House Feng Shui

Taoism - Popular Science about Feng Shui in Homes

I. Theoretical Foundation: Understanding the "Underlying Code" of Feng Shui

Taoist Feng Shui is not metaphysics, but an environmental energy science with "Qi theory", "Yin and Yang and the Five Elements" and "the unity of heaven and man" as its core. Its essence is to achieve resonance between man and the energy field of heaven and earth through spatial adjustment.

1. Core Philosophical Pillars

Qi is the origin of all things: Taoism believes that "Qi" is the most subtle energy in the universe, and a dwelling is the embodiment of the "Qi field," with energy flow paths like the meridians in the human body. The core of Feng Shui is to find places where "vital energy" gathers—such as areas with plenty of sunlight, clear water, and gentle terrain, while avoiding depressions, fault lines, or pollution sources where "dead energy" accumulates.

The principle of Yin-Yang balance: A dwelling should "embrace Yin and Yang," meaning it should neither be dark and damp (too much Yin and too little Yang, which can easily lead to illness) nor exposed to strong direct sunlight (to too much Yang and too little Yin, which can easily cause irritability). For example, the living room should be bright (Yang), while the bedroom should be slightly darker (Yin), so that the two complement each other to form a balanced energy field.

The application of the Five Elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth): The generating (wood generates fire, fire generates earth) and restraining (wood restrains earth, earth restrains water) relationships among the five elements determine the logic of spatial layout. The east belongs to wood (suitable for green plants), the west to metal (suitable for metal ornaments), the south to fire (avoid excessive red decorations), the north to water (fish tanks need proper placement), and the center to earth (suitable for open spaces). Harmonizing the five elements resolves conflicts in the energy field.

2. Supported by classic texts

The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Dwellings states that "dwellings are the pivot of Yin and Yang," regarding dwellings as the key to harmonizing the energy of heaven and earth. It records that "five deficiencies lead to poverty and depletion, while five excesses lead to wealth and nobility"—deficiencies refer to "large doors and small houses, incomplete walls and courtyards," while excesses refer to "small houses with many people and thriving livestock," thus establishing standards for judging the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of dwellings.

The Book of Burial states that Guo Pu proposed that "Qi disperses when carried by the wind and stops when it encounters water." This theory also applies to dwellings and directly gave rise to the site selection principle of "gathering Qi by hiding from the wind," emphasizing the role of water flow and topography in gathering Qi.

II. Site Selection and External Layout: Establishing a Solid "Feng Shui Foundation"

"The external environment determines success or failure." The external environment (feng shui) of a residence has a far greater impact on the energy field than the internal layout. The core principle is to follow the two major principles of "completeness of the four elements" and "gathering and storing energy."

1. The "Four-Element Standard" for Ideal Site Selection

Taoism uses the "Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise" to correspond to the four cardinal directions (east, south, west, and north), forming an optimal "mountain and water embrace" configuration.

The Xuanwu position (back): It needs a solid backing (such as a tall building or hill) to symbolize "stable foundation". Avoid having an empty space behind you (such as facing a narrow alley or river), otherwise it may lead to a lack of support in your career and unrest in your family. If there is no support behind you, you can place tall green plants on the balcony or hang a peach wood plaque to supplement the "backing energy".

The Azure Dragon position (left side): It should be slightly higher or have dynamic elements (such as roads or flowing water), which governs "good fortune with benefactors" and is suitable for traditional families or professionals. If the left side is low, stone lions or tall bookshelves can be placed to enhance the energy.

The White Tiger position (right side) should be low, gentle, and quiet. It should not be higher than the Green Dragon position or have sharp buildings (such as utility poles or pointed buildings), otherwise it may easily lead to gossip, disputes, and family discord. If the White Tiger position is too strong, a convex Bagua mirror can be hung to reflect the negative energy.

The Vermilion Bird position (front): It needs an open "bright hall" (such as a square or courtyard) to signify a "broad future." It should not be blocked by high walls or billboards, otherwise it will prevent "vital energy" from entering. The area within 3 meters in front of the door should be kept clean and tidy, and small stone blocks can be placed to define the boundary of the energy field.

