Sleeping with your feet pointing directly toward the door is widely considered inauspicious, particularly in East Asian traditions. The belief centers around the symbolic and spiritual implications of this orientation. In Chinese and Japanese funeral customs, deceased individuals are carried out of a building feet-first. Mimicking this position while sleeping is thought to invite misfortune, sickness, or even death.
This superstition is formalized in feng shui, where it is referred to as the “death position.” The door is viewed not only as a physical entryway but also a threshold between the worlds of the living and the dead. Placing the feet in direct alignment with the door is believed to create an energetic channel through which negative forces—or even spirits—can enter and drain vitality from the sleeper.
The belief was shaped by both spiritual symbolism and practical concerns. In earlier centuries, a person positioned this way might be more vulnerable to drafts or intrusions. The orientation also violates feng shui principles that emphasize protecting the body during rest and maintaining a sense of security in one’s sleeping space.
