Generally Speaking....Is it Sitting or Facing?

[myfs_104106]

Thank you for replying. Your answer satisifed me and has given me more understanding. It also raised another question in my mind.

You mentioned that activity and sunlight can play a part in determining sitting and facing. I can think of an example where the activity and sunlight were actually on one of the sides of the house.....front door (and house) are facing West and there is a road sloping from the right side of the house to the left if you are looking at thefront door. But as you approach the house from the upper portion of the road, you see the Southwest/South/Southeast side BEFORE you see the front of the house. It is the sunny side; the kitchen, dining and office are located on that side where there is much activity; and there is a side door leading into the kitchen from the driveway where cars are parked. Would the Southwest/South/Southeast sunny side with most activity be the "mouth" of the house even though it is not what would be considered the "front" of the house? If there had not been a side door there, would the SW/S/SE side be or not be the "mouth" of the house?

Thank you.

O. Sullivan

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Sullivan,

Apologies; what I was talking about has more to do with "openings" in a home that e.g. allow light to filter into it.

Therefore, the idea is that, for example, if one side of the home is littered with lots of windows, doors, balcony, patio or sliding doors; therefore, it implies that with so many openings, there is a higher probability that this side is the facing direction.

Although, a side where there is higher intensity could SEEM to be the facing side. But, often, this is not the main consideration.

For example, for a bungalow that has four sides, and if the facing direction is North-South facing (e.g North - facing and South - sitting), just because of the intensity of sunlight coming from east or west, this does not imply that East-West sides are or should be the facing direction.

Quote

the house. It is the

sunny side; the kitchen,

dining and office are located

on that side where there is

Thus, the "sunny" side should not be automatically taken as the facing direction or facing-sitting direction. Or else, we could wrongly or mistakenly say that " for all homes and offices or buildings - East or West are the facing side.

Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 6/23/2004 7:07:01 PM, Anonymous wrote:

Thank you for replying.

Your answer satisifed me and

has given me more

understanding. It also

raised another question in my

mind.

You mentioned that activity

and sunlight can play a part

in determining sitting and

facing. I can think of

an example where the activity

and sunlight were actually on

one of the sides of the

house.....front door (and

house) are facing West and

there is a road sloping from

the right side of the house to

the left if you are looking at

thefront door. But

as you approach the house from

the upper portion of the road,

you see the

Southwest/South/Southeast side

BEFORE you see the front of

the house. It is the

sunny side; the kitchen,

dining and office are located

on that side where there is

much activity; and there is a

side door leading into the

kitchen from the driveway

where cars are parked.

Would the

Southwest/South/Southeast

sunny side with most activity

be the "mouth" of the house

even though it is not what

would be considered the

"front" of the house? If

there had not been a side door

there, would the SW/S/SE side

be or not be the "mouth" of

the house?

Thank you.

O. Sullivan

[Cecil Lee]

An In-depth understanding of the Frontage of a home. Is it always the main door? Who are the Conservatives & the Modernist. What lead to the Conservatives use of the Main Door only?

1. Who are the Conservatives and the Modernists?
2. An in-depth understanding of why the Conservatives has misunderstood the knowledge passed down by the ancients.

 

For High Rise Compass Reading should be taken from the living room looking out of it. For eg. towards the living room windows or its balcony (if applicable)

[Cecil Lee]

Let’s clarify the concepts around **frontage**, **Conservatives**, and **Modernists** in the context of Feng Shui and home design, and examine why certain misunderstandings arose.

1. Who are the Conservatives and the Modernists?

**Conservatives** and **Modernists** are terms used to describe two approaches to interpreting and applying traditional Feng Shui principles in home design:

- Conservatives
  This group strictly adheres to commonly accepted or popularized methods in Feng Shui, often relying on simplified rules passed down through generations. They emphasize tradition and tend to see ancient teachings through a narrower lens, sometimes interpreting guidelines or rituals in a literal or surface way.

- Modernists
  Modernists seek a deeper, contextual, or even scientific understanding of Feng Shui principles. They are open to reinterpretation, adaptation to current living conditions, and are willing to question or update traditional ideas based on new information, research, or architectural innovation.

2. Is the Frontage Always the Main Door?

**Frontage** refers to the portion of the home that faces the most open, active, or “Yang” side—typically toward the street or main access. In Feng Shui, the **frontage** is crucial for determining aspects such as energy flow (“Qi”), orientation, and how the occupants interact with external environments.

Main Door as Frontage?
  In *many* homes, especially traditional ones, the main door aligns with the frontage, serving as the primary point of entry for energy, people, and opportunity. **However, frontage is not always the main door.**  
  - In some modern homes or complex dwellings, the main energy flow might enter from large windows, a balcony, or another architectural feature. For example, a house that faces a sweeping view but has its main door on the side may have its “frontage” defined by the windows facing the view, not necessarily the main door.
  - Frontage should be understood as the functional “face” of the home, which interacts most directly with outside activity, airflow, and light.

3. Why Did Conservatives Use Main Door as Frontage, and What Was Misunderstood?

Ancient Knowledge:
- Ancient Feng Shui texts emphasize the **interaction of the home with its environment**, including sunlight, landscape, airflow, and activity patterns. The “face” of the house should be determined by where life and energy gather or interact, not just by the position of the door.

Modernist Approach:
- Modernists revisit classical texts and environmental observation, understanding that frontage is situational and dynamic, not fixed. They analyze the actual sources of Qi based on design, surroundings, and even lifestyle changes.

 

4. In Conclusion:  
The frontage of a home is not always the main door—it is the primary interface with external energy and life, which can shift based on design and environment. **Conservatives** misunderstood the ancients’ teachings by equating the main door with the only possible frontage, missing the deeper, context-driven principles of true Feng Shui, whereas **Modernists** seek to restore those nuanced insights for contemporary living.