TAIPEI (AFP) - - A Taiwanese man who lost two million US dollars in Las Vegas is threatening to sue the casino for using feng shui to cause his losing streak, a report here said.

The man, surnamed Yuan, alleged that the Venetian dug a one-metre (40-inch) square hole on the wall of the presidential suite he was staying in April last year and covered it with a black cloth, said Apple Daily.

The casino also put two white towels in front of Yuan's suite and turned on two large fans facing his room without notifying him, it said.

Yuan claimed that his luck turned bad after discovering the arrangements and that he went from winning 400,000 dollars to losing two million, the report said.

"We Chinese drape black and white cloths only when there is a death in the family. It is such a taboo for regular people, let alone for the gamblers," he was quoted as saying.

Yuan filed a complaint against the Venetian after returning to Taiwan and demanded the cancellation of a two-million-dollar debt to the casino, half of it on credit, it said.

The casino has promised to refund him 100,000 dollars in cash and the same amount in chips, the paper said, without explaining why it had agreed to this.

Yuan had notified the Venetian through his lawyer of his intention to sue for feng shui sabotage if the casino fails to come up with a "reasonable solution," it said.

Feng shui, or wind and water, is an ancient Chinese belief that seeks to channel good and bad psychic energy through the arrangement of furniture and ornaments.

There are some common feng shui taboos among Taiwanese gamblers, such as bringing a hair brush to a gambling table as "brush" is a homophone of "lose," the report said.

Taken from http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20090530/tap-taiwan-us-gaming-offbeat-beb1011.html

Master, Do you have any comments on this article. Hope we can learn something about this. Thanks

1. In my opinion, Feng Shui is about Earth luck.

2. Most of the "activities" dwell more with "Customs and Beliefs" than Feng Shui.

3. For example, digging a hole on the wall of the presidential suite and especially covering it with a black cloth has more to do with Chinese concerns that black and the white towels are generally inauspicious colours.

4. Therefore most of the "activities" are related to Human factor i.e. human culutural beliefs than Feng Shui. Perhaps only the "digging" of a hole - has to be examined in the context of whether it has "offended" Tai Sui or it could be the three killing sector or the #5 yellow - sector -this is not mentioned.

5. Thus, in my opinion, as Feng Shui is not a cure all, it is neither also a blame it all on - or in the name of "Feng Shui".

Casanova W. wrote:
There are some common feng shui taboos among Taiwanese gamblers, such as bringing a hair brush to a gambling table as "brush" is a homophone of "lose," the report said.

6. For example, what has the above got to do with Feng Shui? It is more of human factors - or considered inauspicious via culture. And not a "Feng Shui taboo". Many of the Feng Shui principles are both an Art & Science. Again the above is a belief. Believes are not Feng Shui.

Further to what I had mentioned:-

1. The Chinese culture of considering e.g. red as an auspicious colour; white usually associated with death... Has nothing to do with say in the name of "Feng Shui".

2. In addition, all the information provided under this link:-

http://www.geomancy.net/info/

For example, all the procedures listed below has to do with Chinese culture and believes by various dialect groups: Cantonese, Hokkiens, Teochews etc..

House Related

• [ PDF ] - Getting Keys for the First Time / Initial Opening Door Rituals
  
• [ PDF ] - Move-In Rituals

Wedding Related

• [ PDF ] - Modern & Traditional Wedding Procedure

In my opinion, therefore, the thing especially about black covering, two white towels is based on Human factors (beliefs - good or inauspicious) and not Feng Shui.

In addition, some people don't like others to tap on their shoulders when they are gambling. To them, it means that they are going to loose their luck. What has this and others to do with Feng Shui?