Bingchen Tai Sui General Xin Ya

General Xin Ya of the Bingchen Year is one of the Sixty Jiazi Tai Sui deities, taking celestial charge during Bingchen years—such as 2036 and 2096—and overseeing human fortune, misfortune, blessings, and calamities throughout that year. The Bingchen year corresponds to the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac; folk belief holds that those born in the Year of the Dragon experience 'zhi tai sui' (direct confrontation with Tai Sui) during this year, while those born in the Year of the Dog encounter 'chong tai sui' (clashing with Tai Sui). Both groups are advised to visit Daoist temples to perform the 'An Tai Sui' (installing Tai Sui) and 'Bai Tai Sui' (worshipping Tai Sui) rituals, offering reverence to the Stellar Lord of Tai Sui to neutralise adverse influences of the year. The Tai Sui cult originates in ancient stellar chronology centred on Jupiter (the 'Year Star', or Sui Xing) and the taboo against disturbing earth in the direction governed by Tai Sui—hence the saying 'do not dig soil where Tai Sui resides'. It is believed that sixty Stellar Lords of Tai Sui rotate annually in strict sequence, each observing human conduct and judging virtue and vice; thus, during years of 'fan tai sui' (offending Tai Sui), devotees earnestly pray and make offerings to dispel disasters, transform misfortune into blessing, and ensure peace, safety, and smooth passage through the year.