What is "piercing hall evil" and how can it be resolved?

In modern apartment buildings, the most popular layout is undoubtedly the north-south facing unit, where the entrance door and floor-to-ceiling windows face each other directly. This type of layout not only offers excellent ventilation but also abundant natural light. However, many people who live in such units for extended periods find themselves experiencing difficulties in their endeavors or frequent arguments between spouses. Why does this happen? Actually, this layout violates a feng shui principle called "piercing hall evil." Piercing hall evil occurs when the front door directly faces the back door, or the front window directly faces the back window. This occurs when the outermost openings of the house's energy flow directly face each other without any opaque object obstructing the flow of energy. The effect of piercing hall evil is that energy enters the house and immediately exits, thus failing to accumulate positive energy and wealth. It also causes rapid and unstable energy flow within the house, potentially leading to accidents and injuries. Due to its severity, it is commonly known as the number one evil energy in residential feng shui.

Through-the-hall evil

The so-called "piercing hall evil" occurs when the front door directly faces the back door, or the front window directly faces the back window. This happens whenever the outermost air vents of the house are directly opposite each other, with no opaque object obstructing the flow of energy. The effect of this is that energy enters the house and immediately exits, thus failing to accumulate positive energy and wealth. It also causes rapid and unstable energy flow within the house, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Due to its severity, it is commonly known as the number one evil energy in residential Feng Shui.

To discuss this in more detail, there are actually many other types of "piercing wind" feng shui in interiors, including the "three-door" feng shui, which is considered a major taboo in residential feng shui and signifies significant financial loss. Homeowners should pay special attention to this. This time, we'll discuss some problematic layouts that make it difficult to retain wealth, and the corresponding solutions.

Front and back doors facing each other

This is common in typical residential homes and small apartments, where the front door directly faces the back door of the balcony, creating a draft. In a typical home with sufficient space, a screen or custom-made shoe cabinet can be used to block the direct line of sight between the front and back doors. It's important that the cabinet or screen is wider and taller than the front door. However, in a small apartment where space is limited, an opaque curtain is recommended.

Doors and windows facing each other

The most common cause of "through-the-door evil" is "doors and windows facing each other," which means that as soon as you enter the main door, you are directly facing a floor-to-ceiling window (especially in small homes and small apartments). In this case, you can also choose to place a screen, cabinet, or large potted plants to resolve the problem, depending on the size of the space. Small apartments can install curtains made of opaque material and pay attention to controlling the airflow when the windows are opened and closed.

Window facing window = air vents facing each other

In some homes and state-owned residential buildings, a window is often added next to the dining room. If the living and dining areas are completely open-plan, this creates a "piercing wind" effect, where windows (floor-to-ceiling windows) face each other. Feng shui emphasizes the gathering of qi (energy). Even though it's not the main door and floor-to-ceiling windows directly facing each other, this arrangement can still cause strong airflow that directly penetrates the home, easily leading to unstable energy and affecting the family's fortune and financial luck. Changing the layout before renovation is the best solution. Alternatively, one could consider using opaque curtains to cover more than the width of the other window in the floor-to-ceiling window, and also using curtains to cover half-windows.

Signs of severe financial loss: Three doors piercing through the entrance

A "three-doorway" arrangement, where three doors are aligned in a straight line (e.g., passing through the front door (or French windows), the kitchen door, and then the back door), is considered an omen of significant financial loss. It signifies money flowing away like water, impossible to hold onto, leading to severe financial leakage. If a major structural change isn't possible, homeowners are advised to consider installing a physical barrier at the front door, such as a screen, cabinet, or tall planter; alternatively, replacing the kitchen door with a sliding door; or using a single-panel curtain to block the flow of air and minimize strong airflow.

Directional Sha (煞) + Through-the-Hall Sha (煞)

Having bedroom doors facing each other creates a "clashing" energy flow, which can easily lead to arguments within the family. If the windows of the two rooms also face each other, it can cause drafts. If one of the rooms is the master bedroom and there is enough space, a simple screen can be used to block the airflow and increase privacy. In narrow spaces, a knee-length curtain can be used to block the airflow at the door, or one door can be kept closed as needed to avoid the air vents constantly facing each other.

From a scientific perspective, the problem of "through drafts" in a home can be caused by airflow running in a straight line for extended periods if the air vents are directly opposite each other (including front and back doors, floor-to-ceiling windows; for regular windows, only the airflow needs to be monitored). This can lead to unstable indoor temperatures. Opening and closing doors, with their direct airflow, can also create strong convection currents, causing a sudden gust of wind that can slam shut, resulting in a feeling of unease. To mitigate this issue, homeowners are advised to specifically request this from their designer during the renovation process. Using functional and aesthetically pleasing screens, shoe cabinets, or storage cabinets can help block the drafts, making the living environment more comfortable and peaceful.

Methods to resolve the "piercing wind" (穿堂煞):

First, place a screen in the middle of the passageway, set up an entrance hall at the main door, or place woody green plants where the airflow is strongest. This will slow down the original airflow speed by making it bend and travel through the room, increasing the time that the energy stays in the room and achieving the effect of gathering and retaining energy.

Secondly, place a "house-protecting talisman" behind the front door to neutralize the negative energy brought by the door, achieving the effect of allowing only auspicious energy to enter and preventing negative energy from entering. Otherwise, if negative energy enters, its destructive power will be even greater.

Third, place a set of five-emperor coins below the entrance door. This is used to attract wealth or ward off evil spirits. These ancient coins were indeed used countless times by the ancients, and they are copper coins from the most prosperous period of the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, their effect in attracting wealth or warding off evil is significant. However, the ancient coins must first be cleansed. Many coins are unearthed from ancient tombs and contain a lot of negative energy. Therefore, they must be cleansed first to remove this negative energy, then consecrated, and finally tamed with a talisman. Only in this way can wealth be attracted, and if the family members fall ill or encounter misfortune, then it will be a great loss.

Fourth, to gather positive energy, hang a "Abundant Wealth" ornament on the balcony. Many auspicious Chinese paintings and decorations feature fish, as the word for fish (鱼) is a homophone for "abundance" (余), symbolizing wealth and prosperity. In the past, "Abundant Wealth" was often represented by paintings. Now, paintings are less common, and jade fish are often used instead. Combining fish with ingots (元宝) further enhances the auspicious meaning of "Abundant Wealth." Hanging this ornament on the balcony helps prevent the leakage of positive energy.