Cannon Feng Shui in Bangkok

[Cannoneer]

"Feng Shui: The Ancient Chinese Art of Placement
Feng shui, which translates to "the wind and the water," is the Chinese art of correct placement. Practitioners believe that by arranging our furnishings and decor in a way that aligns with nature, we draw harmony and good health into our lives. According to this ancient philosophy, the placement of everything from the front door to the toilet plays in our overall well being. The Chinese actually employ a Feng shui master before building or buying a home. Most Feng shui experts stress the use of aesthetics and common sense in acheiving the desired results."

I found this article amusing; it's basically self-explanatory, but the Thai government evidently thought that their collection of forty historic cannons pointing at the "Grand Palace" was giving their country some bad mojo, so they decided to alter the gun's positions. If you click on the link at the bottom of the page (Final positioning of the Defence Ministry cannons on August 23, 2004) you'll find that this repositioned the guns to point at the "Defence Ministry." It seems that after awhile the Thai officials came to understand that the Defense Ministry was now being affected by the bad mojo emanating from the guns muzzles, so they changed their position one more time; the last move positioned the cannons sideways on the lawn in front of the Ministry. The turning of the cannons

[Cat Whisperer]

Ahhh to be PC!

Is the enemy they or us?

[Cannoneer]

I know it is a different culture, and what might appear like a frivolous superstition to us may well be something very serious to them, but by the same token I think it's a valid judgement to make that this country has enough well known practical problems (then and now), so that an outside observer could honestly say that those officials could have spent that money more wisely. 

[GGaskill]

On the other hand, did they really "spend" that money if they used otherwise unutilized military personnel who would have been paid to sweep the barracks or paint rocks for the sergeant major's rock garden?  I suppose they burned some fuel that otherwise wouldn't have been burnt but that is probably a drop in the cost bucket.

[Victor3]

I know it is a different culture, and what might appear like a frivolous superstition to us may well be something very serious to them... 

 Do you think Nancy Reagan allowed ladders to be left set up in front of the door to the Oval Office?

[Cannoneer]

Do you think Nancy Reagan allowed ladders to be left set up in front of the door to the Oval Office?

I don't remember anything about ladders, but now that you mention her name it does bring to mind Donald Regan's (Ronnie's Chief of Staff) book where he broke the news that after the President was shot she wouldn't allow him to make so much as a move without first consulting an astrologer.
I suppose when you really get down to it that no one culture really has the right to point fingers at another when it comes to superstitions.

[gulfcoastblackpowder]

I can understand not wanting to have cannon facing the palace, whether or not they were giving the country bad mojo.   If an uprising were to occur, the cannons would already be in the direction needed to be used against the government.  It's the same thing as trying to avoid walking in front of a cannon whether it's loaded or not - it's just bad practice to have the muzzle aimed at anything you don't want destroyed.  With them now facing sideways, what are they aimed at?

[Cannoneer]

Yeah, I'll have to admit that I never gave much consideration to that thought; I don't know what the cannon are now pointed at.

[Victor3]

 With them now facing sideways, what are they aimed at?

 The IRS (ThaiRS?) building. 

[Cannoneer]

Victor, I'm speechless, and that's sayin' somethin'! That was bad!

[dan610324]

the barrels pointing to the north is almost pointing at the supreme court  
just turn them a few degreas to east and you will hit it

the barrels pointing south    they point directly on the army reserve command  
but ok you got the sararom royal park there in between

[Cannoneer]

Dan,
How did you become so familiar with town plan of Bangkok, were you the Swedish ambassador at one time?

[dan610324]

google maps   
with satelite photos 
each and every cannon is visible

havent been in bkk for 6 years 

[Cannoneer]

On the other hand, did they really "spend" that money if they used otherwise unutilized military personnel who would have been paid to sweep the barracks or paint rocks for the sergeant major's rock garden?  I suppose they burned some fuel that otherwise wouldn't have been burnt but that is probably a drop in the cost bucket.

The converter says that their Baht is worth a little over 3 cents USD, so the million mentioned in the article would amount to around 32 grand. I know this would never happen, and it's no fortune to begin with, but I think it would be a great thing if this money would have been given to Western missionaries in Bangkok that are trying to help alleviate some of the symptoms of the disgusting disease of the juvenile sex-slave industry that's rampant there.