Master 李居明 Li Kuiming's account:
In the early chapters of Li Kuiming's book Feng Shui Zhi Dao 风水之道 (The Way of Feng Shui), the author gives the account of his personal experiences with great Grandmaster Ma Renzhou (or Ma Jen-chou)馬仁騶. According to him, Ma was one of the pioneers of the Xuan Kong Feng Shui in Hong Kong. Despite the fact that all the Hong Kong feng shui practitioners of that time knew him, Ma was known to keep a low profile most of the time. Seeing Ma's high expertise in a rare method (Xuan Kong) that is far more superior than the Bazhai method he himself was using, Li tried asking Grandmaster Ma to accept him as a disciple but was turned away. Instead, the only advice Ma gave him was to go back and study the classic "Shen Style Xuan Kong". Undeterred, Li went along whenever Grandmaster Ma was going to do a Feng Shui audit and it was through such means that Li learned as much as he could from the expert. One day, Li bought a house and decided to set the place up using Xuan Kong, the new method he learned instead of the Bazhai (Eight Mansions) method he was familiar with. After that, he invited Grandmaster Ma to his house to do a Feng Shui audit for him. Li was delighted to know that around 80% of his home arrangement matched the comments given by Ma. Li then knew that his effort in studying the classic had paid off. That day, Ma revealed many tips and also answered many questions posed by Li. Ma revealed that the directions of which a person gets off from bed in the morning too played a important role in Xuan Kong feng shui. After that day, in the decade that followed, Li went on to honed his skill to that of a master.
Master 林国雄 Lum Kwok Hung's account:
Back in the 70s, Master Lum did Feng Shui audit for people in Hong Kong using the Eight Mansions method (Bazhai). However, after many years of trial and error, he discovered that the method was not very effective and was disappointed with the results. It affected him so much that he stop his feng shui service totally. Later on, Master Lum met Grandmaster Ma Renzhou and witnessed first hand the astonishing Feng shui method with its accurate prediction capability used by the latter. Knowing that Ma loves drinking, Lum went on to treat the grandmaster frequent drinks as an attempt to impress him and be accepted as a disciple. But all his efforts were of no avail. Ma only told him that the method is called Xuan Kong and was passed down by the master Shen from Qing dynasty. Lum then quickly bought a copy of the classic to study and finally mastered the skill after many years of effort. He eventually managed to showcase his skills to his fellow counterparts whom were surprised by the accuracy. And among those present, Grandmaster Ma was one of them.
Presently, only two persons were known to have officially learned Xuan Kong from Grandmaster Ma, one is Eva Wong and the other is Yi Guanyin 尹冠英.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
Activating the Reflected Spirit (Zhao Shen) in My House
In classical feng shui, the advanced level of placing water features in the house uses the method mentioned in the feng shui classic Shen Style Xuan Kong Feng Shui. Based on this method, the Ling Shen (Zero/Original Spirit) and the Reflected Spirit (Zhao Shen) directions of a house are first identified. Wealth luck is said to increase if auspicious water features are found in either of these locations in the house.
So merrily I bought an indoor mini fountain and place it in a corner of my living room, where the Reflected Spirit (Zhao Shen) is. And gosh was the effect immediate! That very night I fell seriously ill and the recurring fever kept me down for a whole week till today. Mind you, I was in my pink of health for the past two years and have never taken medical leave from my work during the period. I managed to ward off cold, flu, fever, etc due to my meditation practice. Unfortunately, this time I wasn’t successful.
Checking the flying star chart, I realized that the Water Star in the living room is the notorious 2-Black. The Yearly 2-Black was at my main door of the house too. No wonder I became ill while trying to activate the Reflected Spirit (Zhao Shen). Placing the water feature may have activate the 2-Black Water Star in the living room simultaneously. And the Yearly 2-Black intensified the effect.
This brings to my mind a saying in Chinese astrology: “When wealth accumulates, health will deteriorate.” This is true when the Ri Zhu, the Day Master (the Tian Gan in the Day pillar representing the self) is untimely. And for my case, my Day Master is weak as I was a Fire born in winter. Thus for people like me, the first sign that indicates the increase in my wealth luck is the deterioration of my health (opportunity cost). Coincidence? Or simply God’s way of making things fair?
Regards
Kinryu
Written by Kinryu. All rights reserved. Copyright @. Not for commercial use of any kind.
So merrily I bought an indoor mini fountain and place it in a corner of my living room, where the Reflected Spirit (Zhao Shen) is. And gosh was the effect immediate! That very night I fell seriously ill and the recurring fever kept me down for a whole week till today. Mind you, I was in my pink of health for the past two years and have never taken medical leave from my work during the period. I managed to ward off cold, flu, fever, etc due to my meditation practice. Unfortunately, this time I wasn’t successful.
