Massive holes known as dragon gates appear in the middle of Hong Kong’s towering skyscrapers, designed according to Feng Shui to allow the mythical flying beasts to pass every day on the way from their abodes in the mountains to reach the sea. Considering the flow of dragons, air and energy is just one part of a much larger phenomenon: feng shui.
Dragon gates appear in the middle of Hong Kong’s towering skyscrapers, designed according to Feng Shui
Dismissed by Western skeptics as weirdly new-age, the art of feng shui is serious business in Hong Kong,” writes Megan Belt. “Feng shui translated as ‘wind and water’ stems from the ancient art of geomancy, or connecting to the energy of the earth.” Among other things, feng shui is concerned with the relationship of buildings to the natural environment, including mountains, seas, and skies. Proper positioning and flow paths are considered critical components of good urban feng shui.
Following the Cultural Revolution, the practice of feng shui was seen by many in mainland China as needlessly superstitious. Yet in Hong Kong, it persisted. Today, it is estimated there are as many professional practitioners as there are accountants or lawyers. While the scope of feng shui is also much broader, it deals with a variety of things in the realm of real estate, including interior design and urban planning.
