Surayud Courts Feng Shui Fortunes

The following article was first published on Friday April 20, 2007 on Bangkok Post's website:

Workers install reflective road studs, or cat's eyes, on the access road to Government House. The work was carried out simultaneously with the re-arrangement of the area's landscape, reportedly to conform to feng shui principles to improve the government's fortunes. — SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's staff have had Government House re-arranged, seemingly to conform with feng shui principles and lift the government's waning fortunes. Workers on Tuesday installed a fountain outside the Violet Room _ the prime minister's office.

Potted plants carrying auspicious names were brought in and put on the stairs to the back entrance of the government's headquarters and in other places around the building.

According to one report, all pictures of former prime ministers have been removed from the building. It is not known where the pictures have been stored.

The prime minister's staff sought advice from a feng shui master in the hope that this could help the government survive until the end of the year.

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese practice of positioning buildings, furniture and objects to achieve harmony with the environment and gain prosperity.

Gen Surayud's predecessors are also known to have turned to feng shui masters for advice and adjusted their workplace in one way or another to improve their fortunes.

During the term of former prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan, a new, larger spirit house was put up on the premises of Government House under the close supervision of Thanpuying Boonruen, Gen Chatichai's wife.

She also had a large pane of glass installed near the staircase leading to Gen Chatichai's office to dispel bad luck, though the Chatichai administration was eventually overthrown in a coup by a group of military leaders who formed the National Peace-keeping Council.

The Thai Rak Thai party had resorted to the same philosophy to improve its fortunes.

Late last year, the then ruling party installed statues of the singha, a mythical animal, at the entrance of its former headquarters on Phetchaburi road.

Recently, the party moved to a new office building on Rama III road in Bang Kho Laem district. The new location is also believed to conform to feng shui principles.


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