Program Description

Study Feng Shui in China's vibrant capital city, Beijing! Students from diverse majors are encouraged to participate in this UW-Madison faculty-led seminar focusing on the concept and application of Chinese Feng Shui and its impact on Chinese art, design, history, culture, and society.

The leading center of learning for over 700 years, Beijing is home to breathtaking historical sites such as the Forbidden City and Imperial Palace, as well as modern building innovations of sleek office high rises and emerging industrial quarters. Feng Shui has shaped many aspects of the way these buildings, palaces, and other public and private spaces have been designed and built, making the entire city a laboratory for studying Feng Shui's impact on design. With Feng Shui principles deeply embedded within the Chinese way of life, Beijing is a perfect venue for studying art, design, and its impact on human development and behavior.

Academics

The seminar focuses on the comparison and contrast between Western Environment and Behavior Studies and Chinese Feng Shui, exploring how the physical environment affects human behavior from these two perspectives. Students learn the true concept of Feng Shui from knowledgeable professors and practitioners, and witness firsthand examples of Feng Shui applications in the art and design of houses, imperial palaces and gardens, as well as modern-day architecture and business development. In addition, examples of Feng Shui application in other fields are introduced and examined, including the fields of business, geography, social studies, family structures, textiles, consumer science, Chinese history, art and culture. Class discussions focus on topics that examine art and design with an eye for their relation to humanities disciplines such as urban planning, family structures, political and historical developments, and landscape architecture.

The seminar is based at the Peking University campus with several on-site lectures at local temples, gardens, neighborhoods, and palaces. Human Ecology majors earn four credits in Environmental Textiles and Design 501 and non-Human Ecology majors earn four credits in Environmental Textiles and Design 299.

Housing

Housing is included in the program fee. Students live in guesthouse accommodations at Peking University, one of the top-ranked and most culturally diverse campuses in China. The guesthouse hosts several hundred foreign students from over sixty countries, and is located near several major study sites, making it an ideal location for studying Chinese Feng Shui. Rooms are double occupancy with private bathrooms, and are within a short walking distance to classrooms, library, and cafeterias.

Excursions and Activities

Students participate in a pre-departure orientation at UW-Madison the semester prior to departure. During the program, evenings and weekends will be open for students to join optional cultural outings or for individual travel.