FENG SHUI OF HUTONG ALLEYWAYS AND SIHEYUAN HOUSES, BEIJING, CHINA
 |
| EXAMPLE OF A HUTONG HOUSE IN CHINA |
If you pay Beijing City a visit in China, remember to grab the opportunity to take a tour through the famous Hutong alleyways that connects the ancient residential houses known as Siheyuan. A Hutong is an alleyway formed by Siheyuan houses. A Siheyuan (Chinese: 四合院 which means Four Harmonious Courtyard) is a historical type of residence that was commonly found throughout China, most famously in Beijing. In English, Siheyuan are sometimes referred to as Chinese quadrangles. The name literally means a courtyard surrounded by four buildings. In ancient times, a spacious Siheyuan would be occupied by a single, usually large and extended family, signifying wealth and prosperity. Today, many remaining Siheyuan are still used as housing complexes, but many lack modern amenities.
During China’s dynastic period, emperors planned the city of Beijing and arranged the residential areas according to the social classes of the Zhou Dynasty. The term "hutong", originally meaning "water wells", appeared first during the Yuan Dynasty.
Since the mid-20th century, the number of Beijing Hutong Villages has dropped dramatically as they were demolished to make way for new roads and buildings. The Chinese government had then pronounced a lot of Hutong Villages as protected areas.
A Siheyuan residential house is surrounded by four parts of buildings that link each other, forming a square with an empty space at the middle. What is the reason behind this unique formation of buildings that form one single residential house?
Master Tham explained that these ancient residential houses were built and designed in square shapes which face 4 different directions and there are a lot of Feng Shui reasons behind this unique architecture. Each residential building in a Siheyuan house have their own Feng Shui properties. There are a lot of Feng Shui theories about the architecture of a Siheyuan residential house. Master Tham will now explain further about the Feng Shui of Siheyuan residential houses through the true perspective of Feng Shui.
 |
| A BIRDS EYE VIEW OF A HUTONG HOUSE |
SIHEYUAN HOUSES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS
Siheyuan houses hold one of the oldest and ancient Chinese architectures in the world. Nearly all Siheyuan had their main buildings and gates facing south for better lighting and to avoid the Northern Cold Wind; thus a majority of hutongs run from east to west. Between the main Hutongs, many tiny lanes ran north and south for convenient passage. The widths of ordinary pathways are around 24 steps wide while narrow Hutongs are only about 12 steps wide. Inside each of these houses, there are no open air spaces except at the middle of all the residential house where an empty square area was completely exposed to the sky. This exposed area is normally used as a garden and the residents will come out to have family activities such as drinking tea and talk with the family members, or playing with their children. Each main door of these ancient Siheyuan holds the signboard that tells people the family who are currently occupying the residential house. Most of the signboards are fitted with family surnames.
Master Tham took a deep breath and said, ‘When Beijing starts to develop, a lot people started to demolish these ancient Siheyuans and Hutongs to build big roads and buildings. The ordinary Feng Shui properties were crushed and most of the ancient architectural characteristics were disrupted. Old Hutong Alleyways were widen up for car transportation and had been replaced by tar roads while old buildings with Feng Shui structures had been torn down for the development of new buildings. Nowadays, there are very little Hutongs and Siheyuan houses left in Beijing, so few that the government started to pronounce them as protected areas. These houses and alleyways are inter-connected to form a good Feng Shui property and they features how Feng Shui is widely practiced and implemented by the ancient people of China.
 |
| INTERNATIONAL FENG SHUI MASTER THAM IN HUTONG, BEIJING |
FENG SHUI OF HUTONGS AND SIHEYUAN IN ARCHITECTURAL PERCEPTION
The Siheyuan houses are compactly arranged together and the back side of the Siheyuan is very narrow, full of other houses. The Main door is connected by the wide main road. Narrow and compacted housing is presumed to have bad Feng Shui. However, these Siheyuan houses are seperated by Hutongs and thus, creating small spaces between each houses. Master Tham explained that the main road is very wide and this architectural design had changed the Feng Shui of Siheyuans and Hutongs completely. Master Tham added that houses that are compacted but have a wide and low main road is good as this enables good Chi flow to enter each residential house.
