How did fengshui influence the placement of Chinese buildings?

In Chinese architecture, fengshui served as a vital geomantic system for determining the placement of buildings, aiming to harmonize human structures with the forces of heaven and earth.1

Architects and masters utilized two primary approaches to site buildings:

• Compass School: Common in northern China, this method used a magnetic compass to align buildings with astral principles, seasons, stars, and the five phases theory (fire, water, wood, metal, and earth).1
• Form School: Prevalent in the south, this approach focused on the natural landscape, emphasizing the placement of protective mountains to block dark forces and ensuring an open, benign orientation toward the south, alongside the proper flow of water.1

Beyond orientation, fengshui governed the timing of construction—such as when to cut wood or raise a roof—and the precise measurement of architectural parts. By understanding the flow of qi (vital energy), masters sought to ensure a building’s auspicious fortune. This practice reflected a deep-seated belief in the interdependence between the natural world and human events, rooted in the complementary forces of yinyang.12