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Yin Feng Shui Transformed: From Dragon Veins to Columbariums and to Rivers and Seas

 


       Cremation is the process of a corpse's final disposition through burning, often after a funeral service and involving a permit for a body to be placed in a cremation chamber for one to three hours. The body is reduced to bone fragments and ash, which are then collected and returned to the family in an urn to be kept, interred in a columbarium, or scattered in a meaningful location. 

        The Millennium-Old Obsession with Blood and Earth Qi The older generation often said, "Only by being buried in peace can one bring blessings to future generations." 

        Traditional Chinese Burial emphasizes the complete coexistence of the body with the earth. Yin House Feng shui believes that as remains slowly decompose within the earth's veins, they release an energy field that resonates with the direct bloodline, thus influencing the wealth, health, and even career prospects of future generations. - The Book of Burial: "Qi resonates, and blessings from ghosts extend to humans." 

        Traditional feng shui masters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia place a strong emphasis on burial practices for the deceased. They often clearly state their preference for this method in their information and videos available on their websites.

        The information about Yin Feng Shui from mainstream China Websites have to make it sound politically & socially correct , therefore they will always conclude that " Burial customs or Cremation Method have no necessary connection with family fortune" but deep in the heart of the Traditional China Chinese Folks, especially those in the villages, they will still prefer Burial Method, unless they have no choice and have to focus on the "Feng Shui Of Cremation" Method. 

In fact, the main Classical Feng Shui of San-Liao Village is still very much alive in China.

San-Liao Feng Shui 

A historical birthplace: San-Liao village is where the famous Tang Dynasty master, Yang Yun Song, is said to have taught his disciples, including the ancestors of the Zeng and Liao families. The village became a hub for the development of what is now known as Yang Gong Feng Shui, which is considered an ancient and authentic form of the practice.

Emphasis on burial: The feng shui lineage from this region, often associated with the term "San-Liao," places a strong emphasis on Yin Feng Shui (the feng shui of tombs and burial sites). This aligns with the historical roots of feng shui, which was originally used to locate auspicious burial spots.

A "lineage" rather than a "school": The term "San-Liao" seems to denote a specific lineage or a particular style of teaching that originated from this village, rather than a completely different school with its own unique set of principles. It is closely tied to the foundational concepts of feng shui, particularly the analysis of landforms, mountains, and water, which is a key part of the San He school.

Feng Shui for the Deceased: Adapting to Singapore's Land Scarcity

        Due to land scarcity in Singapore, many feng shui masters have adapted their practices. They now specialize in Yin Feng Shui consultations for columbariums, as this has become the primary method for housing the ashes of the deceased.

Burial policies in Singapore

The limited land area, roughly 278 square miles (710 sq km), has led Singapore to view spacious cemeteries as an inefficient use of resources. Since the 1970s, the government has consistently acquired and cleared cemeteries to make way for urban development, housing, and infrastructure.
 
The current policies include:
15-year burial limit: Since 1998, all new burials have been limited to a 15-year lease. After this period, graves are exhumed to free up the plot for reuse.

Exhumation and re-interment: For religions that prohibit cremation, such as Islam, exhumed remains are re-interred in smaller, individual plots. For other religions, the remains are cremated.

Only one burial cemetery: All new burials are confined to the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex, the country's only active burial ground.

Crypt Burial System (CBS): Introduced in 2007, this system optimizes land use by burying the deceased in pre-fabricated concrete crypts, which can also be re-used. This contrasts with traditional soil burials that occupy land indefinitely. 

Promotion of cremation and alternative methods

To further address land scarcity, Singapore has actively promoted cremation and other land-saving options. As a result, the country's cremation rate has dramatically increased from 10% in the 1960s to over 97% by 2017, making it the default option. 

Alternative post-death options include:
Columbaria: Cremated remains are stored in niches within multi-story public or private columbaria, which use land more efficiently than cemeteries. A single columbarium can hold thousands of urns in the same space that might have accommodated only a few dozen graves.

Inland ash scattering: The National Environment Agency (NEA) operates secular, green spaces for the scattering of ashes. The Garden of Peace at Choa Chu Kang opened in 2021, and a second facility is slated to open at the Mandai Crematorium Complex in late 2025.

Sea burial: Families can charter boats to scatter ashes in a designated area south of Pulau Semakau.

