(Article by Miss Suzanne Bunny - Freelance Journalist / Writer)

The Chinese Almanac - 

Discovering the Ancient Arts

When I set out to meet Master Ong, expert in the ancient Chinese art of Date Selection, the last thing I expected was to meet someone so in touch with modern-day technology. 

During the course of our interview, in amidst his office filled with shelves of old Chinese books, his handphone rang, he referred to his computer and then even pulled out his Compaq pocket PC to check his notes. I must admit it took me by surprise. 

I was there to find out from a Master of the Chinese Arts about the Chinese Almanac. It is, he told me, an ancient Chinese Art that uses a calendar to predict auspicious and inauspicious dates to carry out key activities. The idea being to pick a date that will encourage good fortune and avoid bad luck.

According to Master Ong, Date Selection cannot work in isolation. Most commonly it is one of three different studies that all work together to enhance luck and destiny. The other two areas are Fengshui and Astrology. In modern terms, he says, Date Selection refers to heaven or time and relates to the weather and astronomy, Astrology refers to man and man' s actions, and Fengshui refers to space and earth. These three dimensions must work together to harmonise 'qi '

In terms of the Almanac and the art of Date Selection, this particular study is carried out by Masters of Chinese Art, such as himself, who 'read' the Almanac and interpret it for their customers. In the Almanac, each day provides a list of activities that are deemed lucky or auspicious, as well as activities that would be best avoided on that day.

A copy of the Almanac can be found within most Chinese households, for quick reference on a regular basis. However, Master Ong tells me, what most Chinese believe they own and use at home is, more often than not, actually only a handbook.

"Generally most have the handbook, which is really only a combination of all the volumes that have been devised over the centuries and put into an encyclopedia," says Master Ong. "The real Chinese Almanac itself is very large and complex and it takes years to learn how to interpret it. I think many Chinese people would be unaware of that and quite surprised to find they only have the handbook."

But though Chinese Arts and the famed Chinese Almanac are steeped in history, going back over 3,000 years ago, the message from Master Ong is that it is still applicable today.

"I am a Master of the Chinese Arts, including Date Selection, Fengshui and Astrology, as well as widely used as a consultant and corporate adviser on the Chinese Arts," says Master Ong. "In terms of Date Selection and the reading of the Chinese Almanac, it is still used a lot today, but the difference is that its uses have changed somewhat.

"For instance, I am often asked to choose dates for marriages or dates for groundbreaking' moving house or for a housewarming. Then there are also companies that ask for my advice for openings or major events. So it is still very applicable today and the system is still viable. The only difference is that some of the actions are less practical.

These actions include such things as choosing dates for business travel or a date for a child' s first day at school. To choose a date for these would be very difficult in today' s world, as business travel is often dictated by things outside of the businessperson' s control and, in terms of schooling, children are accepted into school in batches on a particular date set by the teaching fraternity.

Master Ong says it is also difficult to quantify the effect that Date Selection can have. In reality, he says, the focus in on enhancement - enhancing a person' s life and luck.

"The best way that I can describe it is one experience I had when a bank I was advising was looking to set up in Singapore:" says Master Ong "They consulted me regarding when they should move into their office premises and when they should commence business. In this instance, they had not yet announced their move into Singapore to their contacts but yet, quite out of the blue, one of their old business associates who had owed them money from some time back called them to return the money. So it is enhanced luck such as this that Date Selection aims to encourage."

The art of Date Selection is also flexible to make room for modern-day issues. For instance, says Master Ong, if a company plans to commence business on a particular day but that date has been deemed unsuitable by the Almanac, it is possible for the Master to choose a date very close by so as not to disrupt the company' s plans. Also, in cases where the company must commence business on a certain day, a competent Master is able to look for an auspicious time on that day that could neutralize the bad luck or, at the very least, make the best situation out of an inauspicious day.

And as well as reading the Almanac and selecting dates for clients, being an expert in Fengshui and Astrology and being a corporate adviser and consultant, Master Ong also finds time to lecture and be a public speaker on the ancient Chinese Arts.

'The ancient Chinese Arts are still fascinating today and many people are interested," he says. "As well as Date Selection. Fengshui and Astrology, the Chinese Arts also include talisman, mystical studies, Confucianism and Taoism and the balancing of yin and yang. All of them aim to strengthen one' s individual physical and mental body and all of them are relevant in today' s world "

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