Cecil Lee

I believe this question is more for those who are new to Feng Shui. But if you are a `veteran', participate by all means:) General Question Do you believe in Feng Shui? Yes No Not sure Current Results

1. You can now view all the results of the various polls (both current and new polls) at:- http://www.geomancy.net/polls/index.htm 2. Please bookmark the above page so that you can participate in the very informative polls. 3. We will also include the Comments or "Answers" to each poll (where applicable.) Warmest Regards, Cecil

1. There is NO right or wrong answers for this poll. 2. Objective of this poll: It would be interesting to find out how many of us think of this issue. View Current Poll Results [Below, Cross-posted from the Chinese Culture forum] There are two versions to the legend of the Three-legged toad:- 1. A Chinese Immortal Lui Hai was said to live in the era of the Sung dynasty in the province of Shensi. According to legend, he was the general who successfully fought off the Lord Liu (Master of the Sea Toad). To this a statute of Immortal Lui Hai with his three-legged Toad is considered the symbol for money-making. 2. A second version: Legend has it that there was once a Toad which lived in a deep well and emited poisonous vapours. Immortal Lui Hai lured the creature witha string of gold cash and killed it. 3. More: Often one sees the Chinese God of Wealth being carried in a procession (festive occassions) together with an image of the three-legged Toad. The association with the God of Wealth (Tau Pei Kong) linked the three-legged Toad with wealth. Hope the above will help everyone to better understand the `origins' of why so much commercialization went into this Chinese belief. The three toad has now become a commercial object and things link a coin and `jewel' added to its mouth etc... Therefore, one can now clearly understand that there is no direct link between the three-legged toad with Feng Shui. The recommended placement of a three-legged toad is on the same wall as the main entrance (next to it) facing into the house. I am a three-legged toad. Do you believe that I can bring you wealth? Yes, I think so. No, I don't believe it can. Current Results

