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Singapore's sustainability journey-Feng Shui principle

This is a fascinating lens through which to view Singapore's sustainability journey. While Singapore's policies are famously driven by pragmatic, data-driven planning, its achievements align remarkably well with traditional Feng Shui principles. These principles are not about superstition, but about creating harmony between human existence and the natural environment.

Here are the key Feng Shui principles highlighted in Singapore's sustainability story:

1. The Principle of Qi (气) - Life Force Energy

• Feng Shui Philosophy: The goal of Feng Shui is to cultivate the smooth flow of Sheng Qi (vital, life-giving energy) and block or dissipate Sha Qi (destructive, stagnant energy). Clean air, flowing water, and vibrant natural life are manifestations of good Qi.

• Singapore's Application ("The Garden City"):

  • Clean Air: Singapore's strict regulations on industry and vehicles ensure clean air, which is the most direct form of "breathable" Qi. This is a fundamental enhancement of the city's life force.

  • Greenery Everywhere: The massive proliferation of parks, rooftop gardens, and vertical greenery (e.g., at Marina Bay Sands and Parkroyal on Pickering) is a masterclass in generating Sheng Qi. Plants filter air, produce oxygen, and create a vibrant, living environment that nourishes the population's well-being.

2. The Balance of Yin and Yang (阴阳)

• Feng Shui Philosophy: Harmony is achieved through a dynamic balance of opposing forces: built (Yang) and natural (Yin), hard (Yang) and soft (Yin), human (Yang) and environment (Yin).

• Singapore's Application ("City in a Garden"):

  • Integrating Nature and Urbanity: Instead of letting the concrete jungle (Yang) overwhelm nature (Yin), Singapore deliberately weaves nature into its urban fabric. The Southern Ridges walkways connect parks over roads, and Gardens by the Bay places futuristic supertrees (Yang) amidst massive biodomes of plant life (Yin). This is a conscious effort to balance the Yin of nature with the Yang of development.

3. The Management of the Five Elements (五行)

• Feng Shui Philosophy: The world is composed of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water elements. A harmonious environment requires a balanced, productive cycle of these elements.

• Singapore's Application ("A Closed-Loop System"):

  • Water (水): The Marina Barrage is the ultimate symbol. It transforms a tidal estuary (chaotic water) into a tranquil freshwater reservoir (controlled water), while also serving as a civic space. This represents mastering the Water element for public good.

  • Wood (木): The "Garden City" ethos is a direct amplification of the Wood element, representing growth, vitality, and benevolence.

  • Earth (土): Singapore's land reclamation and the creation of artificial islands (like Jurong Island) are literal acts of shaping the Earth element to support its population and economy.

  • Metal (金): The city's world-class infrastructure—trains, bridges, and skyscrapers—represents the Metal element, which provides structure and efficiency.

  • Fire (火): Singapore harnesses Fire through solar energy projects and its move towards a smarter, energy-efficient national power grid, transforming it from a destructive force into a controlled source of power.

4. The Relationship with Water (水为财)

• Feng Shui Philosophy: Water is synonymous with wealth and prosperity in Feng Shui. However, it must be clean, flowing, and well-positioned. Stagnant, polluted water represents wealth draining away.

• Singapore's Application ("From Sewage to Resource"):

  • NEWater: This is the most profound example. Singapore took its "waste water" (the ultimate symbol of discarded resources/Sha Qi) and, through advanced technology, purified it into a high-quality resource (Sheng Qi). This act of alchemy directly embodies the principle of turning bad Qi into good Qi and is a powerful metaphor for creating prosperity from scarcity.

  • Cleaning the Rivers: The massive cleanup of the Singapore River and Kallang Basin in the 1970s/80s transformed polluted, stagnant waterways (Sha Qi) into vibrant, clean, flowing centers of community and commerce (Sheng Qi), directly activating the "Water as Wealth" principle.

5. Form School (形势) - Mountain and Water Dragon

• Feng Shui Philosophy: The ideal site is protected at the back (Black Tortoise - mountain) and has an open front with a water body (Red Phoenix - water). The "Water Dragon" (rivers, sea) should be embraced and calm.

• Singapore's Application ("A Protected Harbor"):

  • Geographically, Singapore is naturally blessed. The main island can be seen as having the high ground of Bukit Timah (a modest "mountain") at its center, with the city core facing the sheltered Singapore Strait (its "Ming Tang" or bright hall). The creation of the Marina Bay area enhanced this by creating a large, calm, internal body of water in front of the CBD, strategically "gathering" wealth and Qi.

6. The Importance of Intent and Mindset (意)

• Feng Shui Philosophy: The most powerful Feng Shui cure is a positive, virtuous, and forward-thinking mindset. The intention behind the design is crucial.