Checking the flying star chart, I realized that the Water Star in the living room is the notorious 2-Black. The Yearly 2-Black was at my main door of the house too. No wonder I became ill while trying to activate the Reflected Spirit (Zhao Shen). Placing the water feature may have activate the 2-Black Water Star in the living room simultaneously. And the Yearly 2-Black intensified the effect.
This brings to my mind a saying in Chinese astrology: “When wealth accumulates, health will deteriorate.” This is true when the Ri Zhu, the Day Master (the Tian Gan in the Day pillar representing the self) is untimely. And for my case, my Day Master is weak as I was a Fire born in winter. Thus for people like me, the first sign that indicates the increase in my wealth luck is the deterioration of my health (opportunity cost). Coincidence? Or simply God’s way of making things fair?
Regards
Kinryu
Written by Kinryu. All rights reserved. Copyright @. Not for commercial use of any kind.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Article: What Feng Shui means to me
From: The Edge, City & Country, March 23, 2005
By Master Boon Yap
Because my father is feng shui Grandmaster Yap Cheng Hai, people often ask me if feng shui works. My short answer is "yes". Now, here is the four-part longer answer.
Feng shui is about the science of understanding the complex forces of nature and their impact on our lives
Feng shui is a systematic and formulated knowledge based on the philosophy of Tao and the I Ching Ba Gua. The fact that it has survived 5,000 years attests to its sustainability as a science and its value as an art. Feng shui works and affects us whether we are aware of it or not, or even whether we believe in it or not.
A friend once said to me, "I don't want to know the feng shui of my home, because if I am not aware of the bad aspects, it won't bother me". On the contrary, it will.
Feng shui's effect is not due to a placebo, although for some of us, the placebo effect may lend a healthy boost. In contrast, any positive result from merely placing items in certain positions without the sound principles of the I Ching Ba Gua is due to the placebo effects.
Isn't it better to use an available science to better one's situation than not at all? What is so difficult about a change in your desk direction, bed position or entering by a different door? After all, the luck that manifests itself is yours not mine, and only you have the power to accept it or deny it.
Feng shui can promote personal health, harmony and prosperity
Possessing knowledge for knowledge's sake is worthless; its value comes from being put to a purpose. Let me explain some of the ways the art of feng shui supports its science. For an elder in retirement, it may be better to harness his health and relationship energies, rather than total prosperity where the result may be a hyperactive 80-year young!
Typically, when we encounter a friend in need, we can only empathise. With feng shui, we are truly able to lend a hand.
My friends used to be surprised that as a practising scientist with an MBA, I not only believed in feng shui, but practised it. But they saw for themselves that it worked for me and soon began to ask for my help. As I continued to use my knowledge, I gained even more conviction of the indisputable effects that feng shui has on our lives, independent of our belief. Here are just a few examples.
A friend's son who has Down Syndrome was going through a very rebellious and unsettling time as he approached puberty. His mother described him as unsociable and disruptive with other children and adults. I initially deduced that as Down Syndrome was an illness, I would harness his tien yi (health direction) according to the ba zhai (system of feng shui) for the orientation of his bed. In my follow-up session, I realised this wasn't helping his behaviour. So thinking further, I tapped his nien yen (people relationships direction). His mother was so delighted with the result and informed me that her son was suddenly charming with adults, making friends in school and was more interactive with everyone just within the space of two weeks.
On another occasion, a dear good Samaritan friend of mine challenged me to help his disbelieving friend, a chef. My friend dragged the chef to me, practically kicking and screaming! The chef, in his late 50s, had been made redundant and had been jobless for a few months. On top of that, arguments between him and his wife were becoming quite heated.
My solution was for him to enter by the side door, his sheng qi (total prosperity direction). Sensing that they were willing to stay in separate rooms for the sake of peace, I selected good rooms and oriented the qi to suit each of them. I then decided to try out a new formula by orientating his bed at a slant to tap a particular southeast point to the accuracy of +1 compass degree. This took a bit of doing because of the electromagnetic effect from hidden wires in the cavity wall in that corner.
Two weeks later, my friend recounted incredulously that our disbelieving oriental chef had received a lucrative offer to be head caterer at the prestigious Kooyong Tennis Club (in Melbourne, Australia), an occidental establishment.
