Feng Shui Garden Design: Creating Serenity

Rating:
Summary: Good garden design
Review: Feng Shui is an ancient way of shaping a beneficial life force, called "chi" which is believed to permeate all things and is created by the continuous balance of complementary forces called yin and yang. This ancient Asian belief taps into the benefits of the flow of nurturing energy around us and helps us link to the rhythms and cycles of nature.

This book is a good introduction to the topic, although I would like to have seen a bibliography or reading list to help those who might want to delve further into the subject. It helped me to understand that much of Feng Shui shares a great deal with the basic principles of garden design. There is an emphasis on balance and proportion, on taking time to plan, harmonizing with nature and on creating a unity where each aspect of the garden complements the others. Words like "harmony" and "flow" occur often and I found that Feng Shui agrees with my own personal belief that a garden is no place for straight lines and square corners. I had never thought of "chi" being made harmful by straight lines, or gentle curves enhancing the flow of beneficial energy but it's as good an explanation as any.

The writer has produced a readable book that seems to be well researched. It has lots of pleasant colour photographs, but these don't relate particularly well to the text. Most look like stock photographs that were trotted out for the occasion. But if you're looking for an overview of a topic that's still a bit trendy this book should do it.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent feng shui guidebook using beautiful pictures
Review: This book presents general principles of Feng Shui. It is illustrated by the most beautiful pictures that inspire and provide ideas for westerners wanting to improve the flow of chi and the feel of their gardens. The level of technical information is perfect, allowing one to take advantage of this ancient Chinese wisdom without the frustrations. I compared the pictures in this book with pictures of Japanese-style gardens and decided to proceed with a feng shui garden, even though I am a Zen Buddhist. I immensely enjoyed this book and heartily recommend it.