2. External Inauspicious Factors to Avoid

External negative energy is a major factor that disrupts the energy field and needs to be specifically avoided or neutralized:

Types of evil energy Specific manifestations harm Avoidance/Resolution Methods
Road intersection A straight road or corridor leads directly to the main gate. Wealth leaks out, family members are prone to injury. Avoid choosing a room; if already occupied, consider using a convex mirror for reflection and a screen for privacy.
Sky Slash The narrow gap between the two high-rise buildings faces the residential buildings. Disordered energy field and fluctuating fortune Avoid such buildings; or hang a copper gourd on the corresponding window to ward off evil spirits.
Sharp corner evil The corner of the opposite building and its spire point directly at the residence. Damaged health, constant arguments Place Taishan stone guardian or broad-leaved green plants to block the view.
foul air Near hospital, landfill, funeral home Heavy Yin energy, prone to illness Avoid such places at all costs, as the foul air from these places cannot be neutralized through layout.

III. Internal Layout: Ensuring the smooth flow of energy without obstruction

The core of the internal layout is to guide the orderly flow of "vital energy" and avoid dead zones or conflicts in the energy field, focusing on the four core areas of the main entrance, living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.

1. The "Golden Rule" of Key Areas

Main entrance (air vent): As the "entrance of vital energy," its size must match the apartment layout (small apartments should not have a door width exceeding 1.8 meters, and large apartments should not have a door width less than 2.4 meters). It should not face an elevator (rapid airflow dissipates wealth), a staircase (wealth flows away with the slope), or a bathroom (unpleasant air flows back in). The threshold can be 3-5 centimeters high, made of red wood or stone, to "lock in" energy. Avoid hanging sharp objects (such as knives or metal hooks) behind the door; a Chinese knot can be used to soften the energy field.

Living room (center of energy): It should be spacious and bright, avoiding "beams pressing down on the head" (sofas and coffee tables under beams can easily lead to career setbacks). A curved false ceiling can be installed to cover the beams to mitigate this. The sofa should be against a solid wall (representing a supportive backing), avoiding having its back against a window or main door (representing a lack of support and anxiety). If this cannot be adjusted, a low bookcase can be placed behind the sofa to create an "artificial support." Missing corners in the living room need to be filled – a missing northeast corner (belonging to Earth) should be filled with ceramic ornaments, and a missing northwest corner (belonging to Metal) should be filled with metal decorations.

Bedroom (a place for rest and rejuvenation): The headboard must be against a solid wall, avoiding a window (leading to catching a cold and restless sleep), a mirror (reflecting energy and causing mental unease), or a beam overhead (causing marital discord and health problems). If a mirror faces the bed, a pull-out curtain can be used to block it; if a beam is above the bed, a double-opening red silk gourd can be hung on the beam to neutralize the negative energy. Avoid placing too many electrical appliances in the bedroom (such as routers and televisions), as electromagnetic radiation can disrupt the energy field; charging devices should be moved outdoors.

Kitchen and Bathroom (Energy Sensitive Areas): The kitchen belongs to the fire element, and the bathroom belongs to the water element. They should not be adjacent to each other or have their doors facing each other (water and fire clash, easily leading to arguments). The kitchen stove should not face the sink (water and fire clash); a cutting board can be added in between to bridge the gap. It should not be located in the northwest (Qian position) (fire burning the heavenly gate, leading to the decline of family fortune); an induction cooker can be used instead of an open flame to mitigate the negative energy. The bathroom should be located in a corner, not in the center of the house (polluting the entire house's energy field). The door should be kept closed, and a golden-edged snake plant can be placed at the entrance to purify the foul air.

2. Traffic flow and detail taboos

Smooth traffic flow: Indoor passageways should be at least 1.2 meters wide, avoiding narrow corners or clutter (stagnant air leads to stagnant movement). Curved shelves or screens can be used to guide airflow, as "curves create a pleasant atmosphere."

Tai Chi Point Protection: The geometric center of the house is the "Tai Chi point," which should be kept open and clean. Avoid placing warehouses, toilets, or heavy equipment here. A round crystal chandelier can be hung here to enhance the flow of energy.

Lighting and Color: Use a warm yellow main light in the living room (to enhance yang energy), and warm white light in the bedroom (to gently protect yin energy); the colors used in decoration should match the five elements—those with a wood element should use green, and those with a metal element should use white, to avoid clashes between the five elements.

IV. Dispelling Negative Energy: Breaking the Situation with "Ritual Objects + Layout"

Taoist feng shui offers systematic solutions to address flaws in apartment layouts or external negative influences, with the core principles being "reflection, absorption, and buffering."

1. The correct usage of the three core magical implements

Ritual implements must be consecrated and blessed, and their placement must strictly adhere to taboos; otherwise, they may generate negative energy.

