Feng Shui in Burial Practices: Harmonizing Energy for the Afterlife
Feng shui—the ancient Chinese art of placement—extends its influence beyond the realm of the living into burial practices, where it’s known as “Yin House” feng shui (Bruun, 2008). This specialized application has been guiding burial site selection and grave orientation for thousands of years across East Asia, with archaeological evidence dating back to the Han Dynasty (Lai, 1974).
At its core, burial feng shui aims to create harmony between the deceased and natural energies, offering benefits not just to the departed but also to their descendants. According to traditional beliefs, properly aligned burial sites can influence family prosperity for generations to come (Mak & So, 2015). As Feuchtwang (2002) explains, “The siting of graves is considered to affect the fortune of descendants more directly than the siting of houses.”
The practice begins with selecting an auspicious location. Ideal burial sites traditionally feature what geomancers call the “Four Emblems” configuration (Rossbach & Lin, 1998):
• The protective embrace of mountains or hills at the rear (representing the “Black Turtle”)
• Smaller hills or land formations on the left and right (the “Green Dragon” and “White Tiger”)
• Open views to the front, often facing water or a pleasant vista (the “Red Phoenix”)
• Gentle, undulating terrain that allows qi (energy) to flow naturally without stagnating
Beyond location, precise orientation is crucial. Graves are typically aligned according to compass directions that correspond with the deceased’s birth information and family lineage. Feng shui masters analyze these factors using complex calculational systems like the “Flying Stars” or “Eight Houses” methods (Too, 2000). As noted by Paton (2013), these calculations often involve the Eight Trigrams of the I Ching, creating a cosmological framework for burial arrangements.
Water features near burial sites hold special significance. Flowing water symbolizes wealth, but must approach and depart the grave in specific patterns. Research by Hong et al. (2007) indicates that a stream that embraces the site like an armchair is considered extremely fortunate, while water flowing directly away from the grave might “wash away” family fortune.
Timing also plays a pivotal role. Auspicious dates and hours for burial are carefully selected using the Chinese almanac, with considerations for celestial alignments and the five elements (Lip, 1979). This temporal dimension of feng shui demonstrates its comprehensive approach to harmonizing space and time.
Today, while urbanization has limited traditional burial options in many East Asian communities, feng shui principles continue to influence cemetery design (Watson & Rawski, 1990). Modern practitioners adapt ancient wisdom to contemporary settings, sometimes using symbolic representations when ideal landforms aren’t available (Teather, 2001).
For many families, these practices offer comfort beyond superstition—they represent a final act of care and respect, harmonizing the journey from this world to the next. By creating a peaceful resting place aligned with natural energies, burial feng shui honors both the deceased’s transition and the ongoing relationship between generations past and future (Thompson, 2010).
References
Bruun, O. (2008). An Introduction to Feng Shui. Cambridge University Press.
Feuchtwang, S. (2002). An Anthropological Analysis of Chinese Geomancy. White Lotus Press.
Hong, S. K., Song, I. J., & Wu, J. (2007). Feng shui theory in urban landscape planning. Urban Ecosystems, 10(3), 221-237.
Lai, C. (1974). A feng shui model as a location index. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 64(4), 506-513.
Lip, E. (1979). Chinese Geomancy. Times Books International.
Mak, M. Y., & So, A. T. (2015). Scientific Feng Shui for the Built Environment: Fundamentals and Case Studies. City University of HK Press.
Paton, M. (2013). Five classics of feng shui: Chinese spiritual geography in historical and environmental perspective. Leiden: Brill.
Rossbach, S., & Lin, Y. (1998). Feng Shui Design: From History and Landscape to Modern Gardens and Interiors. Viking.
Teather, E. K. (2001). The case of the disorderly graves: Contemporary deathscapes in Guangzhou. Social & Cultural Geography, 2(2), 185-202.
Thompson, L. G. (2010). Chinese Religion: An Introduction. Wadsworth Publishing.
Too, L. (2000). Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui for Gardeners. Element Books.
Watson, J. L., & Rawski, E. S. (1990). Death Ritual in Late Imperial and Modern China. University of California Press.