Feng Shui: the ancient art of propitious placement
Instructor: Owen Cappleman
Time: Tuesday - Thursday 12:30 - 2:00 PM
Place: SUT 2.102
The ancient Chinese art of feng-shui or geomancy lies behind the whole pattern of the Chinese landscape. It is an attitude to the life in the land that has enabled China to feed one of the densest populations in the world without doing great violence to the earth.
--Stephen Skinner
The Chinese art of arranging one's life in accordance with the forces of the universe stretches back at least 7,000 years and probably far further. It is a profoundly creative and intuitive art...rooted in an extraordinary sensitivity to nature. This affinity with the natural world is reflected in the two Chinese ideograms that make up its name: Feng Shui. The literal meaning of the words Feng Shui is wind and water.
--Master Lam Kam Chuen
INTRODUCTION Of dragons and tigers, tortoises and mystic birds...
Begun in the earliest mists of Chinese history, later adopted by the Japanese, and found today wherever there is a measurable ethnic east-Asian population, the mystic art of Feng Shui has an unbroken history. From pre-Confucian Taoist traditions in China to new age post-hippy gurus in Sausalito extends a lineage of groups and individuals whose activities have been guided by the yin and yang of the I Ching, by the Five Energies, by Feng Shui. As the physician said to the Yellow Emperor in the opening chapter of his Classic of Internal Medicine (the earliest medical text known to humanity, written in the 25th century BCE): "In ancient times those people who understood the Tao patterned themselves upon the Yin and the Yang and they lived in harmony with the arts of divination." It is this tradition, in its various manifestations and practices, that will comprise our course of study this semester.
COURSE CONTENT
This course will be conducted in seminar format to include illustrated lectures, discussion, selected reading, case studies and a studio project. Here are the highlights of the semester.
Lecture/presentations: --History: religion, the I Ching and the tradition of Feng Shui
--Theory: the philosophy and mechanics of Feng Shui
--Applications: the workings of Feng Shui
--Modern Times: the adoption of Feng Shui by the New Agers
Case study/studio project: --Analysis/synthesis of the Feng Shui of an existing public place
Reading: --Selected reading from the bibliography, and a book review
Anecdotes & testimonials: --Discussions of real-life Feng Shui experiences and observations
Semester paper: --A summary paper in lieu of a final examination
ATTENDANCE
Regular and punctual attendance is especially important in a class of an experiential nature with no textbook. Class time is sharing time. More than three unexcused absences during the semester, or two consecutive absences, may cause a student to be dropped from the course. An absence is excused either by prior notification (e-mail or telephone) or with a written excuse from a health care professional following the absence. Also note the reference to attendance under "Class Participation" below.
The instructor's telephone number is 512.471.7179. His voice mail will be activated during times when he is absent, or when he is speaking to another party. His e-mail address is: owenc@mail.utexas.edu.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The grading scale below is a familiar one, but published here to satisfy University requirements:
A (90 - 100%): Outstanding Work
B (80 - 89): Good Work
C (70 - 79): Average Work
D (60 - 69): Poor Work
F (below 60): Unacceptable Work
The grade of X (incomplete) can be given only for legitimate reasons, such as illness or family emergency, or some other reasonable contingency. Simply not completing the work is not an adequate cause for assigning this grade.
Grades will be based on five areas of activity: critical response to lecture/presentations; the students' case study/studio project; student book reviews; the semester paper; and, class participation. Each activity area will account for 20% of the student's course grade.
1. CRITICAL RESPONSE TO LECTURE/PRESENTATIONS.
Following each major presentation, students will be required to complete a form in response. Since there is no final examination in this course, the critical responses will constitute the main vehicle by which the instructor may gauge the amount and quality of information communicated through the lecture/pre-sentations.
2. CASE STUDY/STUDIO PROJECT.
This project will be conducted in teams of two, and will consist of five main activities: location and identification, interview, documentation, description, and solution. Released class time will be given to reduce the time burden for this project. Instruction and assistance in photography and model-making skills will be provided for nonarchitecture majors.
3. READING & BOOK REVIEWS.
In the third week of the semester a bibliography will be provided. Students are to examine (not read) at least five sources on the bibliography, after which the single source to be read and reviewed will be selected. In some cases students may choose to read a book not on the bibliography. The bibliography will include detailed guidlines for the preparation of the student book review.
4. SEMESTER PAPER
This is not a research paper per se, although students may choose to engage in a modicum of research to arrive at a more authoritative paper. This is to be a summary of the student's learning experience through the semester, as well as a position paper on feng shui. Guidelines will be issued at the time that the semester paper is assigned.
5. CLASS PARTICIPATION.
Criteria in this category include attendance, individual contribution to group learning, and active participation in class discussions.