4 Key Feng Shui Taboos to Avoid When Buying a House

By Jonny An, Cultural Geomancy Researcher & Former Urban Planner

As a consultant who’s analyzed over 300 properties across Shanghai and Vancouver, I’ve witnessed how housing choices impact lives beyond square footage – sometimes catastrophically. While everyone obsesses over interest rates, let’s discuss what truly makes a home alive using 3,000-year-old spatial wisdom updated for modern cities.

1. The Daylight Test: Why Shadowy Units Cost More Than You Think

(Yin-Yang Energy Balance)

Last year, a client’s chronic insomnia vanished after moving from a basement suite to a southeast-facing condo. Coincidence? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners would disagree.

Actionable Checklist:
☀️ Morning sun in master bedrooms (east-facing ideal)
🚫 Avoid units near hospitals/mortuaries – residual yin energy lingers
📈 Pro Tip: Use light meter apps – aim for 300+ lux in living areas

2. Wind Patterns: Your Building’s Invisible Bank Account

(Qi Containment Strategies)

High-rise dwellers: Ever notice how some corridors feel like tornado alleys? That’s “scattered qi” – and your savings might leak faster than those fluttering curtains.

Modern Fixes:

• Install adjustable louvered screens (blocks wind, permits light)
• Place money plants (Epipremnum aureum) near drafty windows
• Worst case: Hang hollow bamboo wind chimes (not metal!)

Case Study: A Shenzhen tech CEO reduced staff turnover by 40% after repositioning office entrances against prevailing winds.

3. Deadly Doorways: Geometry That Steals Your Mojo

(Sha Qi Countermeasures)

That sleek minimalist corridor? It’s basically an energy shotgun aimed at your door. Here’s how I helped a Nanjing family stop constant arguments:

3-Tier Defense System:

1. First Line: Round-leaved plants (Rubber Fig works) at entry
2. Second Line: Frosted door film with mountain patterns
3. Last Resort: Brass Dragon-Tortoise statue (facing outward)

4. Ground Truth: What Soil Reports Don’t Tell You

(Geopathic Stress Signs)

Modern red flag: Buildings on former riverbeds. Ancient red flag: Sites where “dragons can’t couch” (无龙可卧).

Due Diligence Steps:
🔍 Check historical maps for former waterways/swamps
📉 Review settlement cracks – diagonal > vertical
🌿 Observe trees – twisted trunks indicate underground stress

Architect’s Insight: Beijing’s Forbidden City sits on compacted soil layers reaching 15m deep – the ultimate “dragon vein” foundation.

Why This Matters
A 2023 Hong Kong University study found residents in “Good Qi” homes reported 23% lower stress levels. Your living space isn’t just an asset – it’s a life partner.

Ever experienced unexplained issues after moving? Share below – let’s decode your space!