Feng shui might seem overwhelming at first. But look closer and you'll see feng shui is about creating a happier and healthier environment. Its principles are founded upon symbolic interior design rules and basic home organisation arrangement.

刚开始，风水之事可能让人不知所措。但仔细看你会发现风水就是在创造一个更快乐、更健康的环境。其原则建立在象征性的室内设计规则和基本的家庭组织安排之上。
Pronounced foong shway, feng shui translates to wind (feng,风) and water (shui, 水). Having been around since 9BC, it is aligned with the Five Elements of Chinese culture: wood, earth, fire, metal and water. A central theme of feng shui is chi (qi, 氣), encouraging positive flow of energy to create harmony and balance within spaces through design.
从公元前9年开始，风水就与中国文化的五行相一致:木、土、火、金、水。风水的中心主题是气，通过设计鼓励积极的能量流动，在空间中创造和谐与平衡。

China is known to have developed the feng shui compass, the Luo Pan. Legend has it around 25 BC the Luo Pan was presented to the Yellow Emperor Huang Di to assist in a heroic battle against evil wizards. Philosophers Lao Tzu and Confucius based their philosophies on feng shui. The Great Wall of China was designed with feng shui in mind and its curved wall symbolises favourable moving chi.

众所周知，中国发明了风水罗盘。传说大约在公元前25年，罗盘被献给黄帝，帮助他与邪恶的巫师进行一场英勇的战斗。哲学家老子和孔子把他们的哲学建立在风水之上。中国长城的设计考虑到了风水，其弯曲的墙壁象征着有利的流动气韵。

My Chinese-Malaysian parents have always lived by the traditional Chinese mentality and championed feng shui. For them, rooms and furniture have to be laid out a certain way.Over the years, I've learnt there are meaningful reasons behind this behaviour. Notably, feng shui is more than minimalism and conscious mindfulness of our surroundings.

我的马来西亚华裔父母一直遵循中国传统的崇尚风水的心态。对他们来说，房间和家具必须以某种方式布置。多年来，我了解到这种行为背后有一些有意义的原因。值得注意的是，风水不仅仅是极简主义和对周围环境的有意识的关注。

Maybe you're wanting to redecorate your place or are looking at buying a house. Here are some easy ways to incorporate feng shui to feel more contented at home.

也许你想重新装修你的房子，或者正在考虑买房。这里有一些简单的方法来结合风水，让你在家里感觉更满足。


1. Choose the right location
Cultivate good feng shui by choosing a favourable area to live in. Where your home is located can affect the energy flowing through it.

1. 选择合适的位置
选择一个有利的地区居住，培养好风水。你家的位置会影响流经它的能量。
For instance, a house located on the inside of a curved road or with the front door facing an oncoming T-junction is considered bad feng shui. Incoming vehicles directed towards your place is reminiscent of a collision course and symbolises poison-arrow energy (shā qi, 煞).
例如，位于弯曲道路内侧或前门面对迎面而来的丁字路口的房子被认为有不好的风水。迎面驶来的车辆让人想起碰撞过程，象征着煞气。

Many Chinese property buyers in Melbourne prefer places with a good view on higher floors: facing a swimming pool or the sea, facing water symbolises wealth. Many also avoid living on the fourth floor as the number four is considered unlucky.

许多在墨尔本买房的中国人更喜欢高层视野好的地方，比如面向游泳池或大海，面向水象征着财富。许多人也避免住在四楼，因为数字4被认为是不吉利的。


2. Keep a spacious front entrance
Keep your entrance area spacious to attract positive energy. If the front door is directly aligned with the back door, place a shelf or potted plant halfway to break up the straight line. This prevents chi coming in the front door from flowing directly out the back door, instead circulating chi through your home.

2. 保持一个宽敞的正门
让你的入口区域保持宽敞，以吸引正能量。如果前门直接与后门对齐，在中间放置一个架子或盆栽来打破直线。这可以防止从前门进来的气还没来得及在你家里循环就直接从后门流出了。

It's desirable to have the front door open up to an open space as opposed right into a bedroom, kitchen or bathroom. This directs energy flow to all corners of the home instead of chi dominating a certain room.

最好把前门开到一个开放的空间，而不是直接开到卧室、厨房或浴室。这样能引导能量流到家里的各个角落，而不是气支配某个房间。

During the Lunar New Year, many Chinese tidy their entrance and leave the front door open to usher in prosperity. An open door signifies invitation, welcoming guests and camaraderie. Personally, I keep my front door locked at all times because I don't want to get robbed. InsteadI open the window during festive and summer seasons.

在农历新年期间，许多中国人会打扫房门口，让前门敞开，迎接繁荣。敞开的门意味着邀请、欢迎客人和友情。就我个人而言，我总是把前门锁上，因为我不想被抢劫。而是每逢节日和夏季，我都会打开窗户。
原创翻译：龙腾网 http://www.ltaaa.cn 转载请注明出处


3. Have a supportive bed
Place your bed in the 'command position' so as to have a good view of your room, enhancing your inner chi, control and life vision. The door should be within your line of sight when you're in bed.

3.有一张支撑的床
把你的床放在核心位置，这样可以有很好的房间布局，增强你的内在气，控制力和生活视野。当你躺在床上时，门应该在你的视线范围内。

Avoid having the foot of the bed directly facing the door as chi can run too powerfully towardsthe middle of the bed and cause diseases. Try not to have mirrors facing your bed as theyreflect light and energy around the room, causing restlessness and perhaps attracting infidelity.

