Feng shui in late colonial Hong Kong

Abstract

Feng Shui has always been a hot topic in Hong Kong. In the late colonial period of Hong Kong, especially from the 1970s to the 1990s, Feng Shui business underwent a very distinct transformation. During this period, Hong Kong was in the process of rapid modernization, transforming from a manufacturing center to a financial services center. With the changing socio-economic environment, the focus of Feng Shui business has gradually shifted from rural areas to urban planning and residential design. This paper begins with an overview of previous scholarly research, followed by defining the concept of Feng Shui. It then proceeds to analyze Feng Shui readings in the late colonial period, linking Feng Shui books to the historical context of Hong Kong and exploring the interaction between Feng Shui and popular religions. This study categorizes Feng Shui businesses into Yin Zhai, which focus on the external environment, and Yang Zhai, which are more concerned with the internal environment. The shift in focus from Yin to Yang houses is highly relevant to the ever-changing face of Hong Kong, the growing materialistic needs, and the spread of social media. As a popular religion, Feng Shui reflects the relatively liberal religious system, history of modernization, localization, commercialization and personalization of popular religions, and cultural identity of local people. This study aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the function and significance of Feng Shui in the culture of late colonial Hong Kong, and thus a deeper understanding of modern popular religion.