Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

International Feng Shui Awareness Day – April 8, 2024

International Feng Shui Awareness Day is celebrated on April 8 every year. This is a traditional ancient Chinese practice that uses energy to harmonize people with their environment. Many people in Asia and the West believe in feng shui, and consult specialists hoping to improve their wealth, life, happiness, and family. Some will even turn to feng shui when building a house or making an important purchase. But what is feng shui exactly, and how does it work? International Feng Shui Awareness Day exists to help people understand this better.

History of International Feng Shui Awareness Day

It’s hard to say when feng shui originated, and there’s a lot of debate about it. Before the Chinese invented the compass as a tool for divination, feng shui was used in astronomy to try to find correlations between humans and the rest of the universe. According to the Yangshao and Hongshan cultures, the earliest known evidence of the use of feng shui was in 4000 B.C., as the doors of the houses in Banpo were aligned with the asterism ‘Yingshi,’ after the winter solstice, which made it possible for the houses to absorb heat through solar gain. Also, a grave at Puyang from around the same age that contains mosaics of a Chinese star map is oriented along a north-south axis; plus, the presence of both square and round shapes in the grave and Hongshan sites seem to suggest that the gaitian cosmography existed here before appearing in the Zhoubi Suanjing text.

The oldest instruments used for feng shui were liuren astrolabes (also known as ‘shi’), two-sided boards with astronomical sightlines that were used to determine the position and altitude of the stars, and for divination. The earliest shi were found inside tombs that date between 278 B.C. and 209 B.C. The markings on them are nearly identical to those found in the first magnetic compasses.

The magnetic compass was first invented as early as the Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, around 206 B.C. The traditional feng shui compass still used to this day is known as the ‘luopan,’ though even a common modern compass can be used as long as you understand the differences. The needle points at the south magnetic pole, not the geographical one, and a practitioner uses it to determine the precise direction of a structure, place, or item, and it contains many formulas and information regarding its functions.

International Feng Shui Awareness Day timeline

4000 B.C.
Earliest Evidence of Feng Shui

The doors of the houses in Banpo are aligned with the asterism ‘Yingshi,’ after the winter solstice.

278 B.C. — 209 B.C.
Earliest Feng Shui Instrument Discovered

Liuren astrolabes, or ‘shi,’ are found inside tombs that date from this period.

206 B.C.
The Magnetic Compass is Invented

Initially, it is used only as an instrument for feng shui.

1972 A.D.
President Richard Nixon Visits China

Feng shui is virtually unknown in the West until this point, but after Nixon’s visit, it becomes very popular in the United States.

May 8, 2004
The International Feng Shui Association is Created

A passionate community of feng shui academics, experts, and practitioners create this non-profit organization with headquarters in Singapore to develop feng shui as a profession and enhance its image globally.

International Feng Shui Awareness Day FAQs

What are the five principles of feng shui?

The principles are as follows: There should always be a balance between the yin and the yang. You need open pathways for energy to flow. Take the commanding position. Use the five elements (wood, fire, metal, earth, and water) and learn to understand the Bagua map.

How quickly does feng shui work?

According to various consultants, some can start to experience results in as little as three months. For others, it might take a while longer. A feng shui reading that’s integrated with your Bazi can bring faster and longer-lasting results.

How do you wear a feng shui bracelet?

A black obsidian bracelet is worn on your left hand, like other crystals. This enhances its powers to protect and clean your energetic space. It’s also believed to attract wealth and good luck.

How to Observe International Feng Shui Awareness Day

  1. Learn more about feng shui

    You can check out the International Feng Shui Association’s website and social media, Wikipedia, or go to your local library to find out more about this ancient practice. Share the interesting things you learned with colleagues.

  2. Visit a feng shui art exhibition

    Feng shui is also used in paintings! Try to look for art galleries in your city that do exhibitions of traditional art. They might do a special exhibition for International Feng Shui Awareness Day.

  3. Practice feng shui at home

    Now that you know more about feng shui, why not give it a try? There are many simple guides for beginners on the internet. You can start small by simply changing the placements of some objects in your house, following the tips they give you, to make the energy around you more positive.

5 Important Facts About Feng Shui

  1. It revolves around five elements

    These are wood, fire, metal, earth, and water, with each of them able to improve different aspects of a person: wisdom for water, or creativity for wood.

  2. ‘Feng shui’ translates as ‘wind and water’

    It’s said that both wind and water are the containers of the life force known as ‘chi’ or ‘qi’ — wind makes it move while water restrains it.

  3. A palace was designed using feng shui

    Beijing’s Forbidden City, designed using feng shui, has an artificial mountain behind it and two man-made rivers to the sides, while pairs of Guardian Lions protect the entrances.

  4. Feng shui is restricted in China

    During the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong’s government burned many books, and the practice of feng shui was made illegal; although this is no longer the case, public aversion remains strong, and some government officials who consulted feng shui were expelled.

  5. American real estate developers have embraced it

    In New York City, places such as the Baccarat Hotel, the Mandarin Oriental, the Setai Club, and Spa Wall Street were designed using feng shui principles.

Why International Feng Shui Awareness Day is Important

  1. It encourages healthy habits at home

    One example of those habits is decluttering your desk or entrance, cleaning frequently, or repainting your walls. Your home is a reflection of your inner self, so taking care of your surroundings has a positive impact on you.

  2. It motivates us to learn more about other cultures

    When you first hear about it, feng shui may seem strange and a bit inaccessible to you as a foreigner, but the community around it has made it easy to learn what it’s about and how to practice it. By simply reading about feng shui, you notice that you end up learning a good deal about ancient and modern Chinese culture, its geography, history, language, and more.

  3. Good energy can improve one’s personal life

    It is said that feng shui can improve wealth, happiness, longevity, and family. It teaches us to avoid negative energy as well. One recommendation is to not have electronics in your bedroom, as this produces electromagnetic pollution; besides, you may sleep better if you didn’t take your phone with you to your bed!

International Feng Shui Awareness Day dates

YearDateDay
2024April 8Monday
2025April 8Tuesday
2026April 8Wednesday
2027April 8Thursday
2028April 8Saturday

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.