But the story did not end there. Three months later, I was informed that the chef had resigned because things at work were unpleasant due to personality clashes. On investigation, it was revealed that the chef had vacated his room for a visitor from abroad. He had changed the position of the bed, placing it against the wall, to avoid having to explain a slanted bed. My friend challenged my feng shui knowledge again. I couldn't resist. However, I also could not resist giving our disbelieving chef a little lesson in respecting feng shui. As my father taught me, authentic classical feng shui is sacred, to be respected when done for you irrespective of the value exchanged. I firmly repeated this to the chef and said he was on his own if he moved his bed again! After realigning the bed in the midst of interfering electromagnetism from the hidden wires, I left him to his own devices.
A month later, the chef found a restaurant for rent and started his own Singaporean eatery, which is still a roaring success to this day. My friend often remarked of the chef, who was totally new to owning a restaurant, that he had "damn good luck" — top chefs would walk in off the street to seek work there or customers would end up helping him with licences and regulations, and so on. Having said that, he is also a hard worker with a positive disposition, a case of "man luck" lending a helping hand to his good earth luck (feng shui). On the first anniversary of his restaurant, there was a ceremony to thank us and written on the menu chalkboard for all to see was the name of my friend as "business manager" and mine as "feng shui master". The chef was heard to exclaim that he now understood why a friend of his did not allow anyone to even touch his desk. And I learnt that since his experience, he has not allowed anyone into his bedroom!
Feng shui is about the practice of harnessing beneficial forces and avoiding the harmful
As with any skill, practice does make perfect. So the more one uses one's knowledge to practice feng shui, the more it helps improve one's performance. A critical point to note in the practice of feng shui is to first avoid harmful forces. As my father often says: "No matter how many vitamins and tonics you take, you will not fare well if you also drink poison."
The practice of feng shui is about how to apply the knowledge, as with an apprentice in a craft, or an intern in medicine. Without this pointer, for instance, you may have drawn on all your knowledge of san he, san yuan, xuan kong da gua (the different schools of classical feng shui) and so on to harness beneficial forces, but if you did not pay any attention to negative forces and avoid them, then you or your client would still be in for a fall.
Another aspect is when to practise and consider feng shui. It is important to be sensible about its use. Armed with the knowledge, it is wonderful to be able to take feng shui with us and use it, whether it is to invoke a situation that commands authority, to create a conciliatory atmosphere, be in the controlling position of power, or winning negotiations in the boardroom.
Once again, an easy but effective system to use in this situation is ba zhai. My partner, who is an Australian metallurgist, has now been trained to carry a compass to use in important discussions.
But remember, the practice of feng shui has to be sensible and not obsessive or excessive. It should be a map/blueprint/guide and not a crutch.
The art of aligning and positioning our living and work spaces
Feng shui has the ability to not only safeguard the well-being of your family, but also the power to truly enrich your life, bringing good health, harmony and prosperity.
Authentic classical feng shui is about:
Compass direction and location of "forms", that is, mountains, buildings, rivers, roadways, the shape, size, appear ance and lay of the land;
Determining energy flows in and around a property;
How the five elements are carried in these energies and interact with the surroundings; and
Time influence on all of the above.
The skill or ability to do feng shui well depends equally on having the knowledge as much as how well you are able to apply that knowledge. This will depend on the individual, his or her motivation and conviction, intelligence and ability, and analytical and intuitive skill to absorb, internalise, and come up with a practical and pragmatic solution.
So yes, feng shui works — but only if done properly. First, practitioners must possess the right knowledge, one that has been tried and tested over time. This is getting the science of feng shui right. They must consider carefully and keep in mind the purpose. And just as importantly, they must practise over time to get the art of feng shui right.
So would you leave your chances to mere colours, wind chimes, mandarin ducks or money frogs? It is difficult for me to understand why some of my friends are embarrassed to admit that they believe in feng shui, especially when they have personally benefited from its effects. I believe, and I gladly tell the world in order that others may share in its benefits.
If one had any reason to be embarrassed for believing, it would be someone in my profession, where my technical capability, analytical prowess and strategic know-how might be questioned by my western science clients from San Francisco's Bay Area for dabbling in "mysticism". But I know that my father's lifetime of knowledge and experience, coupled with the teaching of many grandmasters stretching back over 5,000 years — and now put under rigorous experiment and observation based on my own scientific training — is valid.
I look forward to the day when these friends will be proud to acknowledge the benefits they received from feng shui, because they would then help give credibility to this ancient science and art that is timeless in its ability to enrich our lives, so that others might revel in its goodness.