Bagua mirrors are divided into convex mirrors (for warding off evil) and concave mirrors (for attracting good fortune). Convex mirrors are used to reflect road intersections and sharp corners, and should be hung 1.5 meters high outside the main door, with the mirror facing the source of the evil energy. Concave mirrors are used to absorb auspicious energy and should be hung in the bright hall or wealth position of the living room, but should not face the door of a neighbor's house or a statue of a deity (as this may cause conflict).

Peach wood sword: Made from the "essence of the five woods", it is mainly used to cut down villains and drive away evil spirits. To ward off villains, hang it in the Azure Dragon position (left side) of the study. To protect the house, hang it inside the main door. To cut off bad peach blossom luck, place it behind the bedroom door, but avoid placing it directly opposite the bed or shrine (to avoid clashing with one's own fortune).

Pixiu: A mythical creature that attracts wealth, only taking in wealth and never giving it out. It must be made of jade or bronze and consecrated. Place it in the wealth corner diagonally opposite the main entrance, with its head facing outwards to absorb wealth. Avoid placing it facing a toilet or mirror (as this would cause wealth to leak out). Clean it regularly with salt water.

2. Precise solutions for common negative energies.

Types of evil energy
Example of a scenario
Solution combination
Through-the-hall evil
The main door faces the back door/window directly, allowing airflow to pass directly through.
A screen in the entryway, along with a row of money plants, allows the airflow to meander.
Beam capping
Sofas and beds are under beams
Hanging gourds on the beam and installing an arched ceiling below provides a double solution.
Lonely Yang Sha
High-rise residential buildings are too tall compared to surrounding buildings
Plant climbing plants (such as pothos) on the balcony + hang crystal curtains to connect with the earth's energy.
Light Fiend
The glass curtain wall opposite reflects direct sunlight.
Apply frosted glass film and place a white ceramic bottle to balance the strong light.
Two doors facing each other
Bedroom door faces bathroom door
Hang a glass beaded curtain at the entrance and place green plants to soften the atmosphere.

V. Routine Maintenance: Keeping the Aura "Fresh"

Feng shui is not a "one-and-done" project. Daily maintenance determines the stability of the energy field. The core is "purifying energy, gathering energy, and protecting energy".

1. Regular purification rituals

Before moving into a new house: Use mugwort to fumigate from the front door to the corners of the house in turn (to drive away the bad luck of the renovation), and then scatter a circle of five grains (rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans) around the corners of the walls while silently reciting "The righteous energy of heaven and earth enters my house" to complete the energy reset.

Monthly maintenance: On the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, use sandalwood to fumigate the house, focusing on purifying the living room and bedroom; place natural dehumidifying charcoal bags in the bathroom to prevent dampness and mold growth (which breeds illness); promptly clean up clutter on the balcony to keep the "air vents" unobstructed.

2. Daily Taboos List

Avoid keeping clocks that have stopped or broken bowls (symbolizing stagnant fortune and financial loss); replace or discard them promptly.

Avoid bringing dead trees into the house (as they spread negative energy). Replace withered green plants immediately, prioritizing plants that promote good fortune, such as ivy and lucky bamboo.

It is considered extremely disrespectful for deities to have their statues covered in dust. On the first day of each month, wipe the statues with clean water to keep them clean.

Avoid hanging heavy paintings or sharp ornaments above the bed (as they can create an oppressive atmosphere); instead, hang lightweight fabric paintings or Chinese knots.

VI. Modern Adaptation: Feng Shui Wisdom for High-Rise Buildings and Small Apartments

Taoist feng shui can be flexibly adjusted to address the pain points of modern living, without being bound by traditional forms:

High-rise residential buildings: Although there is no natural "mountain backing", tall green plants can be placed on the balcony or bookshelves can be placed against the wall to create an "artificial black tortoise"; use a fresh air system to simulate "smooth airflow" and avoid stagnant air.

For small apartments with missing corners: If the northeast corner is missing (belonging to the earth element), place a yellow ceramic jar; if the southeast corner is missing (belonging to the wood element), place a money tree. Use the five elements ornaments to complete the energy field.

Remedies for electrical appliance sha (negative energy): Keep routers away from the head of the bed (use a metal box to shield radiation), cover TVs facing the bed with a dust cover before sleeping, and install a wind deflector on air conditioners facing the sofa to direct airflow upwards.