Usage of Flower Vase in Feng Shui
A ceramic flower vase, balanced in the Five Elements, can be used to create a harmonious atmosphere in the home or office.
Most ceramic flower vases contain the Five Elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth). The basic colour of a vase is normally white, representing metal element. Flowers and water would be wood and water elements. Fire element can be created by putting red flowers in the vase; or it can be from the red colour of the vase. Ceramic belongs to the earth element.
Flowers are linked with the feminine gender and romance. Hence, displaying a vase with flowers in the home is believed to have some effects on the tao hua (romance) and marriage of the household members. (Note: The effects can be good or bad, depending on the position of the vase.)
The Chinese pronunciation of vase is ‘ping’ which is a homophone of ‘ping’ The latter ‘ping’ is used as in ‘ping an’ (safety) ‘ping jing’ (peaceful, ‘ping wen’ (stable) and ‘ping bu qing yun’ (smooth sailing in career, etc. Thus, the vase is considered auspicious and harbinger of the state of being safe and well and having a smooth career.
Choice of flower vase
A flower vase, when used as a decorative item, can be in any colour, shape or design as long as it takes your fancy. However, if it is for feng shui purposes, then it has to be selected carefully to avoid bringing bad energy into your home.
The qing-hua vase and drunken red vase are good choices of vase for feng shui purposes.
(1) Qing-hua vase
The qing-hua vase (blue and white porcelain vase) is well-balanced in the Five Elements. The vase is white in colour, with blue designs on it.
Porcelain is earth element; white colour is metal; blue design is water; flowers is wood; red flowers in vase is fire; resulting in the following creation cycle of the Five Elements: Earth produces →Metal creates → Water nurtures → Wood gives rise to → Fire produces →Earth.
The designs on the qing-hua vase are usually auspicious Chinese symbols, such as ‘shou’ character (longevity), bats, dragon and phoenix, magpie, and so forth.
(2) The ‘drunken red’ vase
The ‘drunken red’ vase is red in colour, usually without any patterns on it. Depending on the craftsman and the materials used, the vase can vary slightly in its artistry and colour, although it is always in red. Its red colour is so unique that it looks like the intoxicating red wine.
During the Chinese Lunar Year festive period, tao hua (peach blossom) will be the most suitable flowers to be displayed in the vase. At other times, flowers such as gladiolus, red carnation, fire lily, cockscomb flower can be used.
A beautiful ‘drunken red’ vase in your living room or the reception room of your office will fill the place with youthful vigour and harmony.
Some vases have stories of historical or legendary figures painted on them. These stories are usually excerpts from famous literary works, such as The Three Kingdoms, Yang Jia Jiang (The Yang Clan Generals), Water Margins, etc. When buying a vase, consideration must be given to the paintings on it.
If you prefer a vase with designs, then go for those with flowers, birds, auspicious beasts, lucky symbols, or natural landscape with mountains and water painted on it.
(1) Empty vase without flowers
The vase should never be left empty without flowers. The Cantonese pronunciation for ‘empty’ is ‘hun’ , which is homophonous with ‘hun’, meaning ‘unfortunate’.
The vase on display should always be filled with flowers, even if they are artificial flowers. (Note: Artificial flowers will not have much feng shui effects.) When not using, it should be wrapped up and stored away.
Alternatively, wrap Five Emperors’ coins in a red packet and place them inside the empty vase. The Five Emperors’ coins represent North, South, East, West and Center, as well as the Five Elements. They can be used to attract wealth from the five directions. This is the better way to deal with an unused flower vase.
(2) Withering flowers and dried flowers
The flowers in the vase must always be fresh and not withering. Avoid using dried flowers. Both withered flowers and dried flowers are likened to death.
(3) Stale water in vase
Always ensure the water in the flower vase is clean and fresh. A vase filled with dirty or stale water in the home (especially in the tao hua location) can attract rotten tao hua. This will also happen in the case of an empty vase.
(4) Damaged vase
If the vase has a small chip or crack, it must be discarded.
(5) Vase in the centre of the house
Never display any object that is hollow in the centre of the house. Therefore, the vase should not be put in that spot, especially when it is vacant without flowers. It is extremely unlucky to have two empty vases in the centre of the house, as the health, wealth and career of the household will be affected. It is a sign of loss of both life and wealth.
Vases in different shapes, sizes and colors help to enhance the Fengshui of your living space. They are most beneficial in enhancement of one’s wealth. In Fengshui , vase attract prosperity and help in maintaining it in the house. The following are some Fengshui guidelines in using of vase.
Use the material of the vase to balance up the elements of the house. For example, in northeast of your living space you can place a crystal vase, in the west or northwest areas of the house use metal vase.
Place a porcelain vase in your living room, it symbolizes perpetual harmony. Choose a blue porcelain vase as it is connected to the healing and refreshing water and with the clear skies.