避免让床脚正对着门，因为气会朝着中间的床跑得太猛而引起疾病。尽量不要把镜子对着你的床，以免在房间里反射光线和能量，引起不安，可能招致不忠。

Also avoid placing the bed directly under a window as pollutants and outside noise can disrupt your sleep. Instead, make sure your bed has a solid headboard and leaning against a wall that isn't adjacent to the toilet.

也不要把床直接放在窗下，因为污染物和外面的噪音会干扰你的睡眠。相反，确保你的床有一个坚固的床头板，并且靠在不靠近厕所的墙上。

In Chinese culture, good feng shui and sleep support metaphorically equates to sleepingagainst a solid mountain that has got your back.

在中国文化中，好的风水支持着好的睡眠，就好比是靠着一座坚实的山睡觉。


4. Invest in water
As one of the Five Elements, water is symbolic of abundance, wealth and nourishment.Drinkable water is a vital commodity in China where water is scarce in some areas.

4. 投资水资源
作为五行之一，水象征着富足、财富和营养。在中国一些缺水地区，饮用水是一种至关重要的商品。

Consider getting a water feature in your home. You could set up an outdoor pond with koi fishes and a waterfall in your front yard.Alternatively you could get an indoor decorative water fountain for your desk or hallway - with water flowing inwards and not facing the door. Having running water around not only adds incoming wealth but also prosperity.

考虑在家里安装水景。你可以在前院建一个室外池塘，养锦鲤和造瀑布。或者你可以在你的办公桌或走廊上安装一个室内装饰喷泉——水向内流，而不是对着门。周围有自来水不仅增加了财富，也增加了繁荣。

5. Get some plants
Plants are symbolic of abundance and continuous growth. They radiate harmonious energy simply by being living things.

5. 买些植物
植物象征着富足和持续的生长。它们能散发出和谐的能量，因为它们是有生命的东西。

Liven up your home with indoor plants such as bamboo plants or money plants. Also known as epipremnum aureum or Devil's Ivy, they are easy to care for and represent luck. For a pop of colour, perhaps bring home some cherry blossom stalks which are believed to bring good health.

用竹子或金钱花等室内植物来活跃你的家。它们也被称为金枝或魔鬼的常春藤，他们很好养活而且代表好运。为了增加色彩，可以带一些据说能带来健康的樱花梗回家。

Think twice about getting spiky plants like cacti. These plants are generally considered bad feng shui, bringing about nervous energy.

在种植仙人掌之类的带刺植物时要三思。这些植物通常被认为是不好的风水，带来紧张的能量。


6. Choose a balanced colour scheme
In feng shui, colour correlates with the Five Elements in Chinese culture.Notably：
Red (fire) corresponds to energy and simulation.
Yellow (fire) is lixed to power and patience.
Black (metal) represents career.
Grey (metal) signifies helpful people.
Brown (wood) is about stability
.Green (wood) symbolises health and wealth.
Blue (water) illustrates career and wisdom.

6. 选择一个平衡的配色方案
在风水学中，颜色与中国文化中的五行有关。值得注意的是:
红色(火)对应能量和模拟。
黄色(火)与力量和耐心有关。
黑色(金)代表事业。
灰色(金)表示乐于助人的人。
棕色(木)代表稳定。
绿色(木)象征健康和财富。
蓝色(水)代表事业和智慧。

7. Clear clutter
Clutter at home adds up to negative chi. This can lead to stuck energy or blocked energy from fear and pessimism of being careless with your possessions.

7. 清理杂物
家里的杂乱会增加负能量。这可能会导致因对自己的财产粗心大意而产生的恐惧和悲观情绪导致能量停滞或受阻。

Declutter your home and clear out unwanted items to feel refreshed again. Downsize your closet that is bursting at the seams. Pick up knick-knacks scattered on the floor. Empty overflowing trash bins. Sweep your floors. Wash your bedsheets.

整理你的家，清理不需要的东西能让人再次感到精神焕发。精简你那塞满了衣服的衣橱，捡起散落在地板上的小摆设，清空满溢的垃圾桶，扫地，洗床单。

While I'm not a minimalist, I like my place organised and tidy. Putting things away and seeing a clean, well-arranged space makes me feel more comfortable at home.

虽然我不是一个极简主义者，但我喜欢我的地方整洁有序。把东西收拾好，看到一个干净、整齐的空间，让我觉得在家里更舒服。


8. Let in light
Pull up your blinds and curtains.Let natural lighting and sunshine stream through yourwindows. Add mirrors around your home to reflect light and make rooms appear bigger.

8. 让光线进来
拉开百叶窗和窗帘，让自然光和阳光穿过你的房间窗户，在你的房子周围安装镜子来反射光线，让房间看起来更大。

Light is associated with the fire element and is symbolic of stimulating warmth and energy. The brighter our home, the more inviting it will seem.

光与火相关联，象征着激发温暖和能量。我们的家越明亮，看起来就越吸引人。


* * *
There are different approaches to feng shui. Some might believe in Chinese philosophy and turn to feng shui consultants to get the most out of their homes. Others might view feng shui from a more Western-inclined mindset, focusing on arranging spaces based on architectural aesthetics.

改善风水有不同的方法。有些人可能相信中国哲学，并求助于风水顾问，以最大限度地利用他们的家。其他人可能会从更西方的思维方式来看待风水，注重根据建筑美学来安排空间。