Detailed Introduction
Feng shui (the art of geomancy) is an extremely important cultural element in Taiwanese folk belief and daily life. From temple site selection and construction, to residential layouts and furnishings, to the orientation of graves, feng shui concepts profoundly shape the way Taiwanese people think about and organize their living spaces.
Basic Principles of Feng Shui
The core concept of feng shui is "qi" -- the natural energy that flows between heaven and earth. Good feng shui means allowing qi to circulate smoothly and accumulate in favorable positions. The two major schools of feng shui are:
- Form School (Luantou): Primarily based on landforms and topography, this school examines mountain ranges, water flows, and terrain to determine auspiciousness. It emphasizes the "Four Celestial Animals" positioning -- Vermillion Bird (front), Black Tortoise (rear), Azure Dragon (left), and White Tiger (right). The ideal feng shui layout has mountains at the back for support, water flowing in front (the "bright hall"), and hills embracing on both sides.
- Compass School (Liqi): Uses a luopan (feng shui compass) to measure directions, combined with theories of the Eight Trigrams, Five Elements, Heavenly Stems, and Earthly Branches to calculate auspicious and inauspicious directions. This school emphasizes the orientation of buildings, the positioning of doors and windows, and directional relationships with the surrounding environment.
In practice, most feng shui masters employ elements from both schools in making comprehensive assessments.
Temple Feng Shui
The site selection and construction of Taiwanese temples is extremely particular about feng shui:
- Orientation: A temple's facing direction (facing south, west, etc.) is the most fundamental feng shui consideration. Different deities have different ideal orientations; for example, Mazu temples often face the sea (to protect mariners), while Earth God temples typically face farmland.
- Bright Hall: An expansive open area (the "bright hall") is needed in front of the temple, symbolizing the gathering of wealth energy. Many historic temples have large plazas in front, serving as the bright hall in feng shui terms.
- Water mouth: The direction of water flow near the temple is critically important. "Water gathering at the heart of heaven" is an excellent configuration, where water converges and circles in front of the temple before flowing away, symbolizing that wealth energy does not disperse.
- Dragon vein: The site selection for major temples considers the "dragon vein" -- the course and undulations of mountain ranges. Beigang Chaotian Temple, for example, is said to sit upon a "golden dragon" vein, which accounts for its particularly strong spiritual energy.
- Shigandang and Shanhai Zhen: Temples and residences commonly place "Shigandang" stone tablets or "Shanhai Zhen" plaques at entrances or corners to deflect negative energy from road intersections or alleyway alignments.
Residential Feng Shui Basics
Taiwanese people are deeply influenced by feng shui in home decoration and arrangement:
- Main entrance: Should not directly face an elevator, staircase, or alley (road alignment), as this may cause "wealth leakage." A screen or entryway cabinet can be placed to deflect the alignment.
- Kitchen: The stove should not directly face the water faucet (water-fire clash) and should not face away from the door (lacking support "behind").
- Bedroom: The bed head should not face a mirror (prone to causing fright), should not be under an exposed beam (symbolizing pressure), and the bed should not directly face the door.
- Living room: The sofa should "back against a wall" for support and should not face away from the door. The wealth corner (usually the diagonal corner from the main entrance) may hold a wealth bowl or money-attracting plants.
- Plants: Indoor plants such as evergreens, money trees, and golden pothos are believed to bring good luck and vitality. Prickly plants like cacti are considered unsuitable for indoor placement.
Feng Shui Objects and Deflection Tools
Common feng shui objects in Taiwanese folk practice include:
- Bagua mirror: Hung above the doorway to reflect negative energy. Convex mirrors deflect road alignments; concave mirrors draw in positive energy.
- Shigandang: Stone tablets placed at road intersections or alley corners to suppress negative energy, most commonly inscribed with "Mount Tai Shigandang."
- Wind Lion God (Fengshiye): The most iconic feng shui object of Kinmen Island, used to subdue wind and ward off evil.
- Pixiu: A mythical beast that only takes in and never releases, symbolizing the attraction and retention of wealth. Commonly displayed in shops and offices.
- Five Emperor Coins: Copper coins from five Qing Dynasty emperors (Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing), strung together and hung on doors or placed under thresholds to deflect negative energy and attract wealth.
- Shanhai Zhen: A wooden plaque bearing a landscape and taiji diagram, hung above the doorway or facing the direction of harmful energy. This is the most common residential deflection tool in Taiwan.
Modern Views on Feng Shui
Modern Taiwanese hold diverse attitudes toward feng shui: some fully believe in it and strictly adhere to its principles, always hiring a feng shui master before purchasing property; others treat it as a reference without being overly rigid; and still others view it as psychological comfort. Regardless of one's stance, feng shui concepts have become deeply woven into Taiwanese architecture, interior design, and urban planning. Many modern real estate developments also promote their "feng shui layouts" as selling points, demonstrating the enduring influence of feng shui culture in contemporary society.