IMPORTANCE OF HUTONG ALLEYWAYS
 |
| CHI FLOWS THROUGH ALLEYWAYS |
Hutong Alleyways normally have small drains at their sides, connecting each other Hutongs and the main road. The Hutong Alleyways is very important in destining the Feng Shui of a Siheyuan residential area. They are built with the advice of great Feng Shui masters that forms the arrangement accordingly to Feng Shui principles. A single renovation on a Hutong alleyway is capable in disrupting the good Feng Shui of the entire area. This is because the flow of Chi is disrupted and will not be able to harmonize each other as it flow through the main road and into the other pathways.
IMPORTANCE OF OPEN SPACE FENG SHUI
In ancient times, there is definitely an open space area in any type of residential buildings. The open space was carefully designed according to Feng Shui principles to allow rain water to water the plans and trees which gave out strong positive energy to the occupants. Rain that falls in the evenings had Yin Properties that brings comfort and peace to the occupants. Master Tham explained that open airs enables sunlight to enter each residential house. The sunlight had Yang Chi properties that will bring good luck and signifies success as they shine into the residential houses – into the rooms of the occupants. Therefore, a Siheyuan has very good Feng Shui if the middle of the Siheyuan is exposed to sunlight and rain as both Yin and Yang energies are able to balance up each other. This produce an extremely comfortable and peaceful environment with good Feng Shui features that will bring good luck, success, happiness, and peace to the occupants. This is the reason why Master Tham always advise his clients that each empty land should not be always covered with concrete, but to be filled with suitable plants.
 |
| A SQUARE GARDEN AT THE CENTRE OF HUTONG |
THE FENG SHUI GARDEN
The open space area is supposed to be built into a garden in order to utilize the maximum potential of open space Feng Shui. Master Tham said ‘In an open space area, it is best to build a garden there instead of covering it with concrete. Plants can produce Living Chi if planted correctly and if the open space location is suitable.’ Master Tham added that a Feng Shui garden is able to hold the Yin energies to balance up the Yang energies during the day. A garden with Feng Shui properties can bring harmony and peace to the occupants. Suitable plants needed to be taken into consideration before planting them in the garden. Master Tham said that bamboo trees are suitable to be planted in Siheyuan gardens.
 |
| INTERNATIONAL FENG SHUI MASTER THAM TAKING A REST AFTER INSPECTING FENG SHUI IN A HUTONG HOUSE. |
Master Tham would like to remind everyone that Feng Shui is not to be judged through the matter of just the building’s architectural properties and geographical features, but the environmental factors, compatibility of occupants such as date of births and their horoscopes must be taken into consideration as well. Therefore, different locations of Siheyuans have different Feng Shui. Master Tham said that during winter, the North Wind will come. The back side of the Siheyuan is usually higher than the other sides so that it will be able to put up a good resistance against the North Wind from gushing into the open space at the middle of the quadrangular residential house. This enables the good and harmonized Chi that was accumulated in the middle of the Siheyuan to be entrapped and maintain in the residential house. Master Tham also said that the outer parts of the Siheyuan should be planted with flowers and not covered with concrete.
