Chinese Feng shui, also known as geomancy is an ancient Chinese art used to promote health, happiness and prosperity through the auspicious spatial arrangement of objects, much as Chinese astrology is concerned with the temporal arrangement of events. Feng, meaning 'wind', and shui, meaning 'water', are references to the nature of the life force, qi which can be harnessed by the individual: "Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water" (from Zhangshu, or the "Book of Burial" by Guo Pu, who lived during the Jin (CE 265-420) Dynasty).

A modern appreciation of the role of Feng shui in promoting a sustainable planet is beginning to emerge, also beyond the borders of China. Practitioners of Feng shui around the globe are urging scientists to study the potential benefits of adapting mankind's presence – his architectural, agricultural, and industrial footprint, if you will – on planet Earth in accordance with the principles of Feng shui. In China, they point out, these principles have been followed by Feng shui devotees with great success for over a thousand years, therefore modern scientists would do well to examine this body of evidence.

The study of Feng Shui has witnessed a revival in recent years, combining theoretical principles and practical operating procedures with actual case studies. Although the practice of Feng shui has experienced many ups and downs in its history, and although it inarguably contains some elements that are at odds with acceptable scientific method, the pursuit of knowledge based on the concept of "the unity of heaven, earth and mankind" has an intuitive appeal that is just as powerful today as it was during ancient times.

While modern man has reason to admire the advances that modern science and technology has delivered, he cannot help worrying whether an unfortuitous use of science and technology which violates the inherent principles of harmony that govern our planet's eco-systems might be wreaking havoc on the planet and harm on its inhabitants. Feng shui is an art, if not a science, that concerns itself with the way we humans live in harmony with nature, harnessing the force of qi so as to provide us with postive energy while avoiding negative energy. What if the way we design our cities – our buildings and their open spaces – is in violation with unrecognized but real forces of nature? Would it not be better to study this possibility to see if there is not a way to construct our man-made world so that it facilitates the spread of positive energy while suppressing negative energy?

Chinese Feng shui is a concept that was arrived at by ancient sages who studied astronomy and its interaction with the earth's topography, and how this affects people. Ultimately, the practice of Feng shui still boils down to the skills of the individual practitioner and the practitioner's ability to read different aspects and elements in the environment, both nearby and farther away, in order to achieve a propitious overall balance between 'Yin' and 'Yang'. The concept of 'Yin' and 'Yang' keeps humans in harmony with nature, leading to balanced and therefore sustainable, and development.