While a pragmatic solution, the shift away from traditional burials has had social and cultural consequences. For communities whose rituals are tied to graveside visits, adapting to columbarium or ash-scattering ceremonies has changed ancestral worship and family gatherings. With former burial sites being redeveloped for housing estates, younger generations are less aware of these historical changes. 


Chinese Buddhists have an easier option: scattering the ashes into a river or the sea.

The practice of scattering ashes into a river or the sea is considered an easier option for some Chinese Buddhists due to its alignment with key Buddhist principles, which can be a contrast to the more complex rituals of traditional feng shui burial.

Here's why:

  • Non-attachment: A core tenet of Buddhism is non-attachment to material possessions and the physical body. Scattering ashes symbolizes letting go and returning to nature, which aligns with this belief. It emphasizes that the soul, or consciousness, has moved on from its physical form.

  • Simplicity and Equality: Unlike elaborate burials or columbarium niches that can vary in cost and grandeur, scattering ashes is a simple, egalitarian practice. It avoids the financial burden and status-related complexities sometimes associated with traditional funeral arrangements, making it accessible to everyone regardless of wealth.

  • Universal Cycle: The act of scattering ashes into water—which connects to all other bodies of water, from rivers to seas—is seen as a return to the natural, universal cycle of life. It reflects the impermanence of all things, another fundamental Buddhist teaching.

Essentially, while traditional Yin House Feng Shui focuses on a physical location for the deceased's body to benefit future generations, the act of scattering ashes focuses on spiritual liberation and the release of the soul, which is a powerful and direct expression of Buddhist faith.


*Westerners have no idea that the very 1st step of Feng Shui Audit is actually Yin House Feng Shui (Feng Shui For The Dead)*

Read More: 

 A Pragmatic Transformation of Modern Civilization Cremation is undeniably more compatible with urbanization

The clash and balance of tradition and reality

• Burialists hold firm: Business families place particular emphasis on the "dragon vein's protection," believing that the feng shui of ancestral graves can boost business prosperity;
• Cremationists are more sober: Environmental concerns coupled with economic pressures have led to a more aesthetically pleasing design for auspicious locations that appeal to the younger generation;
• A compromise: Some families cremate the remains first, then bury the ashes deep in a feng shui-selected site, balancing faith and cost.

The ultimate answer lies in the heart


1. Auspicious site > burial method: For both remains and ashes, burial in a true dragon's lair (such as a site facing water and backed by a mountain) is crucial;

2. Heart > form: Sincere remembrance and family harmony are more conducive to accumulating merit than elaborate funeral rituals;

3. Benevolence > The Ming Dynasty's "Four Lessons of Life" stated, "One's destiny is self-determined; one's blessings are sought by oneself." Acquiring virtue is the fundamental basis for improving one's fortune. (Buddhism Teaching)

Conclusion:

The choice between burial and cremation is essentially a balance between cultural heritage and the needs of the times. If elders have strong religious beliefs, respecting tradition is also a form of filial piety. If practical conditions are limited, a simple burial does not mean a lack of thoughtfulness. True "blessings for future generations" lie not in earth or fire, but in transforming thoughts into energy that nourishes life—after all, love and kindness are the eternal feng shui that transcends life and death.

Personal Thoughts by Taoist Sorcery Master: 

Burial

If the deceased has living descendants—such as children and grandchildren—and burial is a viable option, it is traditionally the preferred choice. This method allows future generations of family members to gather at the cemetery to make offerings during remembrance days like the Qing Ming Festival and the Chinese Hungry Ghosts Festival.

When choosing this method, it is crucial to apply Yin House Feng Shui for Burial. You should hire a professional Classical Feng Shui Master who is well-versed in this practice. Improper burial can have serious consequences; for example, a "Shadow Corpse" (荫尸) is believed to bring misfortune to all future generations. - The "Shadow Corpse" (荫尸) brings misfortune to all descendants

Cremation (Columbarium)

If burial is not an option, the body is typically cremated and the ashes are placed in an urn within a columbarium. This still allows descendants to gather for offerings during remembrance days. For this method, you should apply Yin House Feng Shui for Columbarium and engage a professional Classical Feng Shui Master who specializes in this practice.

Scattering Ashes

If the deceased has no future generations and no one to conduct prayer offerings, a common practice is to cremate the body and scatter the ashes into a flowing river or the sea.

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