 |
| DESCENDANTS OF A PARTICULAR FAMILY STAY AT HUTONGS FOR GENERATIONS |
A RESIDENTIAL HOUSE FOR DESCENDANTS
Descendants of a particular family used to stay together at these huge Siheyuan houses. A particular family will stay in the Siheyuan for generations and enjoy the good Feng Shui of it if the Feng Shui is good. However, if the Feng Shui is not good or not compatible with the occupants, the descendants will move out, face terrible calamities or grow old with loneliness. In relative to modern society, it is extremely important to consult a genuine and knowledgeable Feng Shui Master with proven records – who have true and genuine testimonials to remedy the Feng Shui of your house. Master Tham would like to remind all readers that Feng Shui is not something that you can master by just reading books or attending classes. One needed to learn it from a true Master who accepted him as his trusted disciple, learn it correctly from the correct source, practice it for years correctly, able to observe and investigate every Feng Shui properties, make research on all Feng Shui subjects and principles, and must have proof and testimonials to support his findings and services. Only then, one could be a Feng Shui Master who is able to serve the others.
Think carefully before you engage a Feng Shui Master. Many people who claim themselves as Feng Shui Masters normally likes to boast with their Feng Shui theories and diagrams but never had true and genuine testimonials from their successful clients.Therefore, make sure you don’t fall into their traps.
FENG SHUI OF LIU HE PAGODA (SIX HARMONIES PAGODA), HANGZHOU, CHINA
The Liu He Pagoda which was also known as the Six Harmonies Pagoda is a Chinese Pagoda with seven interior stories. It was built on a peaceful spot facing the Qiantang River at the foot of Yuenlun Hill in Southern Hanzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
The pagoda has an octagonal shape with a door on all the eight directions. Its height is estimated to be 60 metres. The pagoda has only seven stories but from the outside, it looks like as if it has 13 stories. There is a spiral staircase leading to the top floor and upon each of the seven ceilings are carved and painted figures including animals, flowers, birds and characters. Each story of the pagoda consists of four elements, the exterior walls, a zigzagged corridor, the interior walls and a small chamber.
The pagoda was burnt down at least 14 times for various reasons and was almost completely destroyed during warfare in 1211. Film stars Hang Nai, Zhau Dan, Lang Yue and Du Xiao had their marriage here and all of them ended up in a divorce.
The pagoda is one of the most famous pagodas in mainland China and was placed under China’s protection in 1961, attempting to turn it into a place of interest for tourists. The scenery around the pagoda is very fascinating – having lush trees, a crystal clear river, blooming colorful flowers, twittering birds flying around and full of fluttering butterflies. Having these great and amazing qualities, this pagoda is supposed to be crowded with tourists. However, this supposed-to-be famous tourist spot was often deserted. It does not attract tourists and its name is not often included in the tourism itineraries. Tourist buses which pass by this fantastic pagoda don’t even bother to stop for a while to visit it. Instead, the tour guides will just briefly explain to the tourists about this pagoda. Why is this happening to this fantastic pagoda?
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PLACE OF GOOD FENG SHUI BUT WHY IS IT DESERTED UNTILL TODAY?
To answer this question, Master Tham travelled all the way to Han Zhou to disclose the mysteries of Feng Shui hidden behind this pagoda. He woke up as early as six in the morning to pay this particular pagoda a visit. He was fascinated by the natural beauty of the location. However, he was surprised by the ambience of it, peaceful yet ‘lonely’. He took out his Luo Pan and begin examining the Feng Shui throughout the area. Finally, with his years of experience in the Feng Shui field, he found out that each angle of the doors were wrongly constructed and will eventually unable to absorb the good Chi.
THE DOORS WERE WRONGLY CONSTRUCTED
The main door was built wrongly at the front of the pagoda. They changed the door, using the bad door as the main entrance into the pagoda. They even closed the old entrance. However, that will not increase the positive Chi to attract any tourists to this place. The correct position of the door should be at the back. The front door is facing a killing Chi and it is very inauspicious. Anyone who entered the pagoda will feel like going away. Master Tham later found out that there was a pond with a shape of a half-moon was also built wrongly behind the pagoda. According to him, the pond is supposed to be a Feng Shui enhancer which brings good Feng Shui for the pagoda. He could not understand why they construct the pagoda facing the front as they are having good Feng Shui at the back. He said that if the main door is opened at the back, the pagoda will then be crowded by tourists, becoming more and more famous and move ‘lively’.
