Apartment & City Feng Shui: Forms, Maps, and On-Site Checks

Read roads, open space and surrounding buildings on a map, understand traditional Form School terms, and learn what needs an on-site check.

In brief

✦Three things to read on a map: what stands behind the building (backing), what is open in front (bright hall), and how the left and right flanks enclose it.
✦Road geometry matters more than road size: a curve that embraces the building is favourable, a reverse bow or a road aimed straight at it is a caution.
✦A narrow gap between two tall blocks (天斩煞) or a sharp corner pointed at the home (尖角煞) can be seen from above; their real effect depends on your floor and windows.
✦Satellite imagery cannot show window views, noise or the unit door: those need an on-site check.
✦Our free survey reads exactly these forms for any address; the full report adds the building's Flying Star chart and each occupant's Life Gua.

Explore your building from satellite imagery

Locate the building, then record its surroundings

Original schematic, not a measured or to-scale plan. Schematic top view: a selected building sits among neighboring buildings, a road and open space. The arrow marks a facing to confirm on site, not map north.

Start with the right building

Locate the property and check which building or unit you mean. Note the image date when available. Satellite imagery can help identify roads, water and building arrangements; coverage, resolution and obstructions limit what can be established.

Backing, open space and the flanks

Form School uses terms such as backing and bright hall to interpret the surroundings. Record what stands behind the chosen facing, what is open in front and how neighboring buildings sit to each side. These observations and their traditional symbolic meanings should be presented separately.

Road curves and T-junctions

Traditional readings distinguish an embracing road curve from a reverse bow, and a road aimed toward a building from one passing beside it. A map shows part of this geometry. It cannot by itself establish traffic, noise, glare or the experience inside a particular unit, and road shape does not determine wealth or life outcomes.

Gaps and corners between buildings

Aerial imagery may reveal a gap or projecting corner, but it does not reliably show every window or facade. Do not infer wind conditions, exposure or indoor effects from a shape alone. Check the relevant view on site and identify any assumptions.

What the floor level changes

Different units can experience the same surroundings differently. Record floor level, window direction and intervening buildings, then check actual conditions. There is no universally lucky floor number or universal height at which a map feature becomes harmless.

What a floor plan adds

A floor plan helps locate rooms, doors and circulation. Verify the orientation rather than assuming the top of the plan is north. Interior layout and the building facing used for a traditional chart are separate pieces of information; unclear measurements should remain identified as uncertain.

A practical viewing checklist

Record the address, building, facing assumptions, road layout, water and adjacent structures. List what the map cannot answer so you can check it during a viewing. Consider actual comfort, building condition and property information alongside any cultural interpretation.

When to explore a full report

The free preview starts with the external surroundings. A full report adds traditional chart interpretation and a personal overlay using the details supplied. Read the sample to understand the format; a feng shui report does not replace a building inspection or environmental assessment.

FAQ

Can satellite imagery judge a home on its own?

It can support an external-form reading where imagery is available. Interior conditions and effects on a specific unit require further information and on-site checks.

Is a home facing a T-junction unlivable?

Road geometry alone cannot establish that. Check actual traffic, sight lines, light and sound at the property rather than treating a traditional label as a safety verdict.

Is there a safe distance from a reverse-bow road?

This guide does not provide a universal distance threshold. Distance, obstructions and the conditions at a particular property should be recorded and assessed in context.

Do I need to buy a talisman?

No purchase is required to use this observation checklist. Traditional objects should not be presented as guaranteed solutions to physical conditions or personal outcomes.

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