THE HIDDEN POWER OF ANCESTORS: BURIAL SITES AND FENG SHUI
Have you ever wondered why some family lines seem destined for greatness—generation after generation—while others suffer hardship and descend into ruin?
The answer may lie beneath the surface… quite literally.
During Qing Ming, as we honour and tend to the resting places of our ancestors, we are also returning to the very roots of Traditional Chinese Feng Shui. What many don’t realise is that Feng Shui was not originally developed for the living—it was first and foremost a sacred practice for the dead.
And here’s what’s even less understood:
The Feng Shui of burial sites—known as Yin Feng Shui—has a far more profound and lasting influence than the Feng Shui of homes or offices. Why?
Because its effects ripple across six generations. That’s nearly 180 years of potential prosperity—or misfortune—set into motion by a single resting place.
Where It All Began
The origins of Feng Shui lie deep in the Earth—quite literally in burial grounds. Ancient Chinese sages observed that some families rose to prominence not by chance, but by virtue of where their ancestors were laid to rest. These masters of observation noted that landforms surrounding gravesites—mountains, waterways, valleys—profoundly influenced the quality of qi, the life-force energy flowing through the landscape. Certain burial sites were so potent, they were revered as “king-maker” locations, capable of uplifting generations into wealth, power, and prestige.
The earliest known Feng Shui text, the Book of Burial (葬書, Zàngshū), written by Guo Pu during the Jin Dynasty (265 to 420 AD), describes this practice in detail. It systematically documents the foundational principles of landscape and energy of the Earth in burial Feng Shui (Yin Zhai), and it laid the foundation for much of Traditional Feng Shui theory that developed thereafter. It reveals how aligning tombs with auspicious landforms and harnessing the flow of qi could bless not just the departed—but their descendants for six generations or more.
Not Just a Tomb: How Ancestors’ Resting Places Hold the Key to Family Fortune
One of my friends, during this year’s Qing Ming observance, remarked with curiosity: “All the graves seem to face the same direction.” Yes, and there’s good reason for that. They’re aligned with the surrounding landform—a basic application of Feng Shui. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.
You see, true Yin Feng Shui—the Feng Shui of the ancestors—is an intricate and sacred art, far beyond simply aligning a grave to face the “right” direction. The orientation must correspond precisely to the soul’s unique energetic imprint. The landform must offer the proper celestial embrace: supportive hills rising at the back and flanking the sides, an open and welcoming Ming Tang—known as the ‘bright hall’—in front, and the life-giving movement of qi through water or valleys flowing in from the right places, and exiting in the right directions. These requirements are highly specific to the burial site and its spiritual context—subtleties that only truly initiated and deeply practiced Masters of the tradition are entrusted to discern. Every detail matters: the shape, slope, height, and contours of the surrounding terrain must be in perfect accord with the cosmic rhythms and earthly forces at play.
And then there is the tomb conformation—the way the grave is constructed. Is the headstone positioned with the correct backing and protection? Is the earth around it stable, fertile, and alive with qi? Even the presence of accompanying deities matters. For instance, the Earth God (Tu Di Gong) is often enshrined near tombs to guard the land. But if misaligned, his presence can bring imbalance instead of blessings.
Yin Feng Shui: The Highest Responsibility
Unlike Yang Feng Shui for the living—which affects the current occupants of a home—Yin Feng Shui impacts entire bloodlines. A correctly positioned ancestral tomb can bring prosperity, health, and harmony to generations. But a misaligned site can lead to inexplicable misfortune: illness, financial ruin, strife, or stagnation across a whole lineage.
This is why the responsibility of a Feng Shui Master in ancestral site selection is immense. It requires not just technical expertise, but a profound spiritual sensitivity and alignment with Heaven, Earth, and the human heart.
Just as a master must choose the right site, the descendants hold a sacred responsibility to maintain and care for the burial grounds over the generations. For neglecting it can disrupt the flow of qi and invite misfortune. Regular care, reverence, and upkeep ensure the continued blessings of prosperity and harmony for generations to come.
Master Boon 🌈💜
Image 1: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗮𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝗶
Where my mother joined him four years later.
This photo was the featured image for Nirvana Memorial Park, the pioneering cemetery that revolutionized the cemetery industry.
Inspired by my father, the Feng Shui Grandmaster Yap Cheng Hai,they integrated Traditional Feng Shui principles together with creating a serene, sacred environment that nurtures both the living and the deceased.
Their approach transformed burial sites into harmonious spaces that foster prosperity, peace, and lasting ancestral connections.
Cemeteries were no longer eerie or spooky places, but transformed into peaceful memorial spaces where the entire family, including children, could honor and relive the fond memories of their grandparents, fostering a deep sense of connection and reverence.
Image 2: My last trip back to pay respect to my parents. Each time I return to Malaysia, I will always pay a visit to my parents.
Image 3: Size of the tombstone pavilion.
The tombstone pavilion is strategically positioned with the Dragon Mountain rising behind it, its spine (ridge) extending along the top and running along the back of the cemetery, offering a powerful protective embrace.
The mountain’s arms gently encircle both sides of this row of burial sites, enhancing the landform’s nurturing energy and providing an added layer of protection, further empowering the resting places with its qi.
Image 4: Looking forward with its open expanse, onto a valley and river below. Water being the essence of life, nourishes the Qi on this face of the mountain. The direction of the flow of the river has been clearly assessed to bring auspicious Qi to the flank of the dragon mountain.
Image 5: Joss papers sprinkled on the burial mound for blessings.
Video to Come: This video provides a clearer view of the ultimate Feng Shui burial site, highlighting its harmonious alignment with nature. The intricate details of the Feng Shui formula, however, are privy to the few Yin Feng Shui Masters, who alone possess this ancient knowledge.
