All places of dwelling are termed Vastu however the actual physical manifestation of the dwelling is called Vaastu. There are four categories of Vaastu- The earth/ site- Bhoomi, the principal dwelling place on which everything else rests The structures on the earth - Prasada Movable objects (vehicles) - Yaana Furniture- Sayana As these categories suggest, the principles of Vaastu Shastra extend from the macro level to the micro level- site selecti ...

See also:

Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Components of Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Vaastu Purusha Mandala, Vaastu Shastra - Mandalas- types and properties, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala in site planning and architecture, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and site, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and building, Vaastu Shastra - Aspects of environment and energy, Vaastu Shastra - Other aspects of buildings, Vaastu Shastra - Conclusion

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: Encyclopedia II - Vaastu Shastra - Components of Vaastu Shastra

The Bank of China Tower (short: BOC Tower; 中銀大廈) is a huge skyscraper in Central, Hong Kong. It houses the headquarters for the Bank of China. It was designed by architect I. M. Pei. The building is 315 meters high with two masts reaching 369 meters (1209 feet) high. The 70 story building was built in 1989 and is located near Central MTR station. This was the tallest building in Hong Kong and Asia from 1989 to 1992, and it was the first building outside the United States to break the 1000 foot mark. That also means it w ...

Including:

• Bank of China Tower - Trivia

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Penn & Teller: Bullshit! (2003-) is a Showtime Channel TV program shown in the United States, hosted by professional magicians/comedians Penn Jillette and Teller. Three seasons have already aired and it's been renewed for at least two more seasons. The aim of the show is to expose ideas they believe to be unscientific or pseudoscientific through critical thinking and scientific skepticism, and to expose promoters of such things — especially those with ulterior motives (primarily financial exploitation). They also base som ...

Including:

• Bullshit! - Show format
• Bullshit! - Criticism of the show
• Bullshit! - Episode list

Read more here: » Bullshit!: Encyclopedia - Bullshit!

The term New Age describes a broad movement of late twentieth century and contemporary Western culture, characterised by an individual eclectic approach to spiritual exploration. Collectively, New Age has some attributes of an emergent religion, but is currently a loose network of spiritual teachers, healers, and seekers. The movement is most visible where its ideas are traded—for example in specialist bookshops, music stores, and New Age fairs. The name "New Age" also refers to the market segment in which its goods and servi ...

Including:

• New Age - Definitions
• New Age - History
• New Age - Beliefs
• New Age - Quotations
• New Age - Lifestyle
• New Age - Underlying assumptions
• New Age - Language
• New Age - Critiques of the New Age
• New Age - Medicine
• New Age - Music
• New Age - New Age communities

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Generally speaking, Buddhist architecture follow the imperial style. A large Buddhist monastery normally has a front hall, housing the statue of a Bodhisattva, followed by a great hall, housing the statues of the Buddhas. Accommodations for the monks and the nuns are located at the two sides. Buddhist monasteries sometimes also have pagodas, which may house the relics of the Gautama Buddha; older pagodas tend ...

See also:

Chinese architecture, Chinese architecture - Features, Chinese architecture - Classification by structure, Chinese architecture - Imperial architecture, Chinese architecture - Commoner architecture, Chinese architecture - Religious architecture

Read more here: » Chinese architecture: Encyclopedia II - Chinese architecture - Religious architecture

The following is a list of religions. Note that the classification hereunder is only one of several possible. This system uses a filter system for categorization. A group will be listed in a category as close to the top of the page as the definitions for the category allow. Even if multiple definitions are applicable a religion will only be listed once. The definition of religion for this page is fairly liberal. A discussion of the ways in which "major religions" have historically been separated from the list of all religions c ...

