By Julie Samaras
AS the Beijing Olympics have been inspiring the world’s athletes, closer to home we can draw inspiration from the host nation when it comes to domestic decor.
Feng shui, for instance, is an ancient Chinese practice believed to utilise the laws of both heaven (astronomy) and earth (geography) to help one improve life by optimising positive energy.
Many modern enthusiasts interpret feng shui as the practice of arranging objects, such as furniture, to help people achieve their goals, while it’s also about choosing sites and orienting buildings to greatest advantage.
Red and gold – the hue of our favourite Olympic medal – are colours traditionally associated with good fortune and abundance in China. These colours permeate artworks, furnishings, accessories, gifts and celebrations.
Master Chinese artists imbue their creations with symbols of good meanings, e.g. pine trees, a frequent object in Chinese paintings, represent longevity. With its rich symbolic detail, the painting not only gives a viewer pleasure, but also transmits an indirect message; there is added pleasure in “getting” the message.
Often featuring intricate patterns inlaid into dark-stained timber, Chinese made or inspired furniture can become the centrepiece of a room.
Chinese rugs, silk cushions and doona covers can continue the oriental theme through different rooms.
In the kitchen, woks for a contemporary take on a traditional stir-fry, have become mainstream, along with chopsticks and noodle bowls.
I’ve read that the Chinese wealth symbol is represented by gold fish, “jing yu”, as jing literally means “gold” and “yu” sounds like abundance.
As such, many Chinese business people love to place a bowl of goldfish in their offices or homes as a wealth symbol.