Master Boon Yap is the director of "Feng Shui for Enriching Lives", a series of feng shui practitioners' courses. For details, call (012) 303 1991 (Boon) e-mail enquiry-at-MasterBoon.com or visit www.MasterBoon.com.
By Master Boon Yap
Because my father is feng shui Grandmaster Yap Cheng Hai, people often ask me if feng shui works. My short answer is "yes". Now, here is the four-part longer answer.
Feng shui is about the science of understanding the complex forces of nature and their impact on our lives
Feng shui is a systematic and formulated knowledge based on the philosophy of Tao and the I Ching Ba Gua. The fact that it has survived 5,000 years attests to its sustainability as a science and its value as an art. Feng shui works and affects us whether we are aware of it or not, or even whether we believe in it or not.
A friend once said to me, "I don't want to know the feng shui of my home, because if I am not aware of the bad aspects, it won't bother me". On the contrary, it will.
Feng shui's effect is not due to a placebo, although for some of us, the placebo effect may lend a healthy boost. In contrast, any positive result from merely placing items in certain positions without the sound principles of the I Ching Ba Gua is due to the placebo effects.
Isn't it better to use an available science to better one's situation than not at all? What is so difficult about a change in your desk direction, bed position or entering by a different door? After all, the luck that manifests itself is yours not mine, and only you have the power to accept it or deny it.
Feng shui can promote personal health, harmony and prosperity
Possessing knowledge for knowledge's sake is worthless; its value comes from being put to a purpose. Let me explain some of the ways the art of feng shui supports its science. For an elder in retirement, it may be better to harness his health and relationship energies, rather than total prosperity where the result may be a hyperactive 80-year young!
Typically, when we encounter a friend in need, we can only empathise. With feng shui, we are truly able to lend a hand.
My friends used to be surprised that as a practising scientist with an MBA, I not only believed in feng shui, but practised it. But they saw for themselves that it worked for me and soon began to ask for my help. As I continued to use my knowledge, I gained even more conviction of the indisputable effects that feng shui has on our lives, independent of our belief. Here are just a few examples.
A friend's son who has Down Syndrome was going through a very rebellious and unsettling time as he approached puberty. His mother described him as unsociable and disruptive with other children and adults. I initially deduced that as Down Syndrome was an illness, I would harness his tien yi (health direction) according to the ba zhai (system of feng shui) for the orientation of his bed. In my follow-up session, I realised this wasn't helping his behaviour. So thinking further, I tapped his nien yen (people relationships direction). His mother was so delighted with the result and informed me that her son was suddenly charming with adults, making friends in school and was more interactive with everyone just within the space of two weeks.
On another occasion, a dear good Samaritan friend of mine challenged me to help his disbelieving friend, a chef. My friend dragged the chef to me, practically kicking and screaming! The chef, in his late 50s, had been made redundant and had been jobless for a few months. On top of that, arguments between him and his wife were becoming quite heated.
My solution was for him to enter by the side door, his sheng qi (total prosperity direction). Sensing that they were willing to stay in separate rooms for the sake of peace, I selected good rooms and oriented the qi to suit each of them. I then decided to try out a new formula by orientating his bed at a slant to tap a particular southeast point to the accuracy of +1 compass degree. This took a bit of doing because of the electromagnetic effect from hidden wires in the cavity wall in that corner.
Two weeks later, my friend recounted incredulously that our disbelieving oriental chef had received a lucrative offer to be head caterer at the prestigious Kooyong Tennis Club (in Melbourne, Australia), an occidental establishment.
But the story did not end there. Three months later, I was informed that the chef had resigned because things at work were unpleasant due to personality clashes. On investigation, it was revealed that the chef had vacated his room for a visitor from abroad. He had changed the position of the bed, placing it against the wall, to avoid having to explain a slanted bed. My friend challenged my feng shui knowledge again. I couldn't resist. However, I also could not resist giving our disbelieving chef a little lesson in respecting feng shui. As my father taught me, authentic classical feng shui is sacred, to be respected when done for you irrespective of the value exchanged. I firmly repeated this to the chef and said he was on his own if he moved his bed again! After realigning the bed in the midst of interfering electromagnetism from the hidden wires, I left him to his own devices.
A month later, the chef found a restaurant for rent and started his own Singaporean eatery, which is still a roaring success to this day. My friend often remarked of the chef, who was totally new to owning a restaurant, that he had "damn good luck" — top chefs would walk in off the street to seek work there or customers would end up helping him with licences and regulations, and so on. Having said that, he is also a hard worker with a positive disposition, a case of "man luck" lending a helping hand to his good earth luck (feng shui). On the first anniversary of his restaurant, there was a ceremony to thank us and written on the menu chalkboard for all to see was the name of my friend as "business manager" and mine as "feng shui master". The chef was heard to exclaim that he now understood why a friend of his did not allow anyone to even touch his desk. And I learnt that since his experience, he has not allowed anyone into his bedroom!
