Apart from the "high peaked," "low and overshadowed," "haunted by noxious spirits," and "odd shaped" sites mentioned in the previous chapters, there are many other places that are inauspicious and thus unsuitable for building homes. In selecting a site, it is essential that one consults with an expert feng shui master and invites him or her to give the place a thorough reading.

In places where the soil is predominantly sandy, the building of homes is not advised. Earth chi dissipates quickly in sand, therefore such places lack an abundance of earth chi.

One may also rule out rocky ground because earth chi also dissipates quickly there. Without a nurturing chi, such sites can cause more harm than good.

A soil with good earth chi is one that is half way between clay and ordinary soil. There should be enough cohesiveness in the soil for it to form a clump when held and clenched in a fist.

It is also best if the rear of the lot is slightly more elevated than the front. Such a geographical feature indicates the presence of a "back support" as well as having a "proper receptacle" for receiving the converging earth chi. Houses on such sites are sitting properly on "chairs" provided by the great earth.

Before constructing the house, one should inspect the right and left sides of the site for any geographical "arm rests." "Arm rests" represent "guards" as well as "benefactors," and they also symbolize the "storing and accumulation of chi," indicating that help would come in many forms.

A desirable front view from the house should consist of a wide vista that is flat or sloping slightly forward, as long as there are no broken cliffs or deep hollows. It is even better if the vista includes a scenic lake in the distance. Having other houses situated right across from one's house is fine as long as one's front door does not directly face the corner of any house.

Actually, the four major rules for selecting a tomb site may also be applied to the selection of a residence. These are: "having a back support," "having an armrest on the left and right sides," "having a 'reflective' body of water in the front," and "having an island in the water." These four principles for selecting a "yin abode" [for the deceased] are the same as for selecting a "yang abode" [for the living].

Building sites in cities are generally quite flat, but by observing the direction of the flow of rivers or other water courses, one may determine which spot is more elevated and which is lower. Pay attention to the cohesiveness of the soil. Scan buildings on both sides to see if they are neat and pleasing to the eye and whether they would enhance one's house. Take into consideration if there would be any front view obstruction after the house is completed. As one plans to live for a long time in a custom built home on a selected site, a beautiful view day-in, day-out helps to soothe one's mind.

On the other hand, if the front view is a garbage dump, an electrical pole, a corner of somebody's house, or a chicken farm, it may create obstructions and unpleasantness in the atmosphere, and cause roadblocks in the emotional well-being of the whole family. The earth chi also may be destroyed if one grows vegetables or other crops in front of the house, decides to dig a manure pit in front, and uses chicken manure stored in the pit to fertilize the plants. One should be wary of and pay particular attention to these other features, which also have great bearing on the earth chi: a garbage incinerator in front, an approach road that runs into the front of the house, a chimney in front of the house, and temples in front or behind the house.

Before purchasing a site, one needs to find out about the history of the land. Paddy fields, dry farmlands, woods, farms, factories, pastures, roads, and grasslands are auspicious. Sites after fire disasters, hundred year old houses, execution grounds, cemeteries, temples, hospitals, crematoriums, isolated tomb sites, and historical monuments are inauspicious for building homes.

If one wants to build a home on land where there has been a chicken farm, livestock ranch, or pig farm, one must first dig up fifty centimeters of the top soil and replace it with clean earth. Once this is done, the land will be all right.

If one must build a home on land occupied by noxious spirits, one should avert future obstacles by first making peace with the spirits and having the land cleansed. Buddhist monks or nuns may be invited to chant sutras to help deliver the spirits and pray for peacefulness.

When I, Living Buddha Lian-sheng, do feng shui readings for residences, I always first inspect the land before the house itself. This is to study the overall earth energy. If the overall energy is vigorous, people living there will definitely prosper. If the overall energy is weak, the luck of the occupants will definitely go downhill. Big houses should be paired with strong earth chi, while small houses must be paired with earth chi that matches the smaller size.

Building a small house on land with great earth energy is a waste. Building a grand home on land with weak earth energy is to invite decline.

Another factor to consider is that, in urban areas, roads radiate in all directions. Cars speeding on the roads also contribute to the overall atmosphere of the environment. Some roads are straight while others are winding and zigzaging.

Straight roads can cause the problem of "an oncoming charge of chi." Winding roads can create "a convex situation" specific to curves.

It is best to avoid building homes on sites that are charged by oncoming roads or on the convex side or outside of a curve. I shall explain these factors in detail in a later chapter. (A site facing an oncoming road may be used for the building of a police station, civic hall, or temple.)

I am aware that, to this day, some people still regard feng shui as mere superstition. The truth is, feng shui is not superstition, but rather the study of the environment at a profound level. A beautiful environment naturally leads to beautifying the mind and spirit. When one's mind and spirit are in peace and harmony, one will succeed in one's endeavors. After all, when Mencius [a sage and student of Confucius] was a child, his mother relocated their household three times, just so she could find a perfect and beautiful environment to raise him.

What this chapter consists of are of course only the most basic principles in selecting a home site. There are many detailed and more profound principles that I will go into in the future, as the opportunities arise. It is my hope that this book will provide a clear introduction of feng shui to the readers.

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