A Chinese Tradition Shared with Us: Feng Shui

A Family Memorial Ground

On Monday morning, Nirund and Petcharin picked us up at our hotel and we drove a few kilometers outside of Lampang, turned off the main road onto a side road, and eventually turned onto a narrow dirt track and stopped at a padlocked gate. Nirund unlocked the gate and we drove into this lovely plot of land and parked under a copse of trees.

Nirund explained to us that this is the memorial grave site of the Jivasantikarn family. It was purchased by his father many years ago and currently holds the graves of Nirund's father and mother. Eventually this will be the final resting place for Nirund and Petcharin and other members of the family.

Nirund's father immigrated from China in 1918 and became a successful Lampang business man,. He and his wife raised and educated eight children and were important and influential members of Lampang society. Nirund has continued the legacy of service and influence begun by his father in his role as a university president and community leader. (In testament to this, it is impossible to go anywhere in Lampang without someone coming up to Nirund and Petcharin to greet them warmly.)

Nirund's father wanted to find the perfect location for a family memorial site. He spent an entire year in his search - even bringing Feng Shui experts from China and Taiwan to assist. At one point he even hired a helicopter to aid in discovering the ideal location.

(The concept of Feng Shui originated in China and endeavors to employ the earth's invisible energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. It is closely linked to Taoism and its literal English translation is "wind-water". Feng Shui is used in determining the  best orientation of buildings, homes, tombs, and other structures so that the most auspicious location can be established as related to surrounding water, land, wind and sky.)

This is the grave of Nirund's father - one of the founders of the Lampang Chinese-Thai society.

This is the grave of Nirund's mother.

Beth and I were honored to be given the privilege of placing flowers at the grave sites of both parents.

We greatly appreciated the opportunity to visit this special place and the joy of sharing it with Nirund and Petcharin.