Feng shui is about the practice of harnessing beneficial forces and avoiding the harmful
As with any skill, practice does make perfect. So the more one uses one's knowledge to practice feng shui, the more it helps improve one's performance. A critical point to note in the practice of feng shui is to first avoid harmful forces. As my father often says: "No matter how many vitamins and tonics you take, you will not fare well if you also drink poison."
The practice of feng shui is about how to apply the knowledge, as with an apprentice in a craft, or an intern in medicine. Without this pointer, for instance, you may have drawn on all your knowledge of san he, san yuan, xuan kong da gua (the different schools of classical feng shui) and so on to harness beneficial forces, but if you did not pay any attention to negative forces and avoid them, then you or your client would still be in for a fall.
Another aspect is when to practise and consider feng shui. It is important to be sensible about its use. Armed with the knowledge, it is wonderful to be able to take feng shui with us and use it, whether it is to invoke a situation that commands authority, to create a conciliatory atmosphere, be in the controlling position of power, or winning negotiations in the boardroom.
Once again, an easy but effective system to use in this situation is ba zhai. My partner, who is an Australian metallurgist, has now been trained to carry a compass to use in important discussions.
But remember, the practice of feng shui has to be sensible and not obsessive or excessive. It should be a map/blueprint/guide and not a crutch.
The art of aligning and positioning our living and work spaces
Feng shui has the ability to not only safeguard the well-being of your family, but also the power to truly enrich your life, bringing good health, harmony and prosperity.
Authentic classical feng shui is about:
Compass direction and location of "forms", that is, mountains, buildings, rivers, roadways, the shape, size, appear ance and lay of the land;
Determining energy flows in and around a property;
How the five elements are carried in these energies and interact with the surroundings; and
Time influence on all of the above.
The skill or ability to do feng shui well depends equally on having the knowledge as much as how well you are able to apply that knowledge. This will depend on the individual, his or her motivation and conviction, intelligence and ability, and analytical and intuitive skill to absorb, internalise, and come up with a practical and pragmatic solution.
So yes, feng shui works — but only if done properly. First, practitioners must possess the right knowledge, one that has been tried and tested over time. This is getting the science of feng shui right. They must consider carefully and keep in mind the purpose. And just as importantly, they must practise over time to get the art of feng shui right.
So would you leave your chances to mere colours, wind chimes, mandarin ducks or money frogs? It is difficult for me to understand why some of my friends are embarrassed to admit that they believe in feng shui, especially when they have personally benefited from its effects. I believe, and I gladly tell the world in order that others may share in its benefits.
If one had any reason to be embarrassed for believing, it would be someone in my profession, where my technical capability, analytical prowess and strategic know-how might be questioned by my western science clients from San Francisco's Bay Area for dabbling in "mysticism". But I know that my father's lifetime of knowledge and experience, coupled with the teaching of many grandmasters stretching back over 5,000 years — and now put under rigorous experiment and observation based on my own scientific training — is valid.
I look forward to the day when these friends will be proud to acknowledge the benefits they received from feng shui, because they would then help give credibility to this ancient science and art that is timeless in its ability to enrich our lives, so that others might revel in its goodness.
Master Boon Yap is the director of "Feng Shui for Enriching Lives", a series of feng shui practitioners' courses. For details, call (012) 303 1991 (Boon) e-mail enquiry-at-MasterBoon.com or visit www.MasterBoon.com.
Who is Yap Cheng Hai?
The following is an article about Mr Yap Cheng Hai that was featured in The Edge newspaper from Malaysia on 23th December 2002. It was titled "Grandmaster of Feng Shui":
Having practised this ancient form of divination for more than 50 years, Yap Cheng Hai (can tell you more than a thing or two about how to balance wind and water. Stories by Au Foong Yee. )
In the world of feng shui. Yap Cheng Hai is a name that requires little introduction. Grandmaster Yap, as he is known in feng shui circles locally and abroad, has been a practitioner, consultant and teacher of geomancy decades before ii became better known lo the wider world.
For more than half a century, he has been offering feng shui solutions and executing them for an illustrious clientele comprising the who's who in town - from top politicians and business tycoons to celebrities ¡ª as well as to those of more modest circumstances.
