have some money in your pocket. Well done! But how certain are you that your change is all good money? Are you willing to bet your ass it's real? Here's how to check:

Most fake banknotes are 100 and 50 RMB bills. To detect a legitimate bill, hold it up to the light, and on the left side, you should see a watermark of Chairman Mao inside the blank white area on the left side of the bill. Below the watermark, there is a half circle and a half square. You should be able to see a full square inside a full circle. There is also a vertical strip going through the middle of the 100 note, and you should be able to see "100 RMB" printed very small, again and again.

Next, look at the number printed in the lower left corner. It should shimmer and change color when you tilt the bill back and forth. The paper should feel natural and not too stiff.

On the 100 RMB note, rub Chairman Mao's ear. The raised printing should feel slightly bumpy. On fake notes, you cannot feel the raised texture. You can also rub the Chairman's face against a piece of paper and a little bit of red ink should smear onto the paper.

And finally, above the large number in the middle of the bill, there is a secret number that is only visible under ultraviolet light. You can buy an ultraviolet currency detector for about 10 RMB, but be warned, counterfeiters have discovered how to make an ultraviolet mark too! Usually on counterfeits, the number isn't clear and sharp.

Taxis and small shops are the most likely culprits in passing phony money. If you get handed a counterfeit, simply request for a repacement - it's not worth making a scene or going to the police. And if you get stiffed; well, you're good company. Most of us have somewhere along the route! It just makes you a bit more cautious next time.

What's New at the Cathay Cafe?

Please be sure to check out our latest additions under our Travel and Culture link at the Cathay Cafe. You'll find a lot of helpful information under the following topics: Teaching in China, Adopting in China, Backpacking and Trekking, as well as some very informative news clippings gleaned from Chinese newspapers under our In the News section.

Lastly, just a reminder to be sure to pick up a copy of SPEAK E-Z CHINESE In Phonetic English before heading to China. With our handy survival book, you can simply by-pass the complex Pinyin system of learning Mandarin in favor of user-friendly words, phrases and sentences provided in phonetic English. And in addition to simplifying the learning process, we hope we've made both the book and the free downloadable audio lessons fun and practical. Let us know what you think!

Speak E-Z Chinese Presents:

Survival Chinese Vol. 8