Attracting Prosperity
Feng Shui wealth objects are found in Chinese homes and businesses worldwide. Each has specific placement rules and cultural significance.
The Major Wealth Symbols
1. Money Frog (金蟾, Jīnchán)
The three-legged toad sitting on a pile of coins:
- Place facing inward (toward the house) — it's bringing money in
- Best near the entrance but not directly facing the door
- The coin in its mouth should face upward
- One of the most powerful wealth attractors in Feng Shui
2. Laughing Buddha (弥勒佛, Mílè Fó)
The round, happy figure often mistaken for the historical Buddha:
- Represents abundance, contentment, and good fortune
- Place facing the main entrance
- Rubbing his belly is said to bring good luck
- Different poses have different meanings (holding beads = meditation, holding sack = wealth)
3. Lucky Cat (招财猫, Zhāocáimāo)
Originally Japanese (Maneki-neko) but widely adopted in Chinese culture:
- Left paw up: Attracts customers (for businesses)
- Right paw up: Attracts money and good fortune
- Both paws up: Protection and prosperity
- Color matters: Gold = wealth, White = happiness, Black = protection
4. Pixiu (貔貅)
A mythical beast that eats gold and silver but has no anus — symbolizing money coming in but never going out:
- One of the most powerful wealth protectors
- Place facing outward (toward the door or window)
- Never place in the bedroom
- Touch its head daily to "activate" it
5. Dragon Turtle (龙龟, Lóngguī)
A turtle with a dragon head:
- Combines longevity (turtle) with power (dragon)
- Place on your desk facing the door for career advancement
- Can be placed on a pile of coins for wealth
Placement Rules
| Object | Faces | Location | Don't | |---|---|---|---| | Money Frog | Inward | Near entrance | Don't place in bathroom | | Pixiu | Outward | Living room | Don't place in bedroom | | Lucky Cat | Main door | Shop counter, entrance | Don't place on the floor | | Dragon Turtle | Door | Desk, living room | Don't place behind you | | Laughing Buddha | Main entrance | Living room | Don't place in bathroom |
Do They Work?
Whether these objects "work" depends on your framework:
- Traditional belief: They channel positive energy and attract wealth
- Psychological view: They serve as positive reminders and intention-setters
- Cultural view: They connect you to centuries of Chinese prosperity traditions
Either way, millions of successful businesses and happy homes display them — and there's something to be said for a tradition that has persisted for centuries.