Feng Shui: Harmonising with the environment

We last covered SS2’s commercial hub and observed how the plateau on which it sits is conducive for success. Northwards beyond Jalan SS 2/75 – the boundary of the commercial centre – the terrain is no longer flat. The land slopes downhill from west to east, where Sungai Penchala is.

To the west lies the Damansara-Puchong Highway or LDP which is higher than this part of SS2 with the exception of the northernmost section where a small hill raises the landform higher than the highway.

Jalan SS 2/75 is curved and embraces a stretch of shop-offices fronting this road. This is a good landform for the shops here and businesses here fare quite well, especially in the early days when traffic was decidedly busier.

Unfortunately, the opposite side of the road is an elbow or convex formation. Convexes are considered not conducive because its shape deflects and disperses earth energy. Thus, houses on this side do not fare well, notwithstanding the obvious difficulties of entering and exiting these premises.

One can say that the traffic conditions are responsible for the unattractiveness of the properties. A combination of practical and environology factors work against these houses despite their supposedly prime location.

Better maintained

Within this northern sector of SS2, properties that face downhill (generally southeast) along Jalan SS 2/2, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84 and 86 have a very conducive orientation. They are better maintained than their opposite neighbours.

Perpendicular roads, namely Jalan SS 2/75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 87, 89, 91, 93 and 95, have houses with a sideways slope and face northeast or southwest. Such an orientation benefits one specific member of the family and is detrimental to another member.

According to the bagua theory, each sector of a property corresponds to a particular member of a family or organisation. The highest sector will benefit that member while the lowest sector will indicate a struggle for another member.

Northwest represents the father; southwest represents the mother; east, eldest son; north, middle son; northeast, youngest son; southeast, eldest daughter; south, middle daughter; and west, youngest daughter.

In this instance, however, there is another factor at play, namely the Sungai Penchala to the east. Properties should ideally face east to the river, or alternatively south to parallel the river’s flow.

Southwest is good

For properties at the aforementioned roads, southwest is the better facing orientation.

The worst orientation would be northeast. Properties that face an upstream direction tend to gather mental detritus flowing from uphill. This tends to clutter the occupants’ thinking and affect their abilities to make a good decision.

There is another twist to our story. Jalan SS 2/93 and 95 form a bend at the eastern side which embraces southwest-facing properties. This is a conducive landform and occupants at this spot are likely to do better than their surrounding neighbours.

At the intersection between SS 2/95 and 72, there is the SK Taman SEA primary school.

The buildings face either the Sungai Penchala or the flow of the river. Again, these are conducive directions.

Jalan SS 2/72 forms the border between SS2 and Section 19. The SSTwo Mall is located along this road. We discussed the landform aspects of this mall when we covered Section 19 previously. Back then, we also noted how the access roads need to be improved before SSTwo Mall can attract more people.

Today, the intersection between Jalan 19/8 and Jalan Harapan has been turned into a traffic light junction. Hopefully, this will stabilise the haphazard energy patterns of the vicinity. Some calibration may also be required to fine-tune the orientation of the building and harmonise with the environment.

Log on to StarProperty.my for more. You can also e-mail any question on Feng Shui and properties to Prof David Koh at davidkoh@hotmail.com. This series appears courtesy of the Malaysia Institute of Geomancy Sciences (MINGS).

Small changes, big impact

It was said after Emperor Zhu YuanZhang overthrew the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty in 1368 to establish the Ming Dynasty, he consulted Liew Per Wen for advice on the construction of a new palace. Liew was a Feng Shui master and cabinet advisor.

After much searching, calculations and calibrations, Liew found a particular site and recommended it to the Emperor who was happy with this and they agreed to mark the location for the future palace with a piece of wood.

As per Feng Shui practice, construction work should commence on an auspicious day, to be chosen by Liew.

Over dinner that evening, Emperor Zhu related the day’s events to his wife whereupon the Empress commented that an emperor should not allow a commoner such as Liew to dictate the future of his dynasty.

His ego piqued, Emperor Zhu slipped out of the palace that night and moved the wood marker a few centimetres away from its original spot. He reckoned it would not make any difference to the Feng Shui, but at least he was in charge.

When the Emperor and Liew returned to the site to initiate work, Liew immediately noticed the shift but he was smart enough to deduce the reason. He merely commented, "Well, a little move is necessary."

Thus, the Ming Dynasty’s capital city was built around this spot in Nanjing. However, the slight change in the location was enough to cause harm. Nanjing only lasted briefly as a capital city.

The emperor decreed that his grandson, Zhu Yunwen should succeed him as the next emperor. However, one of the late emperor’s son, Zhu Di, disagreed with this. He rebelled against his nephew and overthrew the new emperor after a three-year civil war.

Nanjing Palace was burned to the ground with Yunwen, his wife, mother and courtiers inside.

Zhu Di became the Yongle Emperor (1402-1424). He reversed many of his father’s policies and his reign is considered the second founding of the Ming Dynasty. Beijing replaced Nanjing as the new capital and has remained so until today.

What a big difference a few centimetres can make!