SYMBOLIC ANIMALS

In addition to all the others factors involved in Feng Shui there are aspects of astrology and astronomy involved. Four terms derived from Chinese astronomy are used in Feng Shui, being placed at the points of the compass. These 4 animals, the tortoise (turtle), the phoenix (bird), the dragon and the tiger are also associated with directions as applied to a house and with the seasons. Each animals (often called a celestial animal) has particular associations in terms of charater and emotions. 

These animal symbols are used to assess the Feng Shui of a house with respect to its position. When a house faces south, into the realm of the red phoenix, then the terms front, back, etc coincide with the compass directions, looking out of the house to the south means you are also facing away from the front.

Leaving your house to go into the realm of the red bird is supposed to bring good luck and good fortune. In China it is common practice for people to seek a house that is either south or south-east facing. This is an auspicious set-up as it allows into the house the good fortune of the bird (for south facing) and in addition the wisdom of the dragon (for south-east facing). In front of the house, the ground should gently fall away. If the drop is too step then it is believed the red bird will ‘fall off’, thus adversely affecting your fortune.

With the configuration in mind, the back of the house would be the area of the black tortoise or turtle. This is the area of mystery, but can perhaps be more logically interpreted as the realm of private matters, including marriage and family concerns.

To the east ideally there should be hills of the green dragon representing good luck and also hope. To the west is the realm of the white tiger. The land to the west should be flat. Anything else may generate bad luck – hills will mean that the white tiger will be strong with an abundance of the characteristics listed above. This could lead to difficulties in your personal life. If the ground to the west rapidly slopes away, the tiger’s influence will be minimal and this can lead to an existence without interest or any excitement. This is the ideal situation but since this is out of reach for most of us, the Feng Shui of our home interior is important in counter-acting any negative aspects outside. 

The symbolic animals are also used with reference to the walls of the house and the directions in which they face. In a house facing south, the entrance wall is attributed to the bird (compass direction south) but the interior wall facing the entrance is also designated by the bird. However, the outside of that same wall is the realm of the tortoise because it faces north. By the same token, the other walls can be attributed to the other animals, each being allocated one internal and one external wall dependent upon the direction of facing.

Thus, from the perspective, the best configuration for a house is where the four symbolic animals can be discerned in the outlines of the scenery round about the site. The dragon is regarded as the most important and at the very least it is hoped that a hill to the east can be taken to represent the green dragon. When one of the four animals can be identified in the scenery, then the directions of the other three can obviously be established, even I there are no physical signs of them.