英语畅谈中国文化50主题 28

　　Feng shui
A: some Chinese people like to keep a bowl of gold fish in their office. They think this can bring good luck to dealing¹ whit² office politics and in their career.
B: that’s what we call feng shui, or geomancy. Some people think feng shui is superstition³. But once you have a closer look. You’ll find it’s much more sophisticated. It is a juxtaposition⁴ of environmental, psychological and, hygienic studies. Elements, such as, structures, noise, smell and lighting⁵, which are harmful to a living environment, are called ,evil. For instance, a room that is either, too bright or too dark, can have an adverse⁶ effect on people’s emotions. Fengshui is supposed to help people adapt to that sort of harmful environment.
A: are there any Chinese culture elements in fengshui.
B: of course, there are. It is heavily influenced by the theory of the five natural elements of metal, wood, water, fire and earth. The theory is all about how things complement⁷, or check, each other, and how people should pursue harmony to avoid colored house for too long, he or she, is likely to lose patience and become restless. According to fengshui, the colors in the room are not harmonious⁸ and need to be adjusted to achieve balance. Fengshui also has an influence over people’s life and psyche⁹. Chinese culture is developed around the belief of the golden mean. In other words, refrain from being excessive. If a small family occupies a large house, it is believed to bring bad fortune, sooner or later. The message here is, to maintain balance.
A: how does fengshui interpret the location of a house? If the location is not desirable, do people have to desert it?
B: not really. Fengshui emphasizes the pursuit of harmony to avoid harm. For example, if the door of a house opens in the wrong direction. The solution is not to seal it but to place something else near the door. That diverts the potential harm and makes people feel secure. It’s quite similar to the fish bowl in the office. It fives people a psychological boost that helps them be more relaxed, and confident at work. Hopefully, it will help them earn promotions¹⁰. Is this a benefit from the fish bowl, or a psychological boost, or neither? Whatever the answer, if fengshui can help people live a smoother and more successful life, why not?

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 whit   

n.一点，丝毫

参考例句：

• There's not a whit of truth in the statement.这声明里没有丝毫的真实性。
• He did not seem a whit concerned.他看来毫不在乎。

3 superstition   

n.迷信，迷信行为

参考例句：

• It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
• Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。

4 juxtaposition   

n.毗邻，并置，并列

参考例句：

• The juxtaposition of these two remarks was startling.这两句话连在一起使人听了震惊。
• It is the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors.这是并列对比色的结果。

5 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

6 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

7 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

8 harmonious   

adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的

参考例句：

• Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
• The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。

9 psyche   

n.精神；灵魂

参考例句：

• His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.他对这个神话的探讨揭示了美国人的心理。
• She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche.她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。

10 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。