Folklore, taboos, and joss (luck) are integral parts of Chinese life. The Chinese have traditionally believed that spiritual currents, affected by the movements of the sun and moon, influence their daily lives. This "cosmic breath" known as Feng Shui, or "Wind and Water," is also affected by the form and size of hills and mountains, the height and shape of buildings, and by the direction of roadways.

Foreign businesspeople who are familiar with Chinese beliefs are well aware of the role and importance of geomancy (divination by means of lines and figures) in the location and orientation of buildings and other structures. To most Chinese, there is an intimate, living relationship between the cosmos at large and the earth, with every spot and direction on the globe having a positive and negative "spirit" that influences anything built or situated on that location. The Chinese "see a golden thread of spiritual life running through every form of existence, and binding together, as a living body, everything that subsists in heaven above and on the earth below," wrote Dr. Ernest Eitel of the London Mission, in a book on the Rudiments of Natural Science in China, published in the late 1800s.

The ancient science of divining where buildings (and graves) should be built has also come to be known as Feng Shui, apparently in reference to the importance of taking into consideration the flow of water and wind in the area of the proposed site.

Geomancy has been practices in China since the Chou Dynasty (1030 - 256 B.C.). A manual codifying the rules of the art was published around A.D. 320. Today geomancy is used not only to divine the ideal place and orientation for buildings and such, but also as a means of identifying what spirits or gods should be placated when illness or disaster strikes.

The interpretation of Feng Shui factors requires expert knowledge and experience and every community has its master of the art. The primary tool of Feng Shui practitioners is a graduated astrolabe and compass (Lo-pan), which is used to note directions and astrological harmonies in conjunction with physical contours of the surroundings.

In addition to determining the orientation of buildings and doors, the Feng Shui master also counters the influence of negative cosmic breath by the use of talismans (dragons and other symbols) on buildings and other structures and charms (power words and other inscriptions) on paper scrolls or tablets. In crowded urban areas where the orientation of buildings is controlled by city codes and other factors, the primary goal of the Feng Shui master is to neutralize the negative forces in the area.

The first Western builders in China often ran afoul of Feng Shui beliefs, causing serious problems in the construction of highways, railways, and port facilities as well as office buildings.

The power and importance of these cosmic currents are not uniform to everyone. What may be regarded as harmful to one person may have no adverse effect on someone else. It is up to the Feng Shui master to divine these subleties. And, of course, some Chinese, particularly those educated in the Western fashion, give no credence to such beliefs.

It is important for foreign businesspeople to be aware that their Chinese counterparts may call in a Feng Shui consultant on special occasions. When this happens, it should be regarded as a matter to be taken seriously.

The picturesque pagodas, a feature of the Chinese landscape for nearly two thousand years, were originally associated with Buddhist beliefs and practices, but over the generations they became associated with geomancy and were believed to bring good luck to the surrounding areas. The number of tiers in a pagoda is always uneven, and generally ranges from three to nine. The oldest pagoda in the country, on Sung Mountain in Henan, has fifteen tiers. It was built in A.D. 523.