Major 10 Principles of Fengshui

As Fengshui is a huge and complicated subject, we are only able to discuss some of the major principles.
 According to Fengshui, the environment we are in is an integrated system centering on human beings and includes heaven, earth, and all other things. All the things in the system are related to each other and harm to any of them may cause harm to the system. When investigating Feng Shui, all things should be taken into consideration. This is the basic rule.
 Live a life adapted to the neighborhood, build a house in harmony with the surroundings, and make humans and architecture suitable to nature. For instance, the Mongolian nomads use the yurt as a house as it is easily moved. In southern China, villagers use bamboo to built houses, for bamboo provides ventilation to keep the air in circulation and remove moisture.
 Fengshui masters think a house leaning against the mountains and facing the rivers is auspicious and can bring good luck for people living in it. Lots of ancient architecture was built at the foot of a mountain and near water, such as the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum and the Confucius Family Mansion. There are two styles of ‘mountain leaning’: one is mountains encircling the house. That is, the house is encircled by mountains on the northern, western and eastern sides while its southern side is open and flat with water flowing by. The other is houses covering the mountain. That is, vast stretches of houses cover the mountain slope, from mountain foot all the way up the mountainside. Many villages along the middle and lower reach of the Yangtze River are built in the way of “houses covering the mountain”.
 When investigating a certain place, one should also know the terrain, especially the origin and trend of the neighboring mountains and rivers, to avoid possible natural disasters.
 Feng Shui stresses geology. Its followers think geology dominates one’s health by four means: microelements in the soil, humidity, the magnetic field of the earth, and harmful waves.
 

Clear Water in Hongcun Ancient Village

Good water heals illnesses while bad water causes diseases. This has been proven correct by science. A place with good Feng Shui should have water of high quality. Fengshui masters advocate investigating the origin of water, analyzing water quality, measuring water flow and improving water environment.
 Most of China’s territory is located to the north of the Tropic of Cancer. A house facing south can easily absorb sunshine and avoid the cold north winds in winter. This is a benefit to people's health.
 The size of a house must be moderate, neither too big nor too small. A small house with too many people living in is not recommended; neither is a large house with only few people. Besides, Feng Shui has strict requirements on the proper positioning of the central axis of architecture. Generally speaking, the central axis should run from north to south, with its north end pointing directly to a mountain running from east to west. The mountain is regarded as the guardian of the city. A winding river around the city is believed to be an auspicious feature. The Forbidden City was built by strictly adhering to these rules.
 In Fengshui, Qi is a universal term for energy, either inside or around a person, a building, a tree, or any other item. It is the origin of all things. Cities and houses should be built in places with lots of energy. In this way, plants can grow profusely and humans can live longer and in good health. Although we are unable to tell what kind of energy it is, there are symbols telling what energetic places are like: luxuriant plants, clear and sweet water, fertile soil, and glossy stones. The Fengshui compass is used by its masters to look for Qi energy.
 In this way, people can modify bad Fengshui into good. The moat around the Forbidden City was dug out artificially, and the mountain behind it is man-made. Another successful example of remolding is the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, which protects the Chengdu plain from flooding.