Feng Shui Fun Fact: “The White Tiger Overshadows the Azure Dragon, Leading to Generations of Poverty” – The Wisdom of Our Ancestors

China has a history of five thousand years, which has led to the profound and extensive nature of Chinese culture. Among traditional culture, proverbs are a branch that represents the wisdom of the common people, summarizing their life experiences. Some proverbs describe rural life, while others reflect thoughts on life. Due to their simple yet memorable nature, they have been widely circulated among the people. Behind many proverbs lies a deep philosophy.

With the rapid development of society today, many young people have moved from rural areas to cities and only return home during festivals to visit their elders。 When young people chat with elderly villagers, they can often recite some proverbial expressions filled with wisdom。 However, some proverbs leave people feeling perplexed, including the rural saying “White Tiger Covers Green Dragon, Poverty for Generations。” What does this old folksaying mean? Let’s explore its possible meanings。

This proverb has two possible interpretations:

1。 Regarding House Construction:

In folklore, ‘feng shui’ is highly valued, especially when building houses or graves. In terms of directions, the Green Dragon represents the East, and the White Tiger represents the West。 Traditionally, houses are built facing south with the back to north; therefore, “White Tiger Covers Green Dragon” means a taller house on the west side compared to the east。 This is believed to bring poverty upon the family for generations。 This principle applies not only to rural homes but also to urban residences。

2。 Regarding Grave Construction:

When building graves, the left side is considered the Green Dragon and the right side the White Tiger。 Proper positioning of these elements in a grave benefits future generations。 Hence, there’s an old saying: “If dragons and tigers guard the tomb together, good or bad fortune becomes closely connected。” If “White Tiger Covers Green Dragon,” it disrupts the balance and prevents Vital energy comes from gathering. As a result, poverty may persist through generations。

In ancient times, society emphasized “men work outside while women manage household affairs。” Due to labor-intensive work in society, men generally had higher status than women。 In this context:

– The Green Dragon represents the male figure。

This proverb likely stems from ancient observations of how feng shui and family structures influenced societal outcomes。 While modern society may view it as outdated or superstitious, it reflects the importance Chinese culture placed on harmony between humans and nature。