Correct Placement of Fu Dogs

[casamore168]

Cecil:
I am a serious student of Traditional Feng Shui, Xuan Kong. I belong to the discussion groups in Chinese Astrology, read at least 40 books on Feng Shui, studied with Master Sang in Los Angeles, read articles on Geomancy.net, and continue to read as much as I can.
This is my question:
I have a friend whose house :
1.Faces 124 degrees
2.Chen Facing Hsu Sitting.
3.Period 7 .
4.Wang Shang Wang Shui House
5.The house is elongated and although the main entrance is
at the SW corner (on the side ).
She plans on placing Fu Dogs (They are very big 52" high , bronze that were once in the entrance of a bank) on the SW side in front of main entrance. Do these go there or do they actually go in the SE facing side on the outside of property? There are houses in front across the street in the SE Facing side and a houses both on the SW & NE corners. Is she not going to harm the people next door if she were to place then outside the SW corner where her main entrance is located?
Where can I find information on the correct placement ?
I am very grateful for your orientation.
Mimi

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Mimi,
1. I am very glad that you are continously learning more about the interesting art of Feng Shui.
2. As it is, learning never ends:)
3. In traditional Feng Shui, there actually two main (pairs of figurines) i.e. either the use of:-
3.1. A pair of Kirin
3.2. A pair of Stone lions or
Therefore, one may have to second guess that most likely, the Fu dogs is associated more with the `Stone Lions' then the kirin (which may inadvertently disrupt harmony within the home.) Please refer to the information below for more about the Lions.
Overall, between the kirin or the Lion, it is best to go more for the Lion. (And Fu dogs perhaps, can be considered a "close relative" of the Lion. Or used more as guard dogs/invite good fortune.)
Although some modern Ba Gua or figurines do have each of the Fu dog with their mouths grasping a pair of long sword.
If one looks at the Photo Tours and at the various Ba Gua's shown in this section, one can find e.g. a Fu dog grasphing a long sword with it's teeth. This can be considered as a symbolic guesture of `guarding a home'.
A bit later on the Fu Dog.
4. The Kirin
The kirin looks like a dragon with a unicorn horn on it's head.
Usually, they are made of brass - metal.
Please NOTE that it is not good to place large (pair) of kirin inside the home as this will usually lead to frequent quarrels within the home. If possible, large kirins should best be avoided in the home.
5. The Stone Lions
The Lions usually come in three materials:-
5.1. Metal element:
A good example is HongKong and Shanghai Bank which uses bronze lion. Since it is in banking or metal element, bronze lion are used symbolically to a. Guard the bank b. to provide good fortune for the bank.
5.2. Earth element:
Stone lions that are usually made of cement plaster, granite or marble.
In many Chinese locations, a pair is placed outside the entrance to the building.
For example, in the past, I had taken photos and placed these photos of some buildings in Singapore e.g. The Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Ngee Ann City (Shopping/Office complex) and even several temples.
I had written some description of each of the lions in the past.
5.3. Wood element:
It is common to see either dragons / kirins and even lions carved in stone on temple roofs.
The sole purpose is symbolically to protect against evil.
5.4. In general, as mentioned earlier typically Stone Lions in general comes more closer to the Fu Dog than the `fierce' kirin.
One can perhaps say that the Fu Dog is for `defence' while the kirin is for `attack'.
For a home, it would be best to AVOID the use of the kirin. If used wrongly, can bring Sha Qi to the homeowner. Much like the concept of placing a Ba Gua mirror facing inwards of one's house. The larger the kirin, the more damage, it can give.
Please see below:-

Quote

On 10/2/2002 9:27:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Cecil:
I am a serious student of
Traditional Feng Shui, Xuan
Kong. I belong to the
discussion groups in Chinese
Astrology, read at least 40
books on Feng Shui, studied
with Master Sang in Los
Angeles, read articles on
Geomancy.net, and continue to
read as much as I can.
This is my question:
I have a friend whose house :
1.Faces 124 degrees
2.Chen Facing Hsu Sitting.
3.Period 7 .
4.Wang Shang Wang Shui House
5.The house is elongated and
although the main entrance is
at the SW corner (on the side
).

If the house is too elongated, chances are, if one were to take compass readings at the front, middle and back, there can be instances where, the compass reading may skew for such a house.
In the past, I had the opportunity to visit Sarawak, Malaysia. And there were ample opportunity for me to visit `long houses' or houses where there were many families staying in an elongated house. Taking compass direction can be a tricky business here.
To side track a-bit, if one purchase a professional compass such as the Finland made Suunto branch e.g. their SuuntoPilot or other models, try to purchase one that is `balanced' for your region.
Altogether, there are actually Five compass zones.
In the equator e.g. Singapore / Malaysia, here, we use a compass that is balanced for zone 3.
In America, Russia and northern hemisphere, go for professional compass balanced for zone 1.
Compass balanced for zone 5 is meant for Austraila. While compass balanced for zone 4 is rougly for South America etc...

