15 Chinese Customs for Moving into Your New BTO Flat

One of most common fengshui topics in the Renotalk forum is the set of Chinese rituals/customs for the move-in ceremony that officially marks the start of living in your new home. 

For a quick and easy guide, Renotalker chingz2603 kindly shared some fengshui to-dos so you know just what to do when THE day finally comes.

1. Find a suitable auspicious day and time according to Tong Shu/Sheng (The Chinese Almanac); the selection of auspicious date should take into consideration the birth data of the family members, but priority is given to the house-owner/patriarch.

2. Prior the appointed date, light up the house for 3 consecutive nights (ensure that all the light bulbs are working).

3. At the appointed auspicious day and time (usually before noon and do move in before noon) – before entering the house, say a prayer at the door and proclaim that you are the rightful owner of the house and claim ownership and possession, and politely ask any 'uninvited guest' to leave (or perform religious ritual/rite according to your religious beliefs).

4. Enter the house with your sale and purchase agreement (and marriage certificate for newlyweds).

5. Before moving other things in, locate and position the altar, and perform the necessary sacred ceremony/rites.

6. Open all the door, windows, lights, water pipe, heater, electricity/gas appliance (to make sure and declare everything is functioning). We clean the energies or 'Qi' in the house by opening all the windows to let fresh air flow through the house.

7. Let the water run and gas burn for approximately 3 minutes. This is to signify the flow of energy/qi in the house.

8. Now invite others to come in (and no one should enter empty handed) Bring the 5 kitchen necessities (cooking oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, rice) – and according to some Chinese customs, bring a brush and broom, bucket filled with water, pairs of chopsticks or fork and spoon. (Some Chinese even bring a charcoal cooker with burned charcoal from the elders/parents' house to symbolize the "passing on" of a generation, to represent a "burning success".

9. Cook some things, boil a kettle of water and use the water to cook some things for sweet and/or a light meal with your family members.

10. If the furniture was placed in previously [see point 11 below] (they should not be placed at the exact location) position them properly at the appropriate location.

11. If the furniture has not been placed in, put them in now.

12. Put NEW money/red packet at where you should normally keep your money. For example, your desk drawer/safe – preferably the wealth corner.

13. Put sweets on all tables and desks, signifying/ushering in good fortune.

14. Pack enough clothing for (at least) a night stay (because of point 15).

15. Do make sure that you and the family members stay and sleep for the night after moving in.

1. Charcoal stove

2. Long red cloth for hanging on the door (Tie and hang a pair of leeks(suan), 1 carrot and 12 Allium tuberosum(jiu cai) on each end.

3. 1 rice container filled to the brim with rice (Place 2 cans of abalone, 2 oranges/mandarin oranges, 8 $1 coins inside a red packet(ang bao), 5 types of rice inside the red packet, and one packet of Chinese black seaweed(fa cai ) on top of the rice in the rice container)

Procedure:

1. Place charcoal stove outside the door entrance and light up the fire. First, roll a pineapple or throw 8 red packets into your home.

2. Next, with both hands holding the rice container, step over the lit charcoal stove and enter your home.

3. After entering, switch on all the lights, fans and stove fire.

4. With both hands holding expensive/valuable items, walk over the charcoal stove into your home, followed by other items like kitchen utensils and more. (Clothing can be moved in any time after these procedures.)

5. After moving in the items, move the charcoal stove to the front of the kitchen stove, or middle of the living room. Fill a kettle with water and place it on the charcoal stove to boil. The mouth of the kettle must be facing the kitchen. Do not face at any doors, windows and kitchen stove. Use the boiled water to make dessert or tea, and serve it to everyone for drinking.

*Note: Do not sweep or mop the floor for the three days after move in.

For Cleansing Your Home:

1. Prepare rice, salt, and dry tea leaves.

2. Mix them together.

3. Before entering your home, toss a handful of mixed rice, tea, and salt into your home from outside the open door entrance.

4. Enter and begin from the left side of the entrance in, spread mixture along all corners of your home when entering.

5. Lastly, leave your home and close the door. Do not return to home unless necessary – wait for 2 hours before returning home.

If you're on the look out for a professional fengshui master to help with choosing auspicious move-in dates and more, do check out Jade Metaphysics Consultancy for their broad range of geomancy services available. 

Jade Metaphysics Consultancy Pte Ltd

Website: http://www.jade-metaphysics.com

Email: alvin@jade-metaphysics.com

Contact: 9062 1266 / 9071 2008