In the man himself, one can glimpse the intrigue of this ancient Chinese science. The intensity of his chooses and he exhibits a dry sense of humour, cracking jokes at every opportunity. But beyond this is inner strength and termination. There is a certain aura about Yap that is impossible to ignore, something which tells you thai there's more to him than meets the eye. The 76-year-old is fit as a fiddle, with healthy flushed cheeks and a physique honed by regular kung fu practice.
He says he knows 12 types of kung fu and nods gently but affirmatively when asked whether he practises often. Where? "Everywhere and anywhere. Even now," he declares as he points to his abdomen. Hmm... Do I see slight movements?
The grandmaster is prepared to listen to your questions, but be prepared to receive questions in reply. His answers are often followed by a "do you get it?"
"I enjoy life," he declares to City & Country. And it shows in his passion - and there are many.
"I love music. All brands. Which singer do I like? It does not mutter. From classical to pop. Who cares who's the singer or group? As long as it's good music..."
He's crazy about paintings as well. "I collect originals, Van Gogh... I never fail visit the Louvre whenever I am in Paris. I have just come back from a visit there."
And there's more. "I love photography... I have a collection of cameras [20 video cameras and cameras to be exact]. Eight of the cameras are Leicas. I am a Gemini - I like anything, I enjoy life," he repeats.
I am not the richest man on earth. But bow can I help people to be happy and enjoy life if I don't enjoy life myself?" he chuckles. He is an entertainer when he so chooses and in his face, some see a resemblance to the Laughing Buddha, Matrieya. I spot a huge blue sapphire ring encased in sparkling diamonds on his finger. Is that a gift from one of his clients? "Bulls**t," he almost roars. "I bought that. I have 45 rings!" Welcome to the world of Yap Cheng Hai. A landscape that spans beyond mountains, rivers, qi, poison arrows and pakua. And ex-send chills down your spine - like something out of Ripley's Believe It or Not. Take the following episode, in Yap's own words.
Yap's mummy friend in London the year: 1975. Place: British Museum. Time: almost 5pm. "I was in London to enroll my son into college. That day, my friend Chin [who holds a doctorate] and 1 popped over to the museum. Before I entered the mummy display room, I sent out a telepathic message - please communicate with me, whoever, whatever...
"Somehow, I was drawn to an exhibit at the other end of the huge hall. Without the benefit of its inscription I could, to the amazement of Chin rattle off details of the mummy - he was about 3,000 years old, a temple caretaker who died when he was just 19 or 20 years old.
"By then, it was closing time, Chin and I walked towards ihe exit and both of us felt a strange gush of cold air behind us - my newfound friend was ushering US out! My friend - Chin, that is - shuddered.
"The following year, I went back to the museum, this time alone. I looked up my 'friend' and we 'chatted'. I asked him about his looks and before I knew it, I started walking away from him, look two turns to the left and then bingo, in front of me was an upright coffin cover with the carved image of his face! He was quite handsome, actually.
"I have since gone back several times ¡ª each time I'm in London. On my last trip, my 'friend' was no longer there! I 'asked' him where he was and he responded ¡ª from the cellar. The museum authorities obviously rotate its exhibits."
How it all Started
With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that Yap, from a tender age, has been destined to walk the path of feng shut. An avid fan of palmistry, Chinese culture and the mystic, he used to come out top in history, geography and mathematics - the so-called ingredients behind the science of feng shui. History and geography deal with culture and topography while mathematical skill equals an analytical ability. Was it any wonder then that Yap was attracted to feng shui?
Still, his affinity with geomancy did not surface till years later. Upon graduation from the Singapore High School in 1949, he was intent on pursuing a career in electrical engineering - all because there were only two electrical engineers in Singapore then and the prospects the profession offered were tremendous! As fate had it, Yap's businessman uncle managed to persuade the young man to work for him instead.
Three years into !he job at building materials company Chin Ho & Co in Kuala Lumpur, Yap was promoted to manager, along with a pay jump from the initial RM400 to RM700. Life carried on, with little surprises, until feng shui came into play.
'Wind and Water'
Feng shui literally means "wind and water" in Chinese. As advocates believe, there are auspicious and inauspicious land sites, just as there positioning of homes and workplaces (even down to the measurement of the desk and its height).
In the house, good feng shui positioning is said to create and promote, among other positives, harmonious relationships, good health, abundance and prosperity. Yap, who was staying in Petaling Jaya as a young man, was familiar with all these, yet...
"My two very young sons then [Vap has three sons and a daughter] were always ill and could only feed on a special and very expensive formula milk. Life was trying, you may say. One day, it suddenly dawned on me that something was amiss with the feng shui of the house. I did some calculations and moved the boys' room accordingly. Believe it or not, very quickly after that, they could go off the special formula."
