Does Cremation Mean No Feng Shui? This Is the Truth
By - Jeremy G
Have you ever wondered why Feng Shui is often associated with burial rather than cremation?
The idea that cremation lacks Feng Shui is rooted in traditional Chinese beliefs about the connection between the physical body, the earth, and energy flow.
In this blog, we’ll break down why Feng Shui principles favour burial and how modern views are adapting to changing constraints.
Understanding Feng Shui and Its Importance
Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice focused on achieving harmony between people and their environment.
It dates back over 3,000 years, with its roots in nature worship. Early Chinese societies believed that elements like mountains, rivers, wind, and water were filled with Qi, a vital life force.
By positioning homes, tombs, and cities in harmony with these forces, people believed they could gain prosperity, health, and well-being.
In death, the idea is similar.
When someone is buried according to Feng Shui principles, the positioning of the body and the tomb can influence the energy of the land, which in turn affects the deceased’s family.
Yin Feng Shui, which focuses on burial sites, is designed to create a lasting connection between the deceased and the earth, allowing positive energy to flow to their descendants.
Why Feng Shui Favours Burial Over Cremation
1. Connection Between Body and Earth
Traditional Feng Shui emphasises the importance of the physical body returning to the earth.
Burial is seen as a natural way for the body to remain connected to the land, which is believed to carry Qi.
This connection is thought to benefit not only the deceased but also their living relatives by ensuring that Qi continues to flow. When someone is buried, their body stays in contact with the soil, creating a lasting bond between the body, the earth, and the energy around it.
Cremation, by contrast, disrupts this connection.
By turning the body into ashes through fire, cremation breaks the bond between the person and the natural environment, which is why some believe it lacks Feng Shui.
2. The Role of Earth and Fire in Feng Shui
In Feng Shui, the earth is associated with stability, grounding, and nurturing energy—qualities that are essential for ensuring the deceased’s spirit rests peacefully.
Burial is seen as a return to this stabilising force.
The body becomes part of the land, balancing Yin and Yang energies and promoting harmony between the deceased and the living.
Cremation, on the other hand, uses the element of fire, which is linked to transformation and disruption.
While fire is necessary in some contexts, in death it is seen as too active and disruptive, breaking the physical and spiritual connection to the earth.
This makes cremation less compatible with traditional Feng Shui beliefs.
3. The Importance of a Physical Burial Site
One of the key principles in Yin Feng Shui is the interaction between the tomb and the landscape.
The placement of the tomb—its direction, its surroundings (like mountains or rivers), and its alignment with natural features—allows the Qi to flow smoothly, benefiting both the deceased and their descendants.
With cremation, there’s no physical tomb to place in the landscape.
Urns are often kept in columbaria, which don’t interact with the land in the same way that burial sites do.
This absence of a physical site for the body to interact with the environment means that the Qi doesn’t flow as effectively, making it difficult to align cremation with traditional Feng Shui principles.
Modern Views on Cremation and Feng Shui
Despite traditional views, attitudes toward cremation are changing, especially in cities where burial space is limited.
In Malaysia, where land scarcity and urbanisation are evolving issues, cremation is becoming more accepted.
Some Feng Shui practitioners are adapting their principles to accommodate cremation, focusing on the placement of urns and the design of columbaria.
For example, columbarium like The Sky at Nirvana Centre Kuala Lumpur are designed with Feng Shui principles in mind.
Practitioners may focus on the orientation of the niche, the structure of the columbarium, and its alignment with natural energy flows.
While this is seen as an adaptation, traditional Feng Shui still holds that burial provides the most harmonious connection between the body, the earth, and Qi.
Conclusion
While traditional Feng Shui strongly favours burial due to its emphasis on the body’s connection with the earth, cremation isn’t necessarily “wrong.”
It reflects a different cultural and philosophical approach to death.
Burial is believed to preserve the flow of Qi between the body, the earth, and the living family, benefiting both the deceased and their descendants.
However, modern circumstances such as limited burial space and changing cultural attitudes mean that cremation is becoming more common.
Some Feng Shui practitioners are finding ways to apply Feng Shui principles to columbaria, but burial remains the ideal choice for those wishing to preserve the tradition.
At Malaysia Funeral, we bring over 9 years of experience in coordinating burial services that follow Feng Shui principles.
Our team works closely with families to ensure every detail is handled, from tomb placement and headstone orientation to preparing prayer items and ensuring compliance with religious and cultural traditions.
We guide you every step of the way—from enquiry, to funeral planning, to the final burial or cremation—while respecting your family’s unique needs.
If you’re looking for expert guidance to align your burial practices with Feng Shui, get in touch today to learn more about how we can help.
Related Articles
Explore our insightful articles on funeral traditions and memorial parks in Malaysia.
