How ancient art of feng shui influenced modern Singapore – from Marina Bay Sands to the Mass Rapid Transit
- The three towers of the Marina Bay Sands complex have reflective surfaces to give the impression of water, which is a sign of wealth and prosperity in feng shui
- Other features with positive ‘chi’ include the Esplanade performing arts centre’s double-dome design, and the eight-sided one-dollar coin
The casual observer impressed by Singapore’s modern architecture is very likely unaware of the influence upon it of feng shui, or the ancient Chinese art of geomancy.
Feng shui, literally meaning wind and water, is a foundation of Chinese metaphysics that examines and aligns invisible forces believed to connect the universe. It affects the design of buildings, the materials used in their construction, and the practice of building them to face in a particular direction – thought to harness the Earth’s natural energies in ways that ensure optimum health, living and fortune.
Lawrence Chan, a self-taught feng shui master based in Singapore, concedes that success depends on hard work, good leadership and common sense, but also points to the favourable aspect of the water element in the country’s location.
“If you notice, most prosperous major cities in the world are surrounded by water – countries or capital cities surrounded by water enjoy wealth enhancement,” Chan says.
That includes Hong Kong, often touted as an economic rival to Singapore and geographically similar. Also, consider New York and London, and the fact that Shanghai, on the estuary where the Huangpu and Yangtze rivers meet, is China’s financial capital, not Beijing.