Dear Anon, 1. Nowadays, with land scarcity, more people go for cremation. 2. The funeral procession remains unchanged till today. Instead of `bringing' the dead or leading him/her to the burial grounds by musicians clanging bells etc..., the dead is lead to the crematoria. 3. Usually a separate ceremony is conducted after the ashes of the dead has been collected. 4. The `dotting' of the eyes on the portrait is less commmon today. Few people follow this, as one would later have to continue `ancestor' worship i.e. place the portrait on an alter in the home. Offer incense etc... and prepare offerings during periods like Cheng Meng etc... 5. Burial sites such as the one shown in the picture (Photo Tours) are carefully chosen by Feng Shui Masters. Usually, the tombstone face the South side of a hill or mountain. If one looks at the side picture of one of the photos (under Photo Tours) you will notice that all the graves face a certain direction i.e. cardinal point South (which stands for Yin side). North by the way stands for Yang or the living side. 6. The land for the above burial site was reclaimed sometime in 1970s. The Singapore estate is now Tampines. I believe some of the public housing at Tampines Town, stands on the previous grave of my grand father. 7. As for the burning of paper houses, cars and `Hell money' (printed paper money) offered to the dead. Nowadays, many do not go to the extend of burning the offerings of model paper houses and cars. However, many still burn `gold' paper or `Hell notes' as these are easy to buy and burn. I remembered each time during Cheng Meng, (date to remember the date) we would help to fold these `gold' notes into the shape of Chinese gold ingots and place them in huge baskets to be burnted later. Nowadays, if one does that even in one's backyard, and if there is a complain from neighbours, the police will come after us. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, 1. A symbol of a pair of Mandarin Ducks symbolises marital bliss. It synifies harmonious marriages. 2. When a reed is included in a picture of a Mandarin Duck, this sigifies " May you do well in examinations. " 3. If we drawn a Lotus flower together with a Mandarin duck, this symbolises purity. 4. If a peony flower is drawn together with a pair of Mandarin duck this synifies wealth in a marriage. 5. Chinese peasants in the past, often sew the motif of a mandarin duck e.g. on their pillow cases. 6. In a Buddhist ritual, the duck which is called Ya is the equivalent of another phonetic sounding word Ya, which implies supressing evil. In Taiwan, in the past, it is common to slaughter a black duck (not mandarin duck) on Chinese New Year's eve. The blood of the duck is dripped onto a piece of paper tiger. The paper tiger is then burned at city gates to rid the town of all evil influences for the year. Under `kindergarden' Feng Shui, (Eight Aspirations concept) some Feng Shui practitioners advise one to place a pair of mandarin ducks at the `relationship' corner. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, This is an interesting question. I believe, today, we do live longer thanks to modern science. Not only for the Chinese but mankind all over the world. If we talk specifically about useful Chinese practises that help one to prolong life, these include:- 1. Using a pair of Chop sticks Hey! What has Chop sticks got to do with health? One comment is that because one use a chop stick to pick food and eat it, one is thus forced to eat smaller pieces of food. I believe this has been `documented' or highlighted as a good practice. 2. Traditionally, Chinese food is very healthy It depends on the region one is in but overall traditional Chinese food is healthy. Not like today, where deserts were introduced to Chinese 10 course dinners that we tend to eat especially wedding dinners. 3. Healthy exercise My grand mother practises daily exercises based on Qi-gong. As one can see, there is the " Qi " in the word Qi-gong. It is a simple exercise to stimulate one's Qi. We come across Qi for the home many times in Feng Shui discussions and to the Chinese, Qi does play an important part for the person also. Expert Qi-gong practioners can even concentrate Qi to parts of their bodies e.g. to their palm. This is documented as it shows up in infra-red camera photo shots. There are more but the above are what I believe essentially the most important considerations. Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, The Chinese do not differentiate between the frog and the toad. Toads and frogs are commonly found in agricultural locations in China e.g. in padi fields. Chinese use the frog as medicine and for dieting. The rational is because of the shiny surface of the frog which the Chinese call it the dew of heaven. The frog is also called the heavenly chicken. (Toads are left out of this picture because they are poisonous. I am glad that you asked for the `story' of the Three-legged toad. It will help many users understand why the Three-legged toad became a `commercial object'. There are two versions to the story:- 1. A Chinese Immortal Lui Hai was said to live in the era of the Sung dynasty in the province of Shensi. According to legend, he was the generAl who successfully fought off the Lord Liu (Master of the Sea Toad). To this a statute of Immortal Lui Hai with his three-legged Toad is considered the symbol for money-making. 2. A second version: Legend has it that there was once a Toad which lived in a deep well and emited poisonous vapours. Immortal Lui Hai lured the creature witha string of gold cash and killed it. 3. More: Often one sees the Chinese God of Wealth being carried in a procession (festive occassions) together with an image of the three-legged Toad. The association with the God of Wealth (Tau Pei Kong) linked the three-legged Toad with wealth. Hope the above will help everyone to better understand the `origins' of why so much commercialization went into this Chinese belief. The three toad has now become a commercial object and things link a coin and `jewel' added to its mouth etc... Therefore, one can now clearly understand that there is no direct link of the three-legged toad with Feng Shui. Warmest Regards, Cecil [Below, Cross-posted from Edu-Polls conference] 1. There is no right or wrong answers for this poll. 2. It would be interesting to find out how many of us think of this issue. Chinese Culture: The Three legged toad I am a three-legged toad. Do you believe that I can bring you wealth? Yes, I think so. No, I don't believe it can. Current Results

Dear Anon, We have not forgotten your valuable comments on the black color background for the daily forecast. You will be pleased to know that not only has the black colour background (with stars) being replaced but Robert has placed the forecast in a readable table format. We promise lots of improvements coming soon and the new generation site will have lots of dynamic modules plus interactivity! Being one of the pioneer Feng Shui sites, we have certainly come along way. Will continue to set high standards in integrity and being a reliable and relevant site. Warmest Regards, Cecil P.S. Do note that although we do not reply to some of the messages under the Wish List, all feedback and especially suggestions will continously be in our minds. Once we find that your idea is feasible we will implement and update the message forum with the progress.

Dear Anon, I have now enabled the Mailing List feature for the conference: Photo Tours with Interest. One needs to go to the Mailing List option to subscribe to it and other new conferences that are recently introduced. For example, the Fun Edu-Polls conference. Presently, only the message will be sent thru the mailing list. The attachments will not be sent. The advantage here is that one will know that there is a new message posted in this conference, and at a later date, login to see them. Warmest Regards, Cecil

The picture shows a typical Chinese building roof in the 1940's. Although the roof is not as elaborate as temple roofs but it shares a similar design as many traditional building roofs. Warmest Regards, Cecil

1. This picture shows the frontage of a Chinese rest house cum restaurant or shall we call it a motel, in Singapore in the 1940's. 2. It is interesting to see my father, on the right and a family member in the clothing of that period. Warmest Regards, Cecil

1. This picture shows a circular entrance to Chinese gardens. This picture was taken around 1930's. 2. Nowadays, it is rare to find these entrances other than at tourist spots. 3. The picture shows my grandfather and grandmother. By the way, my grand mother is wearing a Cheong sam dress. 4. If you look carefully in some of the family photos, under the topic: Chinese culture: What is the Cheong sam dress? you should spot my grandmother in some of these pictures. Warmest Regards, Cecil

1. This picture shows a retail company of the early 1930's. 2. Usually the shop occupy two levels and looks quite dark. 3. If you notice carefully, there is a a display at the frontage of the shop. I believe this shop is selling crockery or porcelain ware. 4. Notice that some of the workers are wearing singlets and working at their desks. 5. Today, many such companies have become wholesalers or sole agents for certain products. There are some which failed and closed down. In Singapore, it can be quite hot especially if there is no fan. (Air-con was not invented then). How fortunate we are today with proper lighting and (aircon)! Warmest Regards, Cecil

Picture of a bungalow house built around 1920's.

