During China's Dynastic period, most Emperors chose to have their capital laid out in adherance with the principles of feng shui (fung schway). Feng shui means literally wind and water. It's an ancient Chinese philosophy often identified with geomancy that dates back almost 2,500 years to the Han dynasty. To the Chinese it is the art of living in harmony with nature. But to best achieve harmony it is often necessary to direct the flow of qi (chee). According to the ancient masters, qi is the force that enlivens everything in nature. It is likened to running water and its influence can be felt from 'the deepest ocean to the tallest mountain.'

Everyone is familiar with the building that seems to house a new business every year. So why is it that one business may prosper for years, and those that open in the building next door seem destined for failure time and again? In the west, aside from poor management, inadequate marketing, and a slowdown of spending, the failure rate of such businesses is generally chalked up to the business being in a 'bad location'. A feng shui expert would be more likely to describe this last phenomenon as 'bad feng shui'.

In the study of feng shui, you begin with two assumptions: (1) that the design of any structure, from rooms, homes and offices to entire cities, is essentially the same, and (2) that elements from the outside can influence the activities that are carried on within. Such influences include both natural and man-made structures. Roads and rivers, for example, would be equivalent, and depending on its shape each can either speed or slow the flow of qi. Following these beliefs, guidelines exist for siting any structure and these were followed in the construction of the Emperor's capital. Some of the basic feng shui principles to which the architects of Imperial cities adhered will be discussed as the layout of the cities is described. Although I will be speaking of these beliefs in the past tense, it should be noted that feng shui is still an important part of architecture and construction in the Orient of today.

As mentioned above, the construction of ancient Chinese capitals followed rules laid down by this ancient art to provide the most auspicious flow of qi. In broad strokes, the entire city (looked at in the way one would look at a building) was sited with a river to the south, a tall mountain to the north and lower lying hills on the east and west. If a location did not provide these elements naturally, it was considered necessary to create them by piling up an artificial mountain or diverting a stream.

In nearly every instance, ancient Chinese cities were square. All were protected by fortifying walls (cheng) that enclosed administrative offices, one or more markets, and the dwellings of the populace, merchants, aristocrats, and, of course, the Imperial Family. In fact, the modern Chinese word for city (chengshi) is a composite of the words for walls and market. Except in the north, every side of the square city had three gates. The palace was always located in either the center or north side of the city. The Emperor's private quarters would be placed to the north end of the palace complex, while the administrative buildings were erected in the south.

Much of this thinking did not derive from pure superstition, but from geographical and climatic conditions. For example, the north was considered the direction from which bad winds may blow, allowing demons to enter the house. For this reason, it was considered auspicious to have a tall mountain to the north. This not only placed the building on the sunny side of the mountain, but provided a natural barrier against evils winds. In addition, doors were built in southern walls, so that they did not open facing north. (There were virtually no north facing doors in Chinese houses.) If they existed at all, northern city gates would be kept closed at all times except during funerals. Consequently, the main entrance was built in the south, which let in as much sunshine as possible. And, in addition, this meant that the emperor or his representative would be facing south, while the subjects bowed to the north.

In contrast to the northern mountain, a smoothly flowing river was an essential element in the south. These two elements together represented the original meaning of yin and yang. The mountain to the north protects the building from cold winds and bad ghosts, the river to the south brings warm breezes and friendly wanderers with it.

The residences were arranged in hutongs, ancient city alleys or lanes. In Beijing, the hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City ran into the several thousands. The regular hutongs were located near the palace on the east and west. These were the residences of imperial kinsmen, aristocrats, and officials. Located mostly in the far north and south were the crude hutongs—home to merchants and ordinary citizens.

The main buildings in these hutongs, whether homes of princes or simple tradesmen, were arranged in quadrangles. A building complex would be composed of four houses situated around a central quandragle. Both buildings and courtyards varied in size and richness of design depending on the wealth and status of the residents. The larger complexes owned by high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants might be two-storied with beautifully carved and painted roof beam and pillars and huge gardens in both the front and back. The homes of average citizen had very simple gates and low houses.

The hutongs themselves were the alleyways that were a natural result of the empty space between compounds. The larger houses were built, as was the custom, facing south. As a consequence, the hutong ran east to west. Smaller compounds often ran north to south for easier passage. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, when China came under influences from abroad, many of the old ways were gradually abandoned, and with the collapse of the feudal system, social status changed drastically. Newly formed hutongs outside the city might consist of irregularly shaped houses, which meant they did not always reflected the ordered lines of the ancient city. Hence many of those seen in China today would be unrecognizable compared to their ancestors. The hutong today is rapidly disappearing, many are being pulled down to make way for more modern buildings. But in the urban areas of Beijing, still fully one-third of the original hutongs still exist and provide housing for half the population. Proof that China may be changing, but many of her old traditions can still be found.

Beijing's Hutongs, http://www.chinavista.com/experience/hutong/hutong.html
Cities and Villages, http://www.chinaknowledge.de/index.html
Craze, Richard. Instant Feng Shui: The Chinese Art of Living in Harmony with Your Surroundings. New York: Barnes and Noble