Seating and Viewing Direction

What are seating direction and viewing direction in Feng Shui?

In Feng Shui—particularly in the Compass School—every building has two fundamental orientations that together form the basis for all further calculations.

Facing

The facing is the active, open, outward-facing side of a building. It points forward—toward where the house “looks.” In the language of the four animals, this is the Phoenix side: open, inviting, and facing toward life. The facing direction receives Qi and determines how a building connects with its surroundings.

A common misconception: The facing is not automatically the side with the front door. What matters is the more active, more open side of the building. This could be the side with the largest window front, the street-facing side, the side with the most beautiful view—or, in fact, the front door, if it also represents the most open side. Building design, surroundings, and function all play a role.

Seating Direction (Sitting)

The sitting direction is simply the side opposite the viewing direction—the “back” of the building. In animal symbolism, this corresponds to the turtle: the protected, quieter side that provides stability. The sitting and viewing directions are always exactly 180 degrees apart.

Why These Two Values Are So Important

For any Flying Stars analysis, the sitting and facing directions are determined first. Together with the year of construction, they are incorporated into the star chart and determine which energy patterns manifest in which areas of the house. An error in determining the sitting and facing directions affects the entire chart—which is why this step deserves special attention, ideally combined with a careful compass measurement (see Luo Pan) and an assessment of the qualities of the building’s form.

What should I do if the front door and the open side face in different directions?

The next step is to weigh these two factors against each other. The key factor is which side of the building truly opens “outward”—where there is more light, more activity, and more contact with the surroundings. In some cases, it helps to look at the original building plans or the building’s historical use to identify the actual direction of view.

Can the orientation of a building change?

In general, a building’s orientation remains stable. However, major renovations—such as a new main entrance on a different side or a complete renovation—may, under certain circumstances, make a reassessment advisable. In such cases, it is worth carefully reevaluating the building’s changed use and openness.