From then, there was no turning back for Yap and his conviction about feng shui and its power.
Guranteed to Work?
Does feng shui work 100 per cent of the time? Are results guaranteed? I pop the question only to be asked: "Does a doctor guarantee a patient his wellness? Do you ever ask a doctor to guarantee that he makes you feel well?"
Pausing briefly, Yap continues, this time in a more gentle tone: "Feng shui is not foolproof. A doctor may examine a patient and then prescribe a treatment. What if the prescribed medication is not taken accordingly?"
Moreover, Yap is quick to add, the best feng shui formula can only be harnessed "if the heart is good". What exactly does he mean? "Well, God helps those who help themselves..." he replies.
As for his track record, he estimates to have carried out more than 10,000 feng shui consultations in the last 5O years. The figure works out to an average of 200 a year or one every other day.
And how much does each consultation cost his clients? Yap would only offer candidly: "It depends. A shop will differ from an office building.
Even link houses will vary if they [residents/owners] can afford to stay in a bigger house, they can afford to pay more." Much also will depend on what Yap calls "affinity between him and the prospective clients".
Besides consultations and the building material business, these days sees Yap travelling abroad extensively, his "little black book" filled to the margins.
It is during these trips overseas that Yap lifts the curtain on his world of feng shut, conducting seminars the frequency of which is growing rapidly due to expanding interest in the Yap Cheng Hai Feng Shui Centre of Excellence. The centre conducts feng shui courses and trains exponents around the world and at last count, it boasts 2,500 students from 35 countries. The centre was founded by Yap and his protege Joey Yap eight years ago.
So, when Yap is not busy detailing the fundamentals of feng shui to clients in a bid to convert dire "no-abodes, he is imparting his know-how on what it takes in order to do just that.
By the way, five in Yap's family have followed in his footsteps - two of his three sons, their wives and his daughter are his students.
Having practised this ancient form of divination for more than 50 years, Yap Cheng Hai (can tell you more than a thing or two about how to balance wind and water. Stories by Au Foong Yee. )
In the world of feng shui. Yap Cheng Hai is a name that requires little introduction. Grandmaster Yap, as he is known in feng shui circles locally and abroad, has been a practitioner, consultant and teacher of geomancy decades before ii became better known lo the wider world.
For more than half a century, he has been offering feng shui solutions and executing them for an illustrious clientele comprising the who's who in town - from top politicians and business tycoons to celebrities ¡ª as well as to those of more modest circumstances.
In the man himself, one can glimpse the intrigue of this ancient Chinese science. The intensity of his chooses and he exhibits a dry sense of humour, cracking jokes at every opportunity. But beyond this is inner strength and termination. There is a certain aura about Yap that is impossible to ignore, something which tells you thai there's more to him than meets the eye. The 76-year-old is fit as a fiddle, with healthy flushed cheeks and a physique honed by regular kung fu practice.
He says he knows 12 types of kung fu and nods gently but affirmatively when asked whether he practises often. Where? "Everywhere and anywhere. Even now," he declares as he points to his abdomen. Hmm... Do I see slight movements?
The grandmaster is prepared to listen to your questions, but be prepared to receive questions in reply. His answers are often followed by a "do you get it?"
"I enjoy life," he declares to City & Country. And it shows in his passion - and there are many.
"I love music. All brands. Which singer do I like? It does not mutter. From classical to pop. Who cares who's the singer or group? As long as it's good music..."
He's crazy about paintings as well. "I collect originals, Van Gogh... I never fail visit the Louvre whenever I am in Paris. I have just come back from a visit there."
And there's more. "I love photography... I have a collection of cameras [20 video cameras and cameras to be exact]. Eight of the cameras are Leicas. I am a Gemini - I like anything, I enjoy life," he repeats.
I am not the richest man on earth. But bow can I help people to be happy and enjoy life if I don't enjoy life myself?" he chuckles. He is an entertainer when he so chooses and in his face, some see a resemblance to the Laughing Buddha, Matrieya. I spot a huge blue sapphire ring encased in sparkling diamonds on his finger. Is that a gift from one of his clients? "Bulls**t," he almost roars. "I bought that. I have 45 rings!" Welcome to the world of Yap Cheng Hai. A landscape that spans beyond mountains, rivers, qi, poison arrows and pakua. And ex-send chills down your spine - like something out of Ripley's Believe It or Not. Take the following episode, in Yap's own words.
