TEOFS - 6 - Building Or Buying A House

THE FOUR ANIMALS

When you plan to buy or build a house, first examine the site of the house, the surrounding buildings and the natural features of the land. According to the fifth century Chinese text, The Yellow Emperor's Dwelling Classic

  A good earth will grow exuberant sprouts, a house with good fortune will bring prosperity.

Every house is surrounded by four animal spirits whose position is fixed around the front door of the house. If you stand at the main door of your house facing outwards, the Green Dragon is at your left-hand side, the White Tiger at your right-hand site, the Red Bird is at the front of the house and the Black Tortoise at the back. The Tiger represents invertebrates, and the Red Bird represents birds. Their colours are also linked with the elements: green with wood, white with gold, red with fire, black with water and the house at the centre is the earth.

  In addition to symbolising the animal kingdom and the elements, these semi-mythical creatures also represent the four quarters of the sky: north, south, east and west and in their turn are linked with the four seasons winter, summer, spring and autumn respectively. As well as standing on four sides of a site, the four animals are identified by topographical forms and in particular through the courses of rivers or streams.

  The Dragon is seen in a watercourse which has one bend or branch off from the main course. A site situated in this bend can bring wealth, honour and hapiness.

The Tiger is seen in a river course with two of three branches. A site positioned in these branches, embraced by the Tiger's water, promises wealth and good fortune for future generations.

The Tiger is dangerous when two parallel streams turn and branch out. A site located in between their two divergent courses is likened to a tiger holding a corpse in his mouth and heralds poverty and childless old age.

The Red Bird is seen in water-courses which have three back turns. Sites positioned in these turns will be troubled by hunger and poverty. It is believed that men living here will be thieves and women will be coarse.

The Tortoise is recognised by the loop resulting from the division of the main water course. This forecasts office and domestic happiness.

BUILDING OR BUYING A HOUSE

The Yang-chai Shih Shu or the Ten Writings on Yang Dwellings describes the conditions needed for an ideal living site:

  All dwellings are very honourable which have on the left flowing water which is the Azure Dragon, on the right a long path, which is the White Tiger, in the front a pool, which is the Red Bird, and behind hills, which are the Sombre Warrior.

The Green Dragon and the White Tiger to the left and right of the house can be likened to guards which must co-ordinate with one another. You should always make sure that there is an even balance between the left and right-hand site of the house. For example, an extension built on the right-hand side of the house, extending into the front garden could herald disaster, since the White Tiger is too powerful for the Dragon to control. It is believed that the White Tiger will emerge to harm those in the house. When the animal spirits are in balance it follows that the forces of yin and yang and the elements are in balance.

  On an ideal site, th front of the house is at a lower level than the rear of the house, the Red Bird is lower than the Black Tortoise. A garden that slopes upwards from the front door or steps that lead up from the front door could cause financial and domestic problems. High land at the back of a house protects the house and also provides you with support from family and friends. A back garden that is larger than the front is also interpreted as a support and protector but if the front garden is larger you are likely to miss good opportunities that come your way and in times of trouble you are unlikely to find help from your friends.

  The majority of Chinese Buddhist temples and shrines are built on a flat piece of land, square in shape and the same rule should be applied to houses. If the house was originally built on a square plot but a corner of the land has collapsed, been eroded or later used for other construction there could be illness or misfortune in the family. These are the possible problems that could result from damage in one or more directions of your land.

East - could adversely affect the health of the eldest son and bring him misfortune.

South-east - could have a detrimental effect on women in labour and will generally bring bad luck to all women who live in this house.

North-east - could bring illness to the youngest son or grandson.

South-west - the mother or eldest woman will be prone to stomach upset.

North-west - the father or eldest male will be prone to lung disease or high blood pressure.

West - the youngest girl is likely to suffer from poor health.

South - the second daughters will be prone to brain disease and the daughters-in-law will encounter general misfortune.

North - there will be general health problems in the family and the second son will be prone to accidents.

If the front garden of the house is narrower than the back garden the family will enjoy prosperity and praise and there will be unexpected opportunities to further a business since the energy is focused in the area that supports the house. If a house is built on a triangular plot so that the front of the house faces the point of the triangle, everyone living in the house is likely to suffer from ill health, but if the position of the house is reversed there is a forecast of fatal illness or suicide. Anyone buying a triangular plot of land is advised to buy additional land or to sell part of their land, in order to soften the triangular edge.

  For peactical health and structural reasons you are advised against buying property that has been built on reclaimed wetlands or dumping sites. Try to choose a house built close to others and in a regular pattern so that the ch'i can move smoothly from building to building. Ch'i has difficult passing through scattered houses and irregular planning.

Illness and even death could result form living in a house built on a triangular plot.

   A fishpond outside the main entrance will bring good fortune and a possible lucky windfall.

  A house should always be at the same height or higher than those directly opposite and slightly lower than those behind so that ch'i can circulate, the houses behind can protect, and pressure from taller buildings to the fornt can be avoided. A half-moon shaped pond or pool to the front of the main door will encourage wealth, an unexpected windfall and general good fortune. Prosperity and respect are forecast if the rear of the house is square and the front round, for example, bay windows on either side. Try to choose a property with a greater depth than width to encourage happiness and stability in the home. If the house's width is greater than its depth the residents may suffer from mental illness or breathing difficulties.

  With the exception of swimming pools, avoid building or buying a house with a pond or pool in the back garden since there will be an excess of yin spirits. If you do have a pond, you can help to establish the balance of yin and yang by planting osmanthus, magnolia or mechilia and avoid planting azaleas or banyan trees. Finally, avoid houses with inner courtyards since this is known as a 'Heaven Well' and the yin spirit is too strong. This area should be used to build living or sleeping accommodation.