Including:

• List of religions - Fictional religions
• List of religions - Forms of religion or alternative beliefs
• List of religions - Nonsectarian and trans-sectarian religious movements and practices
• List of religions - Esotericism
• List of religions - Mysticism
• List of religions - Magic religion
• List of religions - Ritualism
• List of religions - Organizations promoting Ecumenism

Read more here: » List of religions: Encyclopedia - List of religions

Ammolite is a rare and valuable opal-like organic gemstone found primarily along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. It is made of the fossilized shells of ammonites, which in turn are composed primarily of aragonite, the same mineral that makes up nacreous pearls. It is one of the three biogenic gemstones, the other two being amber and pearl.1 In 1981, ammolite was given official gemstone status by the World Jewellery Confederation, the same year commercial mining of ammolite began. In 2004 it was designated th ...

Including:

• Ammolite - Properties
• Ammolite - Formation occurrence and extraction
• Ammolite - Gemstone quality
• Ammolite - Treatments
• Ammolite - Imitations
• Ammolite - Use in jewelry
• Ammolite - Notes

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A zig-zag bridge is a pedestrian bridge composed of short segments, each set at an angle relative to its neighbors and usually with an alternating right and left turn required when traveling across the bridge. When constructed of wood, each segment is formed from planks and is supported by posts, while a stone bridge of this type will use short slabs set upon stone footings. Zig-zag bridge - As a practical bridge. The post and plank version has an advantage when employed as a crossing of a muddy bottom or m ...

Including:

• Zig-zag bridge - As a practical bridge
• Zig-zag bridge - As a decorative or ceremonial bridge

Read more here: » Zig-zag bridge: Encyclopedia - Zig-zag bridge

Malacca (Jawi: ملاك; Malay: Melaka) (Malaysian state code : MK), (transport code : M), is the second smallest state in Malaysia, and is located in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. The state's capital is Malacca Town or Bandar Melaka. Although the first Malay sultanate started in Mealacca, the state has no Sultan today. Instead, the head of state is the Governor or Yang Di-Pertuan Negeri. Melaka - Geography. Malacca is ...

Including:

• Melaka - Geography
• Melaka - Demographics
• Melaka - History
• Melaka - Sultanate of Malacca
• Melaka - Colonization
• Melaka - State government
• Melaka - Culture and economy
• Melaka - Popular historical attractions
• Melaka - Transport

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As for the commoners, be they mandarins, merchants or farmers, their houses tended to follow a set pattern: the centre of the building would be a shrine for the deities and the ancestors, which would also be used during festivities. On its two sides were bedrooms for the elders; the two wings of the building (known as "guardian dragons" by the Chinese) were for the junior members of the family, as well as the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen,althoug ...

See also:

Chinese architecture, Chinese architecture - Features, Chinese architecture - Classification by structure, Chinese architecture - Imperial architecture, Chinese architecture - Commoner architecture, Chinese architecture - Religious architecture

Read more here: » Chinese architecture: Encyclopedia II - Chinese architecture - Commoner architecture

There were certain architectural features that were reserved for the Emperor of China. The most noticeable were the yellow roof tiles; yellow was the Imperial colour, so yellow roof tiles still adorn most of the buildings within the Forbidden City. The Temple of Heaven, however, uses blue roof tiles to symbolize the sky. The roofs are almost invariably supported by brackets, a feature shared only with the largest of religious buildings. The wooden columns of the buildings, ...

See also:

Chinese architecture, Chinese architecture - Features, Chinese architecture - Classification by structure, Chinese architecture - Imperial architecture, Chinese architecture - Commoner architecture, Chinese architecture - Religious architecture

Read more here: » Chinese architecture: Encyclopedia II - Chinese architecture - Imperial architecture

Vaastu Shastra evolved as a compilation of planning principles for a healthy living based on the knowledge base of the time (similar to Western treatises such as Vitruvius') and was not meant to be absolute. Its current popularity stems from its focus on a wholesome approach to space and form. Vastu was earlier used in the design of Hindu homes, but became less prominent in the industrialization period during and following the colonial British Raj. But it is used extensively in temple design, and so survived in the clans of temple designers ...

