What is the White Tiger?

1. To the Chinese, a white tiger is particularly `inauspicious' or considered unlucky to see a white tiger especially one is gambling.

In one legend, after 500 years, a certain tiger changed it's coat of fur and turned white. This is how we now call the West side of a building or house the " White Tiger ". If you have read the Four Symbolic Animals or Four Cosmic Animals concept at 4 Animal Spirits, you will notice that on the East is the " Green Dragon ".

2. Both the East (Green Dragon) and West (White Tiger) are often used by Feng Shui Masters to relate to Feng Shui enhancements of Qi or for feng shui cures.

East (Green Dragon) domain

Logically East is the location of the rising sun and thus a Yang location. The Green Dragon is considered the most Yang of all Feng Shui animals. It is encouraged that plants can be grown here.

West (White Tiger) domain

The White is considered the most Yin of all Feng Shui animals. It is considered courageous and noble animal. It is also seen by many FS practitioners as a fierce and determined animal.

3. Under the Landscape School of Feng Shui you will usually hear that for a house, on the East (the Green Dragon) should be higher than the West (White tiger) and the two should `embrace' each other.

In this `natural order' it is preferred by FS Masters that the Green Dragon should be higher than the West tiger. Eg. a building on the left side (dragon) of your building should be higher than the right (tiger's side). This is said to bring more fortune to the owner.

What happens when this natural order is reversed? i.e. The West Tiger side is higher than the Green Dragon side. For the owner of the middle house for example, will become "dominated." For example, if he has a son, his son would dominate the house or if he has a mistress, he will be dominated by his mistress and she will be more the fortunate than the owner.

Cecil Lee
Center for Feng Shui Research
1.2.1999