In order to enhance the Feng Shui of the Pagoda, some changes needed to be done to the building. The door, some exterior landscaping, and interior features have to be changed as well.
 |
| INTERNATIONAL FENG SHUI MASTER THAM AT THE ENTRANCE OF SUN YAT SEN MAUSOLEUM, NANJING. |
Sun Yat Sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun Yat Sen is frequently referred to as the Founding Father of Republican China.
The Sun Yat Sen Mausoleum is located at the second peak of Mount Zijin (also known as purple mountain) in Nanjing, China. The Mausoleum has traditional imperial tombs and modern architecture. Lying at the mountainside, the vault is more than 700 hundred meters away from the Archway (Pai Fang in Mandarin), which is the entrance of the mausoleum. There is a three-tier stone stand on which a huge bronze ding, an ancient Chinese vessel symbolizing power, perches.
There is a sacrificial hall in the mausoleum. In front of the sacrificial hall there stands a pair of ancient Chinese ornamental columns, which are estimated to be 12 meters high. The sacrificial hall is actually a palace of 30 meters in length, 25 meters in width and 29 meters in height. In the center of the hall a 4.6-meter-high statue of Dr. Sun sits. The statue was sculptured out of Italian white marble. The hall's ceiling features the flag of the Kuomintang. Biographical information on Dr. Sun is available to visitors in the hall. North of the hall lies the bell-shaped vault, wherein the sarcophagus (the coffin and body) of Sun Yat Sen.
DOES SUN YAT SEN’S MAUSOLEUM HAS GOOD FENG SHUI DESPITE HAVING FANTASTIC SCENERIES?
The mausoleum is surrounded by high and beautiful mountains. There were trees specially planted along the pathway from the Archway (Pai Fang) towards the Mausoleum. Behind the Mausoleum stood a huge mountain where most of the people think to be a Kau Shan (supportive mountain). Most people will think that the Feng Shui of this Mausoleum is very good because of these factors.
International Feng Shui Master Tham said, ‘Generally, when there is good Feng Shui, there will be good scenery. However, this doesn’t mean that if there is good scenery, the Feng Shui of the particular place will be good.’ Frequent misconceptions about this are the reason why a lot of people don’t realize why bad omens keep happening even though the scenery looks beautiful and nice. Sun Yat Sen’s Mausoleum has fantastic scenery.
Sun Yat Sen, a brilliant and intelligent man finds himself a Feng Shui master to locate the best Feng Shui location for his own Mausoleum. The Feng Shui master chose this location at Nanjing which is also the location where two of China’s first Emperors were buried - also in Nanjing.
Master Tham said, ‘This great political leader (Sun Yat Sen) had saved and changed China but unfortunately, the Feng Shui of his own burial place (The Mausoleum) was done wrongly.’ Master Tham explained that this is the reason why his descendants were not so outstanding.
Although there are a lot of Kau Shan (supportive Mountains), it does not mean the Feng Shui of the mausoleum is good. The coffin was placed at the wrong sector with a wrong direction. Master Tham went to Nanjing to meet with one of his clients and grab the opportunity to investigate the Feng Shui of Sun Yat Sen’s Mausoleum. Master Tham did a through investigation of the Mausoleum. He climbed the flight of stairs until he reached the peak of the mausoleum and he saw layers of mountains. Finally, he concluded that mausoleum had a bad Feng Shui after spending hours investigating the Feng Shui there. Master Tham reminded the readers that any type of burial places at the top of a mountain is not necessary good. In Feng Shui, there are no fixed laws and a lot Feng Shui aspects had to be taken into consideration before determining whether the Feng Shui of a particular place’s Feng Shui is good or bad. This is because the surroundings are different and the geographical layout, building and birth dates are different for each individual. Feng Shui also needed to be tailored according to each different individuals.
