Feng Shui

The mansion was built with strict adherence to the rules of Feng Shui. Wary that future development might put a T-junction outside his front door, our man built a row of five shophouses directly opposite it. This became the original domestic annexe for his mansion. The five shophouses stood to this day. (Believed to be owned by the Boon Siew Group.)

I'm not sure I understood this. Bats, butterflies and the "wedding" word are auspicious? These are crafted into the top of the beams where it met the ceiling.

We were ushered into the first open courtyard (air well) and made to sit around it. Our feet settled on the courtyard which is two to three steps below. (Depending on where you're seated.) This sunken area collects water when it rains and since water is "money" it bodes well. Excess water escaped through holes such as the one on the right into the underground drainage system.

Water from the roof gutter is similarly drained through copper pipes embedded in the walls into the underground drainage system.

"Its all about symmetry", said the tour guide as she circled her hand above her head.  "A Chinese house is typically made to fill up all available space so you often see rectangular ones. If there's a staircase on the left, you will find one on the right. See?" She continued.

"Feng Shui should not be taken lightly" One of Mr Cheong's grandson migrated to Australia. He took along with him a stone lion and kept it in his storeroom. He collapsed and died shortly after. Stone lions are not meant for homes."

Notice the number of steps leading to the courtyard. (See pictures below.) That'll be two steps towards the front of the house and three steps at the back. The back portion of the house stood higher than the front via split level flooring.

This had something to do with the feng shui rule of having the mountain at your back and the river in front ... or something to that effect.