[Family photos showing clothings worn during 1930s to 1940s.] 1. Under the second picture 2, casual dressing of the elderly, you can see the picture of my great grandmother on the right of the picture. In the past, it is very auspicious for one to be carried or even see your great grandmother alive! I am fortunate to do so. But she died a few years after I was born i.e. around age 3 years old. The reason why it is common to have the opportunity to `see' one's great great grandmother was because of early marriages and naturally early births. Nowadays, with people marrying late, one is lucky if one sees one's grand father! But few if ever would get to see their great great grandfather or more likely grandmother. In the past, marriages were arranged immediately after one was born. One even can get married at 12 years old! In Singapore, it is illegal for sex or marriage with a child below 16 years old. So this traditional practice cannot be continued today. 2. Picture of Nonya or Baba lady The picture on the extreme left is an unidentified lady wearing a typical nonya or baba dressing. Who are the nonyas or baba? Please refer to the picture: nonya.jpg under the attachment below. (Available only under the web forum. In Singapore, Malaysia (especially the state of Malacca) there were often mixed cultural marriages between the Chinese (imigrants) and the local Malays. This intermarriage created a group of people known as the Baba Chinese or Nonya Chinese. The difference between these Chinese is that their language is a `mix' of both Chinese and Malay. Many of these Chinese speak Malay rather than Chinese. It is also very common to live in an extended family i.e. the entire family members from Great grand father to the young of their great grand child.

1. Enclosed please find a picture (around 1940's) of a nine storey high pagoda. 2. This picture was taken at the Har Par Villa, a Singapore attaction. The attraction has recently been commercialised and still around. 3. Typical pagodas have odd number storeys. For example, 5 storeys, 7 storeys, 9 storeys etc... 4. In the past, the pagoda is built on top of ley lines or water courses. It is a known fact that water faults do cause problems. To find out more, go to this url: http://www.geomancy.net/fs/under.htm Warmest Regards, Cecil

[Archive: Family Photos : 1930's to 1940's] What is the Cheong sam? 1. The Cheong sam is a dress worn by women. (Usually, the middle and upper class). 2. The beauty of the Cheong sam is that it allows a women to `show off' their figure! 3. To this day, it is still continued to be worn by many women for formal occassions e.g. wedding dinners and other functions. Is the Cheong sam comfortable to be worn? 1. Sorry, I am not a lady so cannot truely comment. 2. I understand that you as it is tight fitting, you really and I mean really must have the figure to wear it else it may be quite uncomfortable. Can the Cheong sam be worn by the young (young ladies) and the old)? Yes, provided you still have that `sexy' figure and would like to flaunt it! In some of the pictures, (for example, my grand mother who is seated on the extreme right at the front row of the second picture attachment below). It is common to see shapely `elderly' ladies, wearing the cheong sam. They do have the figure indeed. For those who log in to the web forum, you can view quite a few pictures from my private family collection. I believe the pictures are taken around 1930s to 1940s. Warmest Regards, Cecil

By how, after having seen the earlier wedding photos under this forum, I believe it is not difficult for you to recognise the double happiness symbol. This photograph is the wedding photograph of my grandfather and grandmother. My grandmother is now over 90 years old and staying with my auntie (my father's only sister in Brisbane, Australia). In Chinese weddings, you will also notice that flowers are abundant like any other weddings around the world. A second wedding photo (undated) is another (unidentifid wedding couple. One interesting thing to note is the carpet they are standing on. At the centre of the picture: It looks like two peacocks facing each other. Warmest Regards, Cecil

