Growing trees takes years of care, but cutting them down can take just a few hours or even minutes. Trees can’t cry or shout, but folklore holds that they have souls and can feel pain. Some believe that certain trees, if cut down indiscriminately, can impact the feng shui and luck of a family, and may even take revenge.
Our ancestors warned against cutting down five specific types of trees, as doing so could bring bad luck, illness, or failure. Even for a large sum of money, one should not cut these trees, as it could lead to unforeseen troubles.
1. Ancient Trees in Temples and Shrines – Cutting Them Down Invites Divine Wrath
In temples and shrines across Vietnam, one can find ancient trees, some dozens or even hundreds of years old. These trees hold historical and spiritual value and are often considered sacred. In some places, altars or small shrines are built at the tree bases, believed to be dwelling places of deities.
Folklore holds that cutting down these sacred trees without permission or performing a careful relocation ritual can bring misfortune, including persistent illness and business failures. As these trees are intimately connected to the spiritual energy of the place, reckless actions may invoke the wrath of the deities or the residing spirits.

2. Large Roadside Trees with Altars – Housing Wandering Souls
Some large trees along roadsides or at intersections may have altars with incense burners and offerings. These sites often commemorate victims of traffic accidents or serve as offerings to wandering souls. These trees are believed to house the spirits of the deceased, ghosts, or even transformed spirits of animals.
Cutting down these trees without caution or performing the necessary rituals may result in spiritual attachment, leading to unexpected misfortunes. Oral traditions tell of people who cut down these trees without permission and subsequently suffered prolonged illnesses and family discord.
In some cases, when expanding roads, people choose to alter the road’s path rather than cut down these spiritually significant trees.

3. Ancient Camphor Trees – Guardians of Prosperity
Camphor trees are valuable for their shade and medicinal properties, with camphor oil used in traditional medicine. In feng shui, ancient camphor trees are considered symbols of longevity, stability, and prosperity. Having one in front of your house is believed to bring good fortune, wealth, and health.
Our ancestors believed that cutting down an ancient camphor tree meant losing the invisible protection and luck it provided. This is why families with camphor trees tend to cherish and carefully tend to them, never cutting them down without a compelling reason.
4. Elder Eucalyptus Trees – Dwelling Places of Spirits
Eucalyptus trees, especially older ones, are often associated with mystical stories. In the past, people buried their loved ones under these trees, giving them a sacred significance and even considering them “ghost trees.”
However, in modern feng shui, eucalyptus trees carry a positive connotation. The word “eucalyptus” sounds similar to “abundance” in Chinese, symbolizing sufficiency and prosperity. Families with long-standing eucalyptus trees are believed to attract wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. Therefore, cutting down a eucalyptus tree not only loses a valuable feng shui asset but also diminishes the family’s fortune.

5. Long-Standing Feng Shui Trees in Family Compounds – Don’t Disturb Their Energy
Feng shui trees that have brought luck and fortune to a family for many years should not be cut down, especially if the family is thriving. These trees have become a part of the family’s feng shui, and cutting them down would be wasteful and disruptive to the established energy flow.
Respecting and cherishing these long-standing feng shui trees is akin to preserving a “treasure trove” in your garden, a symbol of abundance, a large family, and a comfortable life.
Particularly for feng shui trees symbolizing wealth, such as pomegranate, persimmon, or grapefruit trees, cutting them down would be like “throwing away a pot of gold,” severing the flow of blessings from ancestors.
Our ancestors’ teachings go beyond tree-cutting advice; they reflect a way of life, a respectful coexistence with nature and the spiritual realm. Preserving sacred trees is not just about feng shui but also about honoring nature, ancestors, and traditional cultural values.
The information in this article is based on folk beliefs and is for reference only.
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