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Feng Shui
/fʌŋ ʃweɪ/
HISTORY & CULTURESintermediate
Definition
A Chinese philosophical system that governs the orientation, layout, and design of buildings and cities in relation to the flow of qi (life energy). Feng Shui principles influence site selection, building orientation, room arrangement, and the placement of doors and windows. It has shaped Chinese urban design for over 3,000 years.
Example
The Forbidden City in Beijing (1420) was laid out according to strict feng shui principles — aligned on a north–south axis, with mountains to the north and water to the south, expressing cosmic and political order.