Focusing on Feng Shui phenomenon in Indonesia

By Mauro Rahardjo

BANDUNG (JP): For almost a decade, Feng Shui has been extensively known across Indonesia. Indonesian people have recently become aware of this ancient practice, and perceptions of Feng Shui varies.

This article describes Feng Shui from my point of view after many years of professional Feng Shui consultation and architectural design based on Feng Shui.

It should be understood that the perception among the people has not stopped at what Feng Shui is. Furthermore, a conflicting attitude has arisen between those who can accept Feng Shui and those who are against it.

When a discussion on Feng Shui begins, someone may frown at it while others are pleased. Some would love to discuss it for hours while others may suggest stopping such nonsense talk. Most conflicting attitudes among the people arise from two possible reasons: religious belief and of rationality.

Some people defend their attitudes against Feng Shui based on their religious belief; they view Feng Shui as mystical advice and believe Feng Shui masters act against God's will.

However, those who accept Feng Shui do not consider it affects their faith in God. Feng Shui is just a phenomenon which is globally widespread, and there is no worry about it.

In 1995, the church at Bojong invited me to talk on Feng Shui. The tickets were sold-out and over 300 people seemed so anxious to know what it was about. Later the meeting had been reported in the Catholic magazine, Hidup. Among the interesting topics that we discussed was whether believing in Feng Shui would betray their belief in Christ. I realized the audience already had a preconception that Feng Shui was a kind of religion, and that explained why such question arose.

When answering such a question one must be careful, since it is a sensitive matter. In one of the seminars, for instance, one of my colleagues, Synolog Udin, mentioned that a house near a mosque would be inauspicious. To my amazement, the audience, who asked the question, suddenly stood up, voicing disagreement and left the seminar. It is a very sensitive issue. When religious belief was invited, a conflict could not be avoided.

On another occasion, when I was invited among Christian youths where a Protestant priest was present; we discussed about belief in Feng Shui. In conclusion, I found out that the objection of these people was merely because they were thinking that Feng Shui was only intended for becoming rich; and such thinking would be immoral (?) and or against God's teachings.

Classical science

In spite of all the arguments, to me, Feng Shui is not religion; it is a classical science, which may still be very popular at this time because empirical evidence has strengthened its existence. It was very hard to convince people that Feng Shui is merely a science -- just like economics, sociology and other human sciences, except that Feng Shui's interest are mixed among astronomy, geography, architecture, and psychology.

Those who accept Feng Shui are not bothered whether Feng Shui was mischievous or not. Life is easy going and they would not be disturbed by such a phenomenon. For them, they speak with Feng Shui master(s) or read articles and books on Feng Shui in order to broaden their knowledge. Believers use this knowledge to enhance their activities by applying Feng Shui principles and philosophy in daily life.

Writings and publications on Feng Shui in Indonesia are beginning to emerge in the past decade. Most of these publications are in the form of serial articles in tabloids (such as Bintang, Aura) and the daily newspaper (Business Indonesia) presents Feng Shui in one corner. Recently, weekly magazines like Femina, Cosmopolitan, and others also produce bonuses on Feng Shui in the form of booklets. It must be mentioned, however, that such writings have no authors and seems only translated from here and there. Unfortunately, this has made the quality and reliability of the writings questionable.

Gramedia, one of the biggest publishers in Indonesia, has extensively published translated books on Feng Shui; particularly those written by Malaysian, Lillian Too. Many writers also join in, among others, Kang Hong Kian and Siao Sien Sien are the most prolific authors who write every year on business matters and coping with the year round. Others include Mas Dian from Semarang and Suhu Bingo.

The contents of those Feng Shui books in Indonesian may be placed in two categories. First, the one which deals with Feng Shui principles, history and philosophy that forms the basic science on Feng Shui and another which deals with some fortune- telling.

Books on Feng Shui published in Indonesians may be influenced by writings in English, which in ten years has already numbered over 300 titles. Among so many books; there have been many complaints among the readers. It is because no single Feng Shui book is complete and most of all, because the contents are confusing. Sometimes what has been written about some rules are conflicting. Unfortunately these contradictions are found in the same book.

Architecture

One result of such publications has been conflicts among couples wanting to make alterations on their houses, quarreling over the interpretation of the writings.

Architects' clients are those who want services from architects in designing their buildings to comply with Feng Shui rules. Since architects are not experts in Feng Shui, the clients normally consult a Feng Shui master to check whether the architect's design has fulfilled some Feng Shui requirements.

It is no wonder that when the architect's clients demand Feng Shui to be considered in a project or building design, many architects make a fuss.

Feng Shui is new to most architects -- Feng Shui is not taught in schools of architecture while to immediately understand Feng Shui is not possible.

It should be understood that such a decision by the clients might only come after some arduous work on the part of the architects. Just before the design is to be followed in construction, the clients generally ask architects whether the design is not against Feng Shui. As a result, architects consult Feng Shui experts to find out the answers. In many cases, the Feng Shui masters have different ideas, not in agreement with the design. Designers were stuffed with "another" design idea and more often they were compelled to make changes to the plan.

Amendment to design drafts which are nearly finished is not easy for the designers to accept, not only due to the incurring works that should be done for refining, but also because it may involve changing design ideas and concepts that have been put into the project.

On the other hand, the idea of incorporating Feng Shui in design may only come to the clients' mind when it is too late. So when the client communicated the idea, the designers are stunned almost like stricken by an electric shock -- they suddenly realize that most works that were already done are not right and most work had to go and was wasted.

For architects, Feng Shui's principles are quite demanding with many intricate rules to remember. This can be true when the term is coined to Feng Shui's rules, which amount to over 600 points if collected altogether. Architects may find that the situation will not be easy to include Feng Shui concept into the design process. Some prefer to invite a Master of Feng Shui only in later design stage.

Research and studies on Feng Shui are needed to have a good understanding of the subject. There is no worry for Feng Shui principles to be incorporated in the homes and offices as long as Feng Shui followers change their attitudes toward a positive stance in order to produce a successful and harmonious life.

The writer is director of Feng Shui School Indonesia.