Chinese Feng Shui Official Website – Feng Shui Knowledge: Folk sayings are a “highlight” of China’s traditional culture. They have been passed down through generations and never fade because they originate from the daily lives of the people, representing valuable experiences and wisdom condensed by the masses. These sayings are easy to understand, catchy, and rich in content, covering various aspects of民间 life.
Today, we share a folk saying: “Keep the main door open and the side doors closed。” How do we interpret this saying today? What is the difference between “door” and “house”?
“Keep the main door open and the side doors closed”
To understand this statement, let’s first analyze the distinction between ‘door’ and ‘household’。 ” According to Shuowen JieziHouseholds are half a door, “and” doors mean to hear, derived from two households, representing their shape。 In other words, one panel is called, while two panels make up the door。 Interior doors are typically single panel, they’re called households, whereas the main entrance of a house usually has two panels, thus referred to as The door。
In ancient Feng Shui, there were differentiated perspectives on doors and households。 The front door of a courtyard was called, while the rear door was referred to as a home。 This alignment with the saying that ‘one panel is the door’ and ‘two panels are the door’。 In rural areas, people often keep their side or rear doors closed when not in use to prevent theft and to retain wealth energy according to Feng Shui beliefs.
Now that we have a basic understanding of households and doors, let’s delta into the meaning behind this folk saying。
First part: “Keep the main door open”
This means that the front entrance (main door) of a courtyard should remain open as it is essential for daily interactions with relatives, friends, and neighbors。 In modern life, keeping the front door open is seen as a sign of hospitality and openness to guests or events such as weddings where family members and children may need to come in and out。
However, when everyone is away from home, it’s important to secure the main door by closing and locking it to prevent theft。 This serves as a clear signal to outsiders that no one is home, which is generally acceptable socially。
Second part: “Keep the side doors closed”
This refers to keeping side or rear doors closed when not in use。 In rural areas, people often keep these doors closed even when not needed to prevent theft and to maintain wealth energy according to Feng Shui beliefs。 This practice is seen as a way to preserve family harmony and prosperity。
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