What does the ancient prohibition on “sleeping without feet facing west and head not facing east” mean?

When it comes to sleep, our ancestors have taught us some superstitions: "Do not sleep with your feet facing the West and do not have your head facing the East." What does this mean? Let's find out.

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Sleeping is highly important for our health. Moreover, it is crucial to ensure that you choose the best direction to sleep in order to have a good and deep sleep.

Many people think that they should not pay too much attention to finding the best direction to sleep, but that is incorrect and there is evidence to show that the direction of sleep is completely related to a good night’s sleep.

According to the Chinese Feng Shui, it is necessary to pay attention to the interior direction of the bedroom, as well as the position of the bedroom in the house to create favorable conditions for the free flow of natural energy into the house. This also helps you sleep well. Chinese Feng Shui also suggests changing the direction of the bed to improve prosperity, health, or relationships around you.

In the past, our ancestors did not have a lot of education or a scientific basis, but with long-standing wisdom, they drew an experience that “Sleeping with your feet not facing West and your head not facing East”.

Our ancestors had a saying: “If you want to sleep easily, your feet must not face West and your head must not face East”. It is believed that sleeping in the North-South direction will help sleep better and be beneficial to health. Experts later discovered that this is scientifically based.

Literally speaking, a person should not sleep with their feet facing West and their head facing East. However, many people do not care about the sleeping direction and choose based on their instincts.

But in reality, the above teaching has certain reasoning. In construction, people often choose the North or South direction for their houses. Especially, a South-facing house has the characteristic of absorbing sunlight, helping to generate positive energy, and benefiting the homeowner. Therefore, the North-South direction is considered beneficial for the human body, helping individuals have more vitality.

In addition, the human body also has a magnetic field. Most people know that there are always North and South magnetic fields on Earth.

Therefore, when sleeping with the head facing East and the feet facing West, it goes against the natural magnetic law, which can affect the blood circulation in the body.

In a short period, the body may not show any changes, but in the long run, sleeping in the wrong direction will deplete the body’s energy and affect our health. Once the functions are disrupted, the body will encounter various issues such as dull skin, dizziness, poor sleep quality.

On the contrary, if you sleep with your head facing North and your feet facing South, you can maintain the balance of yin and yang in your body, which brings benefits to both physical and mental health.

In addition to the teaching about the sleeping direction, our ancestors also believed that the quality of sleep and the position of the bed also have a significant impact. Specifically, we should not place the bed against the wall, as this can hinder sleep.

The reason is that the paint and dust on the wall can fall down. Some of these components are harmful, and inhaling them can cause discomfort and even illness.

Another point is that the wall will become relatively damp and cold over time. These cold drafts will penetrate into the body when sleeping. For women, long-term exposure to cold drafts can cause menstrual pain, and for the elderly, it can cause joint inflammation, seriously affecting the quality of sleep.

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Frequently asked questions

There is an old Chinese belief that one should not sleep with their head pointing west and feet facing east. This custom is based on the concept of Yin and Yang, where the head represents Yang (positive energy) and should be positioned towards the east, while the feet represent Yin (negative energy) and should face west.

Sleeping with your head facing west is believed to bring bad luck and even death. This belief stems from the idea that the west is associated with death and darkness in Chinese culture. It is thought that sleeping in this direction invites negative energy and can disrupt the balance of Yin and Yang in the body, leading to ill health and misfortune.

Yes, this prohibition has cultural and religious roots in Chinese traditions and Feng Shui practices. It is deeply embedded in the concept of maintaining balance and harmony in one’s life and surroundings.

According to Feng Shui, the commanding position for your bed is with the headboard against a solid wall, preferably facing one of your auspicious directions, calculated using your birth date and the Bagua formula. This position is believed to provide a sense of security and support and promote positive energy flow while you sleep.

Yes, while the general principle of avoiding sleeping with your head west and feet east is prevalent in Chinese culture and Feng Shui, there may be variations and exceptions in other cultures. For example, in some Buddhist traditions, the ideal sleeping direction is considered to be with the head pointing north to symbolize resting in the embrace of Buddha, who is often depicted facing south.