In this last part of the Chinese ceremony: 1. Home prayers are conducted by a Taoist priest. In the first picture, if you look carefully in one of the pictures, you will see that the man (wearing a white shirt) has a square piece of cloth held by a pin on his left short sleeeve of his shirt. Traditionally, Chinese wear a piece of square cloth on their clothing and the colour of the cloth deplicts the relationship with the dead. The piece of square cloth is worn during the period of mourning. During the mourning period, family members must not wear colourful clothings but white or black clothings. Notice also in the first picture that family members are wearing the straw dress during the ceremony. Notice also that they are carrying straw (beige or white) lanterns. These lanterns are used mainly for funeral purposes. Contrast this to lanterns of similar shape but in Red colour. Red coloured lanterns are for the living and commonly placed inside the homes (especially in the past when there is no electricity. Nowadays, a pair of red lanterns are commonly found on each side e.g. outside the main entrance. Colours such as red or bright colours cannot be worn. If so, this is disrespectful to the dead. 2. Elaborate paper homes and lantern are displayed and later burned. Paper `money', paper cars etc.. are also offered to the dead. In the hope that he can use it in his after life. Nowadays, even paper handphones, paper hifi equipment, paper television sets and even paper credit cards are burned. In the hope that the dead can make use of it. 3. Finally, in some of the pictures you can the profile of the gravesite which is in the shape of a Horse shoe. Symbollically, the horse shoe design of the gravesite is that the horse shoe shape acts like a solid backing for the back of the grave. This is identical to the Four Symbolic Animals for Yang Feng Shui. In this case, Yin or Feng Shui of the dead also provides for a solid backing for the gravesite. Warmest Regards, Cecil

On reaching the gravesite, 1. The coffin is lowered. The first picture (lowering of coffin) shows clearly the profile of the front shape of a typical traditional Chinese coffin. For the bedroom, it is not auspicious to have a headboard that looks like this side view of a Chinese coffin. 2. The next step is as shown in Part 1, the dotting of the eyes of the portrait of the dead. 3. A ceremony is performed prior to the lowering and covering up of the coffin. If you logged in to the forum, please click on the attached photo views. Warmest Regards, Cecil

I like to share with everyone my family photos on the burial cremony of my grandfather. Date of pictures 1962 In Part 1, you will see:- 1. The burial procession It starts with the funeral procession starting from my grand father's uncompleted extension to the home. The funeral procession will lead to the burial site. 2. An interesting ceremony of `placing' eyes to the portrait of my grand father. The portrait will be placed at home at an alter. This is commonly called Ancestor Worship. Dotting the eyes would ensure that the dead have eyes so that he can `see'. The picture will show the eldest son who has to carry his father's photo on his back. Did you also notice the straw clothing he is wearing? This is the typical `dressing' for members of the immediate family. Similar customs is also done for dotting the eyes of e.g. a dragon boat or the eyes of the head of a lion dance costume. Please click on the web forum pictures. Warmest Regards, Cecil

[Cross posted from the conference: Chinese Culture (General}] Although not all spiders are harmless, the Chinese consider it as one of the Five poisonous `animals'. The five poisonous animals are: The spider, snake, scorpion, centipide and toad. These animals symbolise plagues and drought. In the past, a charm (please click on the picture attachment below). Please note for viewing purposes the background of the charm is on yellow background. In fact, the background should instead be red. This charm is displayed during the Dragon Boat festival which is on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Lunar calendar. On the other hand, in western countries a bat is considered sinister and associated with evil. For the Chinese, symbolism or phonetic sound of the name for bat in Mandarin is `Fu' or Luck. For this reason, the Chinese consider it lucky. In many cases, you can see wood cravings on panels with Five bats. This symbol of five bats together signifies: health, long life, wealth, love of virtue and natural death. Please see picture of the five bats. Warmest Regards, Cecil P.S. Mailing list members will not be able to see these pictures unless one logs in to the website forum.

Dear Anon, Apologise for the late response. The peacock symbolises beauty and dignity. Its feathers were used as decorations ofr meritous deeds. Often, the picture of a peacock with a full spread of its tail is part of a congratulation message on the opening of a shop. Under the Manchu rule in China, peacock features were used as an insignia denoting a rank. In paintings it is denotes an official of the court. To both the Chinese and Christians, it is said to be able to drive away evil spirits. It was later that the peacock with wrongly asociated with pride through its beautiful plume and love for displaying it. Warmest Regards, Cecil Christians

Will remember to take a picture the next time I pass that house:) Warmest Regards, Cecil

Dear Anon, So far, I do not believe that anyone has painted their walls black. Black creates a dark environment. Contrast this with a white wash house that looks bright and clean. Therefore, there is some truth in the statement. Applying the 33.3 percent ruleset, other black objects or items should not be an issue here. For example, IBM products are all black. Their excellent IBM thinkpad notebook PCs, some high end PCs are all encased in black. Robert and myself, do use these black machines without cause for concern. Overall, one can also apply the 33.3 percent ruleset where less than 33.3 percent is not going to affect a person. Warmest Regards, Cecil