The Golden State, On The Other Hand...

[Theophylact]

...Sails Blithely Into The Aquarian Age:

California Measure Would Align Building Rules With Feng Shui
By PATRICIA LEIGH BROWN

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29 — With a budget deficit of about $14 billion, California could use a major infusion of positive energy.

So it may be appropriate timing that in this most Asian of mainland American regions, State Assemblyman Leland Y. Yee, Democrat of San Francisco, has introduced a resolution that urges the California Building Standards Commission to adopt standards that would aid feng shui, the ancient Chinese practice of promoting health, harmony and prosperity through the environment.

The resolution, which has yet to pass a committee vote before going to the full Assembly, is meant to encourage planning agencies, building departments and design review boards to provide for the use of feng shui principles, which often touch on the placement of doors and staircases, the position of buildings and the alignment of objects in rooms. It aims to help people live in harmony with nature by promoting the flow of chi, or positive energy, and neutralizing or avoiding negative energy.

"The structure of a building can affect a person's mood," the measure says, "which can influence a person's behavior, which, in turn, can determine the success of a person's personal and professional relationships."

Mr. Yee said: "We need to allow the expression of one's culture. That's why people come to California." ...

[Atomic Rooster]

Yup. I saw that the other day. Only in California. We're doomed.

[Mike]

Originally posted by Atomic Rooster
Only in California. We're doomed.

AR summed it up for me. Only in California, and we're doomed.

[Pexster]

I heard an interview with this Yee guy on Morning Edition. He clarified that he wasn't suggesting building codes conform to feng shui principles, only that if someone wanted to put a window or door in a certain position, for instance, the building codes should not arbitrarily prohibit it. He also said that feng shui is mostly common sense. As an example, he said, "You Westerners build in river bottoms. We Asianers are smarter than that."

Ain't it the truth? Here in San Diego, we allowed/promoted massive development in Mission Valley. What was once dairy farmland is now shopping malls and condos and Qualcomm Stadium. This is the bed of the San Diego River. And people get all lathered up when storms hit and it floods! Go figure. If this feng shui stuff can prevent such idiocy, I'm all for it.

[RayH]

Assemblyman Yee wants a RESOLUTION, a SUGGESTION. He is not calling for a statute. Feng shui (water and wind) should not be seen as an interference to business. It would probably be best seen as a wake up call to all businesses to understand the sensibilities of their clients.

In another vein, many buildings don't have a "13th" floor. San Francisco has no "13th" Avenue, among the sequential numeric avenues. It is Funston Ave. Don't expect Christian business at a site "666" anything. President Reagan had the address of his present personal residence changed from "666" to "668" prior to his move-in.

In California, there are enough adherents to feng shui to make or sink a business. Real estate agents regularly point to "good feng shui" as a selling point. Good feng shui might not make a business succeed. But bad feng shui could kill a business.

In 1880's San Francisco, Adams Freight Company had difficulty in the construction of their office. Adams was advised the chosen location had bad feng shui and should be relocated across the street. The advice was dismissed as superstitious nonsense and the building went up on the original lot. Chinese would not do business with Adams. It went bankrupt.

Wells Fargo probably took notice of that problem when it bought Adams and decided to construct its original office on a site declared to have "good feng shui." Wells Fargo prospered. A century later, in the construction of new offices, Well Fargo again consulted feng shui masters. When asked by the media if that was superstitious, the bank replied, "It hasn't hurt us!"

If you think this is a minor matter, the next time you visit San Francisco Chinatown, please count the number of BANKS located in the tiny area. There is an average of nearly one bank per block in Chinatown. Feng shui is good for business!