Similarities and Differences between Chinese and Ancient Western Cultures
Feng Shui, a key component of Chinese cultural philosophy, uses the principles of the He Tu, Luo Shu, and Bagua to model the flow of “Qi” (vital energy) within the natural environment. For instance, the concept of “Cang Feng Ju Qi” (藏风聚气), which means “concealing the wind and gathering the energy,” demonstrates how Qi flows through different times and spaces, generating both auspicious and inauspicious outcomes. Feng Shui aims to identify and amplify the favorable Qi while avoiding harmful Qi, thus embodying the principle of “seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.”
In ancient Western civilizations, the early philosophers of the Milesian School (like Thales) introduced the idea that “water is the origin of all things.” This departure from mythological explanations of the world opened the path for using natural phenomena to explain the universe. Thales was followed by Anaximander, who proposed that the origin of the world is the “infinite” (the apeiron), and then Anaximenes, who introduced the idea that “air” was the primary substance from which all things emerged. Anaximenes believed that everything in the world was a result of the movement and transformation of air. This is quite similar to the Chinese philosophical system, where Yin and Yang and the Five Elements are considered the fundamental forces that generate all things. However, unlike Chinese cosmology, Anaximenes did not delve into how air actually moved or transformed, nor did he establish a mathematical model for the movement of air.
As history progressed, Pythagoras introduced the idea that “everything is number,” claiming that numbers were the essence of all things. According to Pythagorean philosophy, the universe is built from numbers, and the harmony between numbers forms the fundamental structure of the natural world. Pythagoras discovered that the lengths of musical strings and their pitch were related by integer ratios, leading him to develop the theory of “Harmony of the Spheres.” He emphasized perfect numbers (such as 6 and 28) and the Golden Ratio (1:1.618), which he saw as the foundation of beauty and order in nature. This perspective shares similarities with the Chinese philosophy of “Shu, Xiang, Li” (Numbers, Images, and Principles), in which numbers are combined according to specific patterns, each carrying special meanings. For example, the He Tu and Luo Shu assign meanings to numbers in a way that shapes the structure of the world. Just as Pythagoras attributed mystical qualities to certain numbers (such as 4 symbolizing justice and 10 representing cosmic completeness), the ancient Chinese also imbued numbers with symbolic significance.
The geometric proportions of Greek architecture, like the Parthenon, can be compared to the use of the Lu Ban ruler in Chinese Feng Shui, which also involves the application of geometric ratios for building design. In both cases, mathematics and geometry were used to bring harmony and balance to human creations.
Common Ground and Fundamental Differences
While both Eastern and Western philosophers share common ground in their efforts to understand the origin of the universe, their approaches differ significantly:
Both traditions use mathematics as the language to decode the universe, seeking harmonious proportions (for example, the Luo Shu magic square in Chinese culture and the Pythagorean number square in the West).
Numbers in both cultures carry dual attributes—both practical and mystical. These numbers influence fields such as architecture and art, where precise measurements and proportions are considered essential for creating beauty and order.
However, there are key differences in their philosophical approaches:
Chinese Feng Shui emphasizes the concept of “Shu, Xiang, Li” (Numbers, Images, Principles), binding numbers with directions, the Five Elements, and cosmic forces to serve the “unity of Heaven and Man”—an organic, interconnected worldview.
In contrast, Western mathematical philosophy is more abstract, focusing on logical proofs, such as geometric proofs and mathematical structures, which eventually led to the development of modern scientific and mathematical foundations.
The “Qi field optimization” in Feng Shui and “geometric aesthetics” in Western philosophy can be seen as different expressions of the same universal truth. In contemporary times, this cross-civilizational perspective can offer new insights into environmental design and ecological philosophy, enriching our understanding of how to create harmony in human spaces.
Furthermore, the ancient Chinese sages who developed Feng Shui concluded that all the theories of “Shu, Xiang, Li” were merely tools for exploring and discovering the natural world. Ultimately, they believed that these tools belonged to the technical realm, and that for humanity to continue to thrive and develop, each individual must strive from within, seeking “truth, goodness, and beauty.” This resonates deeply with the philosophical ideas of Socrates, who famously proposed that “virtue is knowledge” and that “goodness” is the highest form of philosophy.
In this way, both ancient Chinese and Greek philosophies converge on the idea that true harmony and progress come from an inner pursuit of virtue and wisdom.