• Singapore's Application ("Long-Term Survival"):

  • The entire sustainability story is driven by the foundational intention of survival and resilience in a land with no natural resources. This clear, powerful intent—to secure water, energy, and food security—is the "Shen" (spirit) that guides all the "Xing" (form) of its policies. The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is a modern manifestation of this long-term, intentional mindset.

Summary Table

In conclusion, Singapore may not have explicitly consulted Feng Shui masters to draft its sustainability plan. However, by applying rational, long-term planning to create a harmonious, resilient, and livable city, it has inadvertently created one of the world's greatest modern examples of classical Feng Shui in action.

 One-dollar, eight-sided (octagonal) coin

The connection between the one-dollar, eight-sided (octagonal) coin and  how Singapore subtly integrates cultural and symbolic beliefs into modern design.

Singapore's Feng Shui beliefs is not officially documented but is widely understood as a powerful and intentional act of symbolic planning. It combines potent Chinese cultural symbols to attract prosperity and stability for the nation.

Here’s a breakdown of the key symbolic elements:

1. The Shape: The Octagon (八边形)

The most striking feature is the coin's eight-sided shape. In Chinese culture, the number 8 (八, bā) is supremely auspicious because it sounds like the word for "prosper" or "wealth" (发, fā) in Mandarin and other Chinese dialects.

• Wealth and Prosperity: The association with "prosperity" makes the number 8 the most favored number in business and life. By embedding this shape into a coin (a literal unit of money), it symbolically "charges" the currency with the energy of wealth.

• The Bagua (八卦, Bāguà): This is the most direct Feng Shui connection. The Bagua is the fundamental octagonal symbol used in Feng Shui analysis. It represents the eight fundamental principles or energies of the universe (Heaven, Earth, Water, Fire, Thunder, Wind, Mountain, Lake). The Bagua map is used to align an environment harmoniously.

  • By making the coin an octagon, it can be seen as a miniature Bagua shield. Circulating millions of these coins throughout the economy is symbolically like creating a protective and harmonizing energy grid for the entire nation, ensuring balanced growth and warding off financial instability.

2. The Material: Gold Color

The one-dollar coin has a distinctive gold-colored center (made from a brass alloy). In Feng Shui and Chinese culture:

• Gold represents wealth, success, and the highest value.

• The Color Yellow/Gold is associated with the Earth element and the imperial court, symbolizing power, stability, and abundance.

The coin, therefore, isn't just a token of monetary value; its very color reinforces its purpose as a tool for attracting material abundance.

3. The Combination: A Symbol of "Wealth Within Stability"

When you combine the shape and the color, the symbolism becomes even more powerful:

• The golden, octagonal coin resembles a traditional Chinese coin (铜钱, tóngqián) with a square hole in the middle, but modernized. The old coins symbolized the harmony of "Heaven (round) and Earth (square)."

• The Singapore coin can be interpreted as a similar concept: the gold (wealth) is contained and stabilized within the protective, harmonizing structure of the Bagua (octagon). This symbolizes that Singapore's wealth is not fleeting but is built upon a foundation of balance, order, and cosmic harmony.

4. The Practical and Symbolic Launch

The one-dollar coin was first introduced in 1987. This was a period of rapid economic growth for Singapore. Replacing the one-dollar note with a more durable coin was a practical move, but choosing such an auspicious design signaled confidence and an intention for that prosperity to be lasting and stable.

Summary: The Feng Shui Narrative

In essence, the Feng Shui story of the coin is this:

Singapore, through its currency, created a powerful symbolic talisman. By putting a gold-colored symbol of wealth (the $1 value) inside the shape of the Bagua (the octagon for harmony and protection) and releasing millions of them into circulation, the nation was symbolically ensuring that its economy would be blessed, its wealth protected, and its growth harmoniously balanced.

While the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) would state the reasons as durability, security, and cost-effectiveness, the cultural and symbolic resonance of the design is undeniable and perfectly aligns with the broader Feng Shui-conscious planning seen in other aspects of Singapore's development. It's a masterful blend of modern pragmatism and deep cultural belief.

A Farmhouse on the Wei River" (渭川田家)

It's important to understand that classical Chinese poetry does not typically have poems explicitly titled or solely dedicated to "Feng Shui" as we understand the term today. The concepts of Feng Shui (which means "Wind and Water") are deeply embedded in the broader Chinese philosophical worldview, particularly Daoism.

Therefore, a famous poem that perfectly captures the essence of Feng Shui is one that describes the ideal harmony between humanity, dwelling, and nature. The most famous and quintessential example is "A Farmhouse on the Wei River" (渭川田家) by the renowned Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei (王维).

This poem doesn't mention "Feng Shui" by name, but it paints a perfect picture of a location that any Feng Shui master would deem ideal: sheltered, nourishing, and in perfect sync with the natural flow of qi.

