Dubbed ‘Hong Kong’s Youngest Feng Shui Master’ at just 19 years old, Lee Shing-Chak, expounds on what to expect in the Year of the Pig.
By the time you were 19, you were the youngest feng shui master in Hong Kong only at the age of 19. When did you know where your own future lay?
When I was growing up, my father made no secret of the fact that he wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become a practitioner of geomancy. I was just 10 years old when my formal training began. As I grew older, though, my creative leanings began to became more apparent, with a possible career as a designer being foremost in my mind. In 1988, though, as my father lay on his death bed, he repeatedly asked my mother if I was reconciled to dedicating my life to feng shui. It was his dying wish and I finally acquiesced before his passing.
Do you think feng shui is at all threatened by the modern world?
When I first started out in the field about 30 years ago, many of my elders in the geomancy world and even my family advised me to seek out a different path, maintaining that faith in feng shui was in a sharp decline.
However, I accepted it as a challenge and, at that time, my way of proving the value of feng shui was through the accuracy of my predictions. This saw me foretell everything from horse racing results to the winner of the Miss Hong Kong beauty. Nowadays, though, I’m reconciled to the fact that there will always be those who believe in feng shui and those who don’t. Thankfully, the number who do believe remains reassuringly high. For my part, I’ve incorporated statistics into predicting what the future has in store. They complement the traditional geomantic metrics and have given me some fantastic successes.
What do you see lying in store for Hong Kong during the Year of the Pig?
Well, the two decades from 2004 to 2023 actually constitute an ‘Eight Lucks’ period – a time of good fortune for medicine, education, childcare, insurance, property and mining. Within that period, however, the Year of the Pig will actually be the most turbulent time. My advice for 2019, then, is for those associated with such activities to stay the course, maintain an even balance and avoid any aggressive moves. Do not attempt any major new initiatives, no matter how tempting they may seem. The property market will also see some slumps, as will the stock market.
Are there any particular negative happenings people should look out for this year?
Yes, the alignments of the stars seem to suggest that things will not go well on the medical front. In fact, a major illness or epidemic may emerge, something that will put many people at risk. I’d advise everyone to pay particular attention to their health and wellbeing throughout the course of this year. The current cosmic positioning of the stars also warns of subterranean dangers. There is potential for an incident involving an underground transportation system, the MTR for instance. People should also avoid visiting volcanoes or engaging in underground leisure activities. It’s also best to avoid overly-old buildings as their unstable foundations may result in a sudden collapse.
What about the political sphere?
To answer that particular question, we should look to history for guidance. A full zodiac cycle – consisting of 12 zodiac animals and five elements – is 60 years long. Looking back six decades to 1959, this was the time when the US first opened its doors to China. Many economic ties were created during that period, although China was definitely under pressure and somewhat on the back foot when it came to trade negotiations. This type of trade uncertainty will be very much to the fore this year, with continuing friction with the US definitely on the horizon. Businesses should take some heart from the fact that not too much disruption is likely to come to pass.
Are there any zodiac signs that should think twice before having children this year?
I don’t think it’s possible to predict, outright, that certain people should not have children this year. Having said that, I think potential parents should be aware of specific personality conflicts that may arise between different zodiac animals. Generally speaking, Pigs are notoriously laidback, to the point of laziness. So if, for example, a Monkey has a child this year, the resulting parent-child personality combination may not be all that productive, as Monkeys tend to be more playful and active. Pigs are also known to be stubborn on occasion. So, if a potential parent is a Tiger – a sign for famous for meticulous planning – some clashes may be ahead as the parent and child may not see eye to eye on all things.
Is it true that those born in the year of a specific animal will have a ‘bad luck year’ when that sign comes around again? So, will 2019 really bring bad luck to those born in, say, 1983, 1971 or 1959?
Well, the answer is both yes and no. While it definitely is a ‘bad luck year’ for Pigs, not everyone born under the sign will experience a tumultuous year. For an accurate prediction, you need to know the exact month, date and year in which a person was born. In broader terms, the sign of the Pig is related to the element of water and also, a little more remotely, to wood. Therefore, if you were born in the spring or the winter, the negative potential is high indeed. If, on the other hand, you were born in autumn or, more particularly, during summer, then you will not be too adversely affected by any lingering bad luck.
Thank you.
Interview: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: Neville Lee
Video: Lai Ty Yeung
Art direction and styling: San Wong
Hair: Calvin Tsoi
Makeup: Jessica Chan
Wardrobe: Mountain Yam
Venue: Penthouse