Feng Shui

Feng Shui is Ernest J. Eitels concise yet ambitious exposition of Chinese geomancy, presenting it not merely as superstition but as a coherent cosmological system linking landscape, architecture, ancestral burial, and human fortune. Written in the lucid, classificatory prose of nineteenth-century missionary scholarship, the book interprets feng shui through the categories of "natural science," philosophy, and religion. Its significance lies in its early English-language attempt to explain Chinese spatial thought within a Victorian intellectual context. Eitel, a German-born Protestant missionary, linguist, and colonial administrator in Hong Kong, brought to the subject both deep Sinological learning and the assumptions of his age. His work with Chinese language, education, and government placed him in daily contact with practices that shaped urban planning, domestic life, and public decision-making. Feng Shui reflects his effort to make those practices intelligible to Western readers, even when filtered through missionary critique. This volume is recommended to readers interested in Chinese cosmology, the history of anthropology, colonial knowledge, and the Western reception of Asian thought. Though modern readers must approach its judgments critically, Eitels study remains a valuable historical document and an illuminating introduction to feng shuis intellectual foundations.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the works timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the eras events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the works messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.