KAU SHAN (SUPPORTIVE MOUTAINS) THAT ARE PRESENT UNABLE TO SUPPORT THE MAUSOLEUM’S FENG SHUI
Mountains formed million of years ago behind the Mausoleum were formally the Kau Shan (supportive mountains) of the mausoleum that will entraps good Chi flow for the Mausoleum. Unfortunately, there was a river formed behind the Mausoleum where the water cuts off the good Feng Shui of the Kau Shan. More over, the river acts like a transport, taking away the good and lively Chi that was entrapped at the back of the mountain. As a consequence, the mausoleum will not be able to receive good Chi flow. This causes the Kuomintang to lose its authority and Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s descendants are not outstanding.
BAD LOCATION OF THE MAUSOLEUM
The Mausoleum was built at the peak of the mountain where it is over exposed directly to rain (water), wind (air), and heat (sun) in all directions. If there are bad Feng Shui features and there is nothing much to protect the Mausoleum and the tomb, what is going to be beneficial to the descendants and the future generations? Based on its surrounding landscaping, Master Tham also pointed out that if the mausoleum was built at the middle part of the mountain, the Feng Shui of the mausoleum will be much better. The future generation of Sun Yet Sun’s descendants will become more outstanding and will have the chance to continue the glory of their ancestors.
THE TOMB OF SUN YAT SEN
WEALTH CHI FLOWING OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN EXTREMELY FAST
The Mausoleum is situated too high. When the water flows down from the mountain, it flows too fast without being gathered together at one spot. Literally, it is like wealth flowing away from the mountain. This is another reason why the descendants of Sun Yat Sen do not prosper well.
MAIN ENTRANCE WAS SITUATED WRONGLY
The main entrance of the mausoleum which is an Archway (Pai Fang in Mandarin) has a bad Feng Shui. This is another factor why the descendants of Sun Yat Sen are not outstanding. The main entrance plays a vital role for the effectiveness of Feng Shui. If you have to change the Feng Shui of the main entrance, other aspects have to be taken into consideration as well. Master Tham said, ‘It was a waste that Sun Yat Sen who contributed so many to the country of China yet, he could not find a genuine, good and true Feng Shui Master because :-
1) In ancient China, the emperors were scared that someone would take away their throne by using the power of Feng Shui so they ordered fake Feng Shui books to be written down and circulated everywhere around China.
2) During the Qing dynasty and when the Japanese Occupation invaded China, many Feng Shui masters had left China and retired but are unable to get any reliable, trusted and capable students. Many genuine Feng Shui masters had not spread out their knowledge and bring along their valuable knowledge into the coffin when they died due to old age.
A After the studies of Dr. Sun Yat Sun's burial place with improper feng shui theories you will be surprised that the intention of having good feng shui have turn around the other ways which failed to enhance good feng shui for Dr. Sun Yat Sun's ancestors, failing to diversify his off springs and his ancestors does not proper well as expected to be. Therefore, the selection of an experienced and genuine feng shui master is a very serious matter and should not be easily taken for a ride by "any" feng shui master!
A After the studies of Dr. Sun Yat Sun's burial place with improper feng shui theories you will be surprised that the intention of having good feng shui have turn around the other ways which failed to enhance good feng shui for Dr. Sun Yat Sun's ancestors, failing to diversify his off springs and his ancestors does not proper well as expected to be. Therefore, the selection of an experienced and genuine feng shui master is a very serious matter and should not be easily taken for a ride by "any" feng shui master!
3) Nowadays, there are a lot of FAKE Feng Shui Masters disguised in different coatings.