See also:

Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Components of Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Vaastu Purusha Mandala, Vaastu Shastra - Mandalas- types and properties, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala in site planning and architecture, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and site, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and building, Vaastu Shastra - Aspects of environment and energy, Vaastu Shastra - Other aspects of buildings, Vaastu Shastra - Conclusion

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: Encyclopedia II - Vaastu Shastra - Conclusion

Vaastu Shastra describes various criteria which determine the choice of a site. The most exalted shape for a site is square, however rectangle is also acceptable. It explains about soil examination or Bhu- Pariksha. One particular test involves the digging of a hole and refilling it again with the dug soil. Based on the volume occupied by this soil in the pit, its characteristics are determined. A gnomon is used in determining the orientation, this practice is called Sanku Sthaapanam. ...

See also:

Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Components of Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Vaastu Purusha Mandala, Vaastu Shastra - Mandalas- types and properties, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala in site planning and architecture, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and site, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and building, Vaastu Shastra - Aspects of environment and energy, Vaastu Shastra - Other aspects of buildings, Vaastu Shastra - Conclusion

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: Encyclopedia II - Vaastu Shastra - Aspects of environment and energy

The form of the Vaastu Purusha Mandala is basically a square but there are various types of mandalas depending on the way in which the basic square is divided. In each case, the square is subdivided into smaller squares by lines running parallel/ perpendicular to the sides. Each side of the square can be divided from 1 to 32 divisions. Thus, the number of squares in the Vaastu Purusha Mandala may vary from 12 to 322, i.e from 1, 4, 16, 25 and so on to 1024. Each of the ...

See also:

Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Components of Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Vaastu Purusha Mandala, Vaastu Shastra - Mandalas- types and properties, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala in site planning and architecture, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and site, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and building, Vaastu Shastra - Aspects of environment and energy, Vaastu Shastra - Other aspects of buildings, Vaastu Shastra - Conclusion

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: Encyclopedia II - Vaastu Shastra - Mandalas- types and properties

The Vaastu Purusha Mandala is an indispensable part of Vaastu Shastra and constitutes the mathematical and diagrammatic basis for generating design. Purusha refers to energy, power, soul or cosmic man. Mandala is the generic name for any plan/ chart, which represents the cosmos metaphysically/ symbolically, a microcosm of the universe. In Hindu cosmology the surface of the earth is represented as a square, the most fundamental of all Hindu forms. The earth is represented as four cornered with reference to the horizon's relation ...

See also:

Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Components of Vaastu Shastra, Vaastu Shastra - Vaastu Purusha Mandala, Vaastu Shastra - Mandalas- types and properties, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala in site planning and architecture, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and site, Vaastu Shastra - Mandala and building, Vaastu Shastra - Aspects of environment and energy, Vaastu Shastra - Other aspects of buildings, Vaastu Shastra - Conclusion

Read more here: » Vaastu Shastra: Encyclopedia II - Vaastu Shastra - Vaastu Purusha Mandala

Crank person - Physics computer science and mathematics. Claims to have produced solutions to problems which have been proven to be unsolvable, such as the geometric construction problems of squaring the circle, doubling the cube and trisecting the angle. (It should be noted that all of these problems have solutions if one is permitted tools beyond a straightedge and compass). producing unified Theories of Everything, and particularly doing so with high school or undergraduate level physics knowled ...

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Crank person, Crank person - Crank tactics, Crank person - Cranks on the Internet, Crank person - Related terminology, Crank person - Topics typically associated with the crank label, Crank person - Physics computer science and mathematics, Crank person - Medicine, Crank person - Politics economics and law, Crank person - Paranormal and spiritual

Read more here: » Crank person: Encyclopedia II - Crank person - Topics typically associated with the crank label

The chemical composition of ammolite is variable, and aside from aragonite may include calcite, silica, pyrite, or other minerals. The shell itself may contain a number of trace elements, including: aluminium; barium; chromium; copper; iron; magnesium; manganese; strontium; titanium; and vanadium. Its crystallography is orthorhombic. Its hardness is 4.5–5.5, quite soft for a gemstone, and its specific gravity is 2.60–2.85. The refractive index of Canadian material (as measured via sodium light, 589.3 nm) is as follows: α 1.522; β 1.672–1.673; γ 1.676–1.679; biaxial negative. Under ultraviolet light, a ...

