ngưu miên

Definition

1. Noun:
   • "Ox-sleep" land: In traditional Vietnamese geomancy (phong thủy), this term refers to a specific type of burial ground or plot of land considered highly auspicious for tombs. It is believed that such land brings peace and prosperity to the descendants of the deceased.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The geomancer identified that plot as ngưu miên, perfect for the ancestral tomb.
  • According to old beliefs, burying an ancestor in ngưu miên land ensures good fortune for the family.

Advanced Usage

• The concept is deeply rooted in historical East Asian geomancy and is rarely used in modern, everyday language except when discussing traditional customs or folklore.

Variants and Related Words

• Đất ngưu miên: This is the full, more common phrase meaning "ox-sleep land."
  • Cả dòng họ tìm kiếm mảnh đất ngưu miên. (The whole clan searched for a piece of "ox-sleep" land.)

Synonyms

• Auspicious burial ground: Land considered lucky for a grave.
• Fortunate grave site: A tomb location believed to confer blessings.

Related Cultural Concepts

• Phong thủy (geomancy): The ancient practice of harmonizing with the environment, where ngưu miên is a specialized term.
• Long mạch (dragon vein): Refers to the beneficial energy lines in the earth, which an auspicious site like ngưu miên would possess.