Wednesday, September 29, 2010

More from Japan: Pagodas, Candyland & Feng Shui


$2600 for the set of three antique pagoda bird cages

Ever wonder why buildings with pagoda roofs have turned-up eaves? According to the ancient principles of feng shui, they are intended to trick the evil spirits who are coming down to cause mischief, and deflect them back up. Mirrors placed above doors in strategic locations serve the same purpose and streets and pathways in China and elsewhere in the world were designed to be as crooked as possible to slow down bad spirits.

If your visiting San Francisco consider a stay at the Hilton Hotel located across the street from Portsmouth Square, a one-block park in Chinatown - it was built sideways, so that it would not cast a shadow over the park (shadows, of course are bad feng shui). And, don't forget to drive down Lombard Street, the crookedest street in the world.