See also:

Ammolite, Ammolite - Properties, Ammolite - Formation occurrence and extraction, Ammolite - Gemstone quality, Ammolite - Treatments, Ammolite - Imitations, Ammolite - Use in jewelry, Ammolite - Notes

Read more here: » Ammolite: Encyclopedia II - Ammolite - Properties

The poem Experimentarius attributed to Bernardus (Bernard) Silvestris (Silvester), who wrote in the middle of the 12th century, was a verse translation of a work on astrological geomancy. Gerard of Sabionetta (Sabloneta), who lived in the thirteenth century, wrote or translated Astronomical Geomancy from Arabic into Latin. An original in Arabic is possible, as the traditional method of structuring a geomantic divination follows the direction of Arabic writing. (Astronomical Geomancy is erroneously attributed to Gerard of Cremona; Sabionetta is near Cremona s ...

See also:

Geomancy, Geomancy - Literary Background, Geomancy - Western Methodology, Geomancy - Astrological Geomancy, Geomancy - Other uses

Read more here: » Geomancy: Encyclopedia II - Geomancy - Literary Background

Image:HSBC main building hk.jpg The main characteristic of HSBC Hong Kong headquarters is its absence of internal supporting structure. Another notable feature is that natural sunlight is the major source of lighting inside the building. There is a bank of giant mirrors at the top of the atrium, which can reflect natural sunlight into the atrium and hence down into the plaza. Through the use of natural sunlight, this design helps to conserve energy. Additionally, sun shades are provided on the external facades to block direct s ...

See also:

HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building, HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building - History, HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building - Design, HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building - Feng Shui, HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building - Characteristics, HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building - Lion statues, HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building - Lighting scheme

Read more here: » HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building: Encyclopedia II - HSBC Hong Kong headquarters building - Characteristics

Alternative healthcare providers who practice colour therapy often relate the seven colours of the colour spectrum to specific areas of the body known as the chakras. Like in yoga, the chakras are believed to be specific spiritual energy centres of the body. The accredited therapeutic action of colours is related to the chakra they represent: Chromotherapy - Red. First Chakra: base of the spine In chromotherapy, red is considered to be the colour of life, of the glowing sun and of fire. Red i ...

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Chromotherapy, Chromotherapy - Criticism, Chromotherapy - History, Chromotherapy - Meaning and use of colours, Chromotherapy - Red, Chromotherapy - Orange, Chromotherapy - Yellow, Chromotherapy - Green, Chromotherapy - Blue, Chromotherapy - Indigo, Chromotherapy - Violet

Read more here: » Chromotherapy: Encyclopedia II - Chromotherapy - Meaning and use of colours

His official positions included Ambassador to El Salvador (1975-1976), Minister of Communications and Transportation (1981-1987), Vice Premier (1987-1988), Foreign Minister (1988-1990) before becoming Governor of Taiwan Province (1990-1993). In 1993 he was appointed Premier of the Republic of China. In 1996, Lee Teng-hui selected him as running mate in the presidential election. After Lee and Lien won the election for the presidency and the vice-presidency respectively, Lien retained the premiership. This proved unpopular, and opposition par ...

See also:

Lien Chan, Lien Chan - Early life and education, Lien Chan - Political career, Lien Chan - 2005 journey to mainland China, Lien Chan - Name

Read more here: » Lien Chan: Encyclopedia II - Lien Chan - Political career

Indonesian Chinese - Pre-independence History. Race relations between Indonesian Chinese and native Indonesians have always been problematic. Some commentators trace this to the Dutch era when colonial policy favoured ethnic Chinese - and in so doing established their economic dominance over the region. The caste system established by the Dutch also made it disadvantageous for ethnic Chinese (and members of other races) to assimilate into the native population: this would mean being put in the third estate, the l ...

See also:

Indonesian Chinese, Indonesian Chinese - Demographics, Indonesian Chinese - Origins, Indonesian Chinese - Ethnic concentrations, Indonesian Chinese - History, Indonesian Chinese - Pre-independence History, Indonesian Chinese - Post-independence and New Order Era, Indonesian Chinese - Recent History

Read more here: » Indonesian Chinese: Encyclopedia II - Indonesian Chinese - History