《渭川田家》

A Farmhouse on the Wei River

By 王维 (Wang Wei)

斜光照墟落，穷巷牛羊归。
The setting sun illumines the hamlet, / In the deep lanes the cows and sheep come home.

野老念牧童，倚杖候荆扉。
The old man, mindful of his herd-boy, / Leans on his staff by the briarwood gate.

雉雊麦苗秀，蚕眠桑叶稀。
Pheasants call in the wheat, their young are well; / Silkworms sleep, the mulberry leaves are thin.

田夫荷锄至，相见语依依。
Farmers, shouldering their hoes, arrive, / Meeting, they talk together with affection.

即此羡闲逸，怅然吟式微。
And so I envy this admirable leisure, / And sadly sing "When shall I go home?"

Why This Poem Embodies the Spirit of Feng Shui:

1. The Ideal Setting (The Form School): The poem describes a village (墟落) nestled in a protected area (穷巷 - deep lanes). This mirrors the classic Feng Shui "armchair" formation, where hills or mountains (represented here by the landscape) shelter the dwelling from harsh winds.

2. Harmony with Nature (The Flow of Qi): Every element is in its proper place and time. The animals are returning home, the crops are growing, the silkworms are dormant. This represents a smooth, uninterrupted flow of life-force energy (Qi), where nothing is forced or stagnant. The feeling is one of natural, effortless prosperity.

3. The Importance of Water: The title itself places the scene on the Wei River (渭川). In Feng Shui, water is synonymous with wealth and the flow of life. A prosperous settlement by a river is a classic auspicious site.

4. Community and Nourishment: The old man waits for the shepherd boy, the farmers chat amiably. This depicts a thriving, supportive community, which is the ultimate goal of good Feng Shui—to create an environment where people and relationships flourish.

5. The Poet's Longing: The final lines reveal the poet's deep yearning to be part of this harmonious world. He sighs and recites an old poem about returning home. This underscores that the scene he describes is the ideal, a place of perfect balance that every person instinctively seeks—which is the very purpose of applying Feng Shui principles.

In short, Wang Wei doesn't write about Feng Shui; he paints it. He captures the very feeling that Feng Shui aims to create: a life of peace, prosperity, and deep connection within a perfectly chosen and balanced natural environment.

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渭川田家

在中国古典诗歌中，并没有直接以“风水”为题的诗歌，但许多诗作深刻地体现了“天人合一”、“藏风聚气”的风水理念。其中最经典、最符合这一意境的，当属唐代诗人王维的《渭川田家》。

这首诗描绘了一幅宁静和谐、物得其宜的乡村画卷，这正是风水所追求的理想人居环境。

《渭川田家》

王维

斜光照墟落，穷巷牛羊归。
野老念牧童，倚杖候荆扉。
雉雊麦苗秀，蚕眠桑叶稀。
田夫荷锄至，相见语依依。
即此羡闲逸，怅然吟式微。

白话文翻译：

夕阳的余晖映照着村落，深巷中牛羊纷纷归来。
老翁惦念着放牧的孙儿，拄着拐杖在柴门外等候。
野鸡在秀丽的麦田里鸣叫，蚕儿休眠，桑叶已经稀疏。
农夫们扛着锄头归来，相见时亲切絮语，依依不舍。
此情此景让我羡慕这安然闲逸的生活，不禁怅然地吟诵起《式微》之诗。

为何此诗是风水的精髓：

1. 理想格局（形势派）：

   • 靠山与明堂： 诗中的“墟落”（村落）和“穷巷”（深巷）暗示了一个被地形环抱、藏风聚气的空间，如同风水中后有靠山、前有明堂的理想格局。

   • 生机与气运： “麦苗秀”、“桑叶稀”展现了生机勃勃的自然景观，代表着土地肥沃，生气旺盛，是“好气场”（吉气）的体现。

2. 和谐共生（天人合一）：

   • 诗中的人（野老、牧童、田夫）、动物（牛羊、野鸡）与自然（斜光、麦苗、桑叶）构成一个和谐的整体。这正是风水的最高追求——人与自然环境的深度融合与平衡，让生命之气（生气）自由流畅。

3. 水与财的象征：

   • 诗题《渭川田家》点明了村庄位于渭水之滨。在风水中，“水”主财，也是生命之源。傍水而居，代表着财富与生机的汇聚。

4. 归家与凝聚（藏风聚气）：

   • 诗中反复出现“归”的意象：牛羊归巷、牧童将归、田夫归家。这不仅是物理上的回归，更象征着能量的汇聚与安定，如同好的风水能够“聚气”，让气停留而不散逸，从而保佑家人安康、家宅兴旺。

总结来说， 王维的这首诗，就是一幅用文字描绘的理想风水画卷。它没有谈论任何风水理论，却通过一个安宁、丰足、和谐的黄昏场景，完美地展现了风水所能带来的最终理想生活状态——人与自然和谐共处，生活安逸富足，精神宁静祥和。