FENG SHUI OF THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, FORBIDDEN CITY BEIJING, CHINA
 |
| INTERNATIONAL FENG SHUI MASTER THAM INVESTIGATES THE FENG SHUI OF TEMPLE OF HEAVEN IN FORBIDDEN CITY DURING HIS BUSINESS TRIP TO CHINA. |
The Temple of Heaven is one of the most famous landmarks in Beijing. Located in the Forbidden City which is the ancient palace of the Chinese Emperors, the temple is like a precious stone in the palace. The Temple of Heaven is also known as the Altar of Heaven. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven is a magnificent triple-gabled circular building, approximately 36 metres in diameter and 38 metres tall, built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests. The building is completely wooden, with no nails. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts more than 3000 visitors everyday.
During the ancient times where China was ruled by Dynasties, the Emperors of China was regarded as the Son of Heaven, who represents and has heavenly authority. In order to pay their respects to the heaven, they made sacrificial ceremonies and prayers to the heaven. The temple was built for these ceremonies, mostly comprising prayers for good harvests.
Twice a year the Emperor and all his retinue would move from the Forbidden city through Beijing to encamp within the complex, wearing special robes and practice vegetarian for the special occasion. They were not allowed to eat meat. Ordinary citizens were not allowed to view this procession or the following ceremony. In the temple complex, the Emperor would personally pray to Heaven for good harvests. The highpoint of the ceremony at the winter solstice was performed by the Emperor on the Earthly Mount. The ceremony had to be perfectly completed as the smallest of mistakes would constitute a bad omen for the whole nation in the coming year. If everything was done correctly, the country will enjoy prosperity and have good agricultural yields. What type of Feng Shui energy in this temple that makes this temple so highly respected by the emperors of China? What are the Feng Shui effects of this unique temple that can contribute to the ancient Chinese? International Feng Shui Master Tham paid this famous temple a visit when he visited Beijing and he will explain to you the unique and complex Feng Shui of this temple. Master Tham said, ‘The temple looks simple but it has a very complicated Feng Shui.’
HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE
According to Master Tham, the temple complex was constructed from in the 15th century during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who built the Imperial Forbidden City Palace in Beijing at the same time. The complex was extended and renamed ‘Temple of Heaven’ during the reign of the Emperor in the 16th century. During the ancient times, the temple was regarded one of the most expensive and grand temples in China. The temple is believed to be a median for humans on Earth to communicate with the heaven. Ancient Chinese philosophers said that the temple’s location is at the centre of the Earth and it is one of the many important medians between Earth and Heaven. The emperors get to receive signs in the form of dreams and meet unexplainable events after praying to the temple. It is said that the Heaven can inform, advice or remind the emperor about something in the form of these signs.
STRUCTURE OF THE TEMPLE ENTRAPS AND RETURNS GOOD CHI FLOW
The interior and exterior of the Temple is built with a square shape at the exterior and a round shape as its interior like this : 回. This shape of 回 is actually a Chinese word which means ‘returning’. Master Tham said that the shape of this ‘returning’ structure is able to receive good Chi flow from outside and above, and entraps the good Chi inside. This is because the direction and geographical condition of the temple is favorable. When the emperor prays for his citizens, the Good Chi Flow can flow outside and reach the citizens. Thus, the ‘回’ shape plays a significant role as it returns the Good Chi flow to the citizens of China.
UNIQUE ECHO FEATURES OF THE TEMPLE AMPLIFIES CHI
Master Tham said, ‘The walls of the temple have a unique feature. The ancient Chinese engineers design and carefully build the walls with two layers so that the walls are thick. The walls are able to produce an echo effect.’ In the temple of heaven, there are three doors. If a bell was rung, you will be able to hear it through the three doors. Those doors and long pathways are built that way so that the echos produced are able to pass through these long pathways.
These echos are able to amplify the good Chi in the temple.
Master Tham also emphasized that the direction and surrounding areas must also be carefully taken into consideration and be determined by the degrees of the Chinese Luopon before its construction.
These echos are able to amplify the good Chi in the temple.
Master Tham also emphasized that the direction and surrounding areas must also be carefully taken into consideration and be determined by the degrees of the Chinese Luopon before its construction.
