The Methods of Assessing Feng Shui

There are basically two methods of assessing the feng shui of a site or an interior: the intuitive or form school method and the compass method. The first method is based on the physical features of the land, the second is a more technical way which involves the luopan.

 

The Luopan

For the compass method of geomantic assessment, a luopan is used to determine the flow of qi and the orientation of buildings, rooms and furniture. There are many types of luopan. Some are very simple and consist of only a few rings with a magnetised needle in the centre. Some are more complicated and contain 36 rings. The luopan is circular (symbolising heaven), made of wood, and set into a square board (symbolizing earth).

Each ring has a different purpose and is designed differently to the other rings (This is done according to directional and cosmological systems).

In using the luopan to determine to feng shui of a site or interior, the first step is to establish the north point. In a house which has been occupied for osme time, it is rather difficult to establish the magnetic north because the interior may be cluttered with all kinds of metallic articles which can affect the needle. In this situation, the geomancer often goes outside the house, preferably on surrounding empty land, to establish the north point. In places where houses are packed very closely together, the geomancer may determine the north point through mathematical calculations based on the angle of the sun.

When the geomancer is able to use his luopan indoors, he keeps at least one metre from reinforced concrete columns or beams to avoid deflection. He holds the compass level with the floor and faces the directionbeing assessed, turning the luopan wheel until the magnetic needle of the compass overlaps the red line beneath the needle. He only reads the compass when the needle is stable.

In addition to the luopan, the geomancer's ruler is used to measure the length, breath and height of building interiors and furnishings. Good dimensions include:

*0 - 5 3/8 cm

*16 1/8 - 26 7/8 cm

*37 5/8 - 48 3/8 cm

*multiples of 43 cm or multiples of 43 com added to any of the above measurements.

Bad dimensions include:

*5 3/8 cm - 16 1/8 cm

*26 7/8 - 37 5/8 cm

*multiples of 43 cm added to the above measurements.

 

Orientation is also considered very important when assessing a site or building. Geomancers use the accompanying charts, which relate orientation to year of birth, to place the main door of a house and the beds of the occupants. As you can see, orientation for males is different form that for females.

			Qi	orientations	for	males
	SW	E	SE	SW	NW	W	NE	S	N
	1917	1916	1915	1914	1913	1912	1911	1910	1909
	1926	1925	1924	1923	1922	1921	1920	1919	1918
	1935	1934	1933	1932	1931	1930	1929	1928	1927
	1944	1943	1942	1941	1940	1939	1938	1937	1936
	1953	1952	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	1946	1945
	1962	1961	1960	1959	1958	1957	1956	1955	1954
Year	1971	1970	1969	1968	1967	1966	1965	1964	1963
Of	1980	1979	1978	1977	1976	1975	1974	1973	1972
Birth	1989	1988	1987	1986	1985	1984	1983	1982	1981
	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990
	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999
	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008
	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
	2034	2033	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010
	2043	2042	2041	2040	2039	2038	2037	2036	2035
	2052	2051	2050	2049	2048	2047	2046	2045	2044

			Qi	orientations	for	females
	SE	E	SW	N	S	NE	W	NW	NW
	1917	1916	1915	1914	1913	1912	1911	1910	1909
	1926	1925	1924	1923	1922	1921	1920	1919	1918
	1935	1934	1933	1932	1931	1930	1929	1928	1927
	1944	1943	1942	1941	1940	1939	1938	1937	1936
	1953	1952	1951	1950	1949	1948	1947	1946	1945
Year	1962	1961	1960	1959	1958	1957	1956	1955	1954
of	1971	1970	1969	1968	1967	1966	1965	1964	1963
Birth	1980	1979	1978	1977	1976	1975	1974	1973	1972
	1989	1988	1987	1986	1985	1984	1983	1982	1981
	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994	1993	1992	1991	1990
	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999
	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008
	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
	2034	2033	2032	2031	2030	2029	2028	2027	2026
	2043	2042	2041	2040	2039	2038	2037	2036	2035
	2052	2051	2050	2049	2048	2047	2046	2045	2044

 

To use the chart, first find your date of birth and trace your finger to the top of the column to find your orientation. For example if you are a man born in 1949, your orientation is northwest. Therefor, your front door should be placed northwest.

This also means that the important areas of the house (e.g. the bedrooms and living rooms) should be placed with reference to the recommended orientation, and the unimportant areas (the kitchen and toilets) should be located away from the recommended orientation. The geomancer considers the bedroom, living room, dining room and storage (or safe) as areas that can benefit from the qi of the earth. (Geomancers believe thta qi, in fact, centres in the dining area.) The toilets and kitchen cannot benefit from qi, and if wrongly placed, may exert si qi or dead qi, and affect the feng shui of the entire house.

Although many geomancers decide the orientation of the front door using the chart above, other geomancers ust the time of birth rather than the year of birth as a reference.

Animal Symbol Related to Time of Birth.	Hour of Birth	Orientation
Dragon	7am - 9am	ESE
Snake	9am - 11am	SSE
Horse	11am - 1pm	S
Sheep	1pm - 3pm	SSW
Monkey	3pm - 5pm	WSW
Cock	5pm - 7pm	W
Dog	7pm - 9pm	WNW
Pig	9pm - 11pm	NNW
Rat	11pm - 1am	N
Ox	1am - 3am	NNE
Tiger	3am - 5am	ENE
Rabbit	5am - 7am	E

For example, people who are born in the time of the dragon (7am - 9am), should place their front door toward east-southeast.

 

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