Wuchen Tai Sui General Zhao Da

Wuchen Tai Sui General Zhao Da is one of the Sixty Jiazi Tai Sui deities who rotate annually in accordance with the sexagenary cycle; he assumes office during Wuchen years—such as 1988 and 2048—and oversees human fortune, misfortune, blessings, and calamities for that year. The zodiac sign associated with Wuchen is the Dragon; folk belief holds that those born in the Year of the Dragon experience benming nian (natal year) during Wuchen, while those born in the Year of the Dog encounter chong tai sui (direct conflict with Tai Sui). Both groups are advised to visit Daoist temples to perform the An Tai Sui (‘Stabilising Tai Sui’) and Bai Tai Sui (‘Worshipping Tai Sui’) rituals, offering reverence to the Tai Sui Xingjun (Stellar Lord of Tai Sui) to neutralise adverse influences of the year. The Tai Sui cult originates in ancient Chinese astronomy—particularly the Jupiter-based ‘Sui Xing’ (Year Star) calendrical system—and the taboo against disturbing earth where Tai Sui resides (as expressed idiomatically in ‘moving soil above Tai Sui’s head’). It is believed that the Sixty Jiazi Tai Sui deities take turns serving as celestial overseers, monitoring human conduct and moral conduct throughout the year; thus, during years of conflict with Tai Sui, devotees observe sincere worship and prayer to avert disaster, transform misfortune into blessing, and ensure peace, safety, and smooth progress.