Yap's mummy friend in London the year: 1975. Place: British Museum. Time: almost 5pm. "I was in London to enroll my son into college. That day, my friend Chin [who holds a doctorate] and 1 popped over to the museum. Before I entered the mummy display room, I sent out a telepathic message - please communicate with me, whoever, whatever...
"Somehow, I was drawn to an exhibit at the other end of the huge hall. Without the benefit of its inscription I could, to the amazement of Chin rattle off details of the mummy - he was about 3,000 years old, a temple caretaker who died when he was just 19 or 20 years old.
"By then, it was closing time, Chin and I walked towards ihe exit and both of us felt a strange gush of cold air behind us - my newfound friend was ushering US out! My friend - Chin, that is - shuddered.
"The following year, I went back to the museum, this time alone. I looked up my 'friend' and we 'chatted'. I asked him about his looks and before I knew it, I started walking away from him, look two turns to the left and then bingo, in front of me was an upright coffin cover with the carved image of his face! He was quite handsome, actually.
"I have since gone back several times ¡ª each time I'm in London. On my last trip, my 'friend' was no longer there! I 'asked' him where he was and he responded ¡ª from the cellar. The museum authorities obviously rotate its exhibits."
How it all Started
With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that Yap, from a tender age, has been destined to walk the path of feng shut. An avid fan of palmistry, Chinese culture and the mystic, he used to come out top in history, geography and mathematics - the so-called ingredients behind the science of feng shui. History and geography deal with culture and topography while mathematical skill equals an analytical ability. Was it any wonder then that Yap was attracted to feng shui?
Still, his affinity with geomancy did not surface till years later. Upon graduation from the Singapore High School in 1949, he was intent on pursuing a career in electrical engineering - all because there were only two electrical engineers in Singapore then and the prospects the profession offered were tremendous! As fate had it, Yap's businessman uncle managed to persuade the young man to work for him instead.
Three years into !he job at building materials company Chin Ho & Co in Kuala Lumpur, Yap was promoted to manager, along with a pay jump from the initial RM400 to RM700. Life carried on, with little surprises, until feng shui came into play.
'Wind and Water'
Feng shui literally means "wind and water" in Chinese. As advocates believe, there are auspicious and inauspicious land sites, just as there positioning of homes and workplaces (even down to the measurement of the desk and its height).
In the house, good feng shui positioning is said to create and promote, among other positives, harmonious relationships, good health, abundance and prosperity. Yap, who was staying in Petaling Jaya as a young man, was familiar with all these, yet...
"My two very young sons then [Vap has three sons and a daughter] were always ill and could only feed on a special and very expensive formula milk. Life was trying, you may say. One day, it suddenly dawned on me that something was amiss with the feng shui of the house. I did some calculations and moved the boys' room accordingly. Believe it or not, very quickly after that, they could go off the special formula."
From then, there was no turning back for Yap and his conviction about feng shui and its power.
Guranteed to Work?
Does feng shui work 100 per cent of the time? Are results guaranteed? I pop the question only to be asked: "Does a doctor guarantee a patient his wellness? Do you ever ask a doctor to guarantee that he makes you feel well?"
Pausing briefly, Yap continues, this time in a more gentle tone: "Feng shui is not foolproof. A doctor may examine a patient and then prescribe a treatment. What if the prescribed medication is not taken accordingly?"
Moreover, Yap is quick to add, the best feng shui formula can only be harnessed "if the heart is good". What exactly does he mean? "Well, God helps those who help themselves..." he replies.
As for his track record, he estimates to have carried out more than 10,000 feng shui consultations in the last 5O years. The figure works out to an average of 200 a year or one every other day.
And how much does each consultation cost his clients? Yap would only offer candidly: "It depends. A shop will differ from an office building.
Even link houses will vary if they [residents/owners] can afford to stay in a bigger house, they can afford to pay more." Much also will depend on what Yap calls "affinity between him and the prospective clients".
Besides consultations and the building material business, these days sees Yap travelling abroad extensively, his "little black book" filled to the margins.
It is during these trips overseas that Yap lifts the curtain on his world of feng shut, conducting seminars the frequency of which is growing rapidly due to expanding interest in the Yap Cheng Hai Feng Shui Centre of Excellence. The centre conducts feng shui courses and trains exponents around the world and at last count, it boasts 2,500 students from 35 countries. The centre was founded by Yap and his protege Joey Yap eight years ago.
So, when Yap is not busy detailing the fundamentals of feng shui to clients in a bid to convert dire "no-abodes, he is imparting his know-how on what it takes in order to do just that.
By the way, five in Yap's family have followed in his footsteps - two of his three sons, their wives and his daughter are his students.
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