China Memories

As I integrate a recent trip to China, I am a bit overwhelmed with unpacking, sorting, catching up, not to mention jet lag. It will eventually all settle into a warm, satisfying experience but this initial phase is a little rough. Over the next few weeks, I intend to share some of these memories—those small details, as well as those huge moments. I can’t say there will be any order or progression, just drop-in segments.


Hinda and I were obviously both struck with the impact of the Olympic Park. Let me continue on that thought. As luck would have it, the Olympic Park opened up to the public the very week we were in Beijing. We hadn’t planned to actually go in the buildings but only to drive by or take photos from the outside. However, timing was on our side and we were able to buy tickets to get inside the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest.


I had heard theories that someone had come on board to offer Feng Shui advice as the Olympic Park was being put together, but then I heard that was not true. Our guide was pretty adamant that Feng Shui had been left out of the plan since, after all, "it was nothing more than superstition." However, as I got to see the buildings up close and personal and when especially I got into the Beijing Planning Museum, it was clear to me that Feng Shui had been integral to the layout of this Olympic Park.


Anyone who has visited the Forbidden City in Beijing will hear the story about how its front gate is facing directly south, the halls are facing south, and each of the thrones are facing south. This afforded the emperor (the son of heaven) to take advantage of this auspicious direction while he was ruling the Middle Kingdom. The south brought the warm winds and the sun. There is a meridian line that runs up from the south of Beijing, directly through Tiananmen Square and into the Forbidden City, past the Forbidden City and up into the northern part of Beijing. This same meridian line runs precisely between the Birds Nest and the Water Cube, linking it to the imperial strength and power of the emperor’s world. The Bird’s Nest is on the east side of the line; the Water Cube is on the west side.


The Chinese have a concept called san cai, or three treasures, which is built on the philosophy that balance is built on positive energy of heaven, earth, and mankind. One common way this is seen is in the ancient coins used by the Chinese during the Ming and Qing dynasties in which
the coin is round (heaven) with a square hole in the center (earth). The transfer of the coins from person to person captured the element of mankind. It is certainly no accident that the Bird’s Nest is round/oval and the Water Cube is square/rectangular with a walking path for people in-between. A creative blend of these three treasures.


Furthermore, the prevalent color for the Bird’s Nest is red; the color for the Water Cube is blue. Anyone who has studied Chinese philosophy knows that the Five Element Theory is a foundational system for the Chinese. And that red (or fire) and blue (water) is a particularly potent combination. The two together will assure action since sparks are bound to occur, as evidenced by the abundance of fireworks that occurred during the Olympics. This fire/water juxtaposition had to be intentional.

So whether anyone wants to admit it or not, it seems apparent to me the Olympic Park was very carefully positioned to tap into a meridian that assured a dramatic display of power and very purposefully constructed to bring about the jolt of energy that propelled the event to new heights—and most definitely assured them of a successfully creative production.