Continued from Part I (‘Significance of 080808 And Chinese Astrology’) – this is geomancer Master Raymond Lo, consultant to the Hong Kong Tourism Board for their Feng Shui tours, who recommended that China’s leaders wear an Ox pendant to counteract a clash from the negative energies of the Year of the Rat, on an otherwise ‘very auspicious’ date for the Beijing Summer Olympics opening. Commenting on the total solar eclipse (that occurred a week ago), Mak Ling-Ling, top Chinese astrology expert and author from Hong Kong, predicted chaos and protests on the street as very likely but they will not do any permanent harm to the Chinese authorities.

Contrary to popular opinion, Master Joseph Chau – esteemed Hong Kong astrologer and resident geomancer for the Mandarin Oriental, offered his view that 8/8/8 is not favorable for the opening of Beijing Olympics. The date falls in the ‘Ghost Month’, which refers to the 7th month of the lunar calendar, when superstition states that this is the most inauspicious time for medical procedures, get married, open a business, sign a major contract or start construction during this month. Thus the Chinese usually avoid engaging in any big events during this period as one’s luck will be hugely discounted or at least diminished.

However, according to Maritess Allen (CEO of World of Feng Shui), the Chinese used the Four Pillars of Destiny chart analysis for the date that shows the presence of three yang metal elements, two earth elements and one water element. The presence of two earth elements makes the Day Master Pillar (a yang metal) stronger, therefore indicating 080808 “the right day for the right season and very auspicious for sports events, athletes and marketing campaign.”

More instances of Feng Shui at work:

-It is reported that elements of feng shui have been incorporated into the massive new U.S. embassy in Beijing and President George Bush will officiate the ribbon-cutting set on 080808.

-The 9 year-old, pagoda-inspired Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai is 88 stories tall, which suggests double good fortune. In addition, the building’s core is designed in the shape of an octagon and its setbacks are crafted as a series of plays on the number 8. The building’s base is 16 stories tall, or 8 times 2. When I.M. Pei’s Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong was under construction, the placement of the tower’s final piece of steel was set for August 8, 1988. (Source: Chicago Tribune)

-The Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank hired a geomancer for the opening of its new HQ building in 1985. He chose the most auspicious date for the building’s opening, and then ensured that on that day, the two bronze lions were lifted into place by crane simultaneously-in order not to give one precedence over the other-and lowered carefully into the most auspicious feng shui spot. Today, hundreds of passersby every day like to rub the lions’ paws for good fortune. (Taken from article: “Searching for Feng Shui in Hong Kong”)