Quote

She plans on placing Fu Dogs
(They are very big 52" high ,
bronze that were once in the
entrance of a bank) on the SW
side in front of main
entrance.
Based on my earlier explanation, the Fu Dogs should belong more to the the Lion (group).

It is my advise that it is best not to place Fu Dogs (close cousin of the Lion) on a pedestal.
Especially large pairs should not be elevated or placed on a pedestal. (If possible). However, if they are placed on e.g. the pillar of the gate, they should (in my opinion) be much smaller ones. It is not the best, but, honestly, some people, perhaps find comfort in placing them in their home.
From an asthetic point of view, (or commonsense approach), it would certainly odd to see an overly huge pair of Fu Dogs perhaps not proportionate to the pillar support also.
Do these go there or

Quote

do they actually go in the SE
facing side on the outside of
property? There are houses in
front across the street in the
SE Facing side and a houses
both on the SW & NE corners.
Is she not going to harm the
people next door if she were
to place then outside the SW
corner where her main entrance
is located?

In most cases, where possible, the pair of Fu dogs (Lion equivalent) should be `plum' and if possible, have similing faces. This is considered the best.
However, no matter if they are smiling or have a serious expression, usually, these two pairs have an open mouth.
And it is always not advisable to having open mouths facing into our own homes. Here, it can be considered as `sucking' luck or wealth away.
Thus if they are facing the neigbhours, especially if they stand guard facing into the neighbour's house `aimed' towards the main entrance, it may not be good for the neighbour.
As mentioned eariler, a pair of Fu dog or lion is meant to stand guard at the house. E.g. the main entrance. Where possible, if they are big, should not be placed on a pedestal or e.g. gate pillar.
For the neighbour, if they were to open their main entrance door or even at the gate, and can view the pair of lion, this would indeed be a threat to the home.
An option for the neighbour to subdue, this pair of Fu dog (or lion) assuming that they are either in White (stone) or bronze, the neighour may have to hang a red banner (much like those of some Chinese house).
In some Chinese house, they hang a red banner above their main entrance to invite auspicious luck.
But in this case:
If the stone fu dog or lion is white or bronze (metal):-
The fu dog is said to be of the metal element. (Since metal is either white in colour or made of metal).
Red symbolise the fire element. And under the Five element concept, Fire element is used to subdue metal making the `pair of fu dogs into `scatty cats'.
Appreciate that you do not post any of the above information especially to other forums as, in the past, I often, found some of these sites to be poorly moderated and full of either `rubbish' or often `spoilt egos' or with people with their own hidden agendas. Unfortunately, this is my `lasting impressions' of these sites; till today.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[Cecil Lee]

Further to what I had mentioned earlier, here are two pictures of lion/fu dog types where they symbolically BITE on a long sword.
Under the attached picture (below) bagua-mirror, to create an illusion of a pair of lion/fu dogs, one notice that this Ba Gu bronze mirror has a picture of the lion/fu dog biting on a pair of swords in each direction to symbolize the pair (two lion/fu dogs).
In the second picture: lion-fudog-type.jpg, Can you see that although the colourful figurine is biting a long sword, YET, it is smiling? Did you see this? I hope you do:)
These pictures had been posted earlier and these two extract pictures, will make it easier to understand what I had written earlier.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[Cecil Lee]

There are many variations of Ba Gu mirrors with the Fu dog picture in the middle of `protective' Ba Gua's.
Attached is one of the many such Ba Gua mirrors with the Fu-dog bitting on a pair of swords (symbolising a pair of fu-dogs - on guard position. Erh... faithfully [loyally]guarding the house).

[Cecil Lee]

Dear All,
Locally,(in Singapore) I understand that some Feng Shui practitioners have actually asked their clients to place pairs of kirins.
For example, a pair of large bronze ones were placed outside both main entrance. And all over e.g. outside the windows of e.g. the various bedrooms, study rooms etc..
For those, who had these pairs of kirins and found that they constantly have frequent quarrels or disharmony of the home, should remove them totally.
Frankly, kirins do not belong inside or outside of one's home.
It is like inviting Sha Qi (or bad qi) into one's home.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

[casamore168]

Cecil:
I am truly very grateful for your feedback. I do appreciate it and so will my friend.
I have always appreciated the immediate
response you have always given me.
Many thanks and blessings to you and all of yours.
Mimi Casavantes