Wushen Tai Sui General Xu Hao

General Xu Hao, the Wushen Tai Sui, is one of the Sixty Jiazi Tai Sui deities who rotate annually to oversee human affairs. He assumes duty during Wushen years—such as 2028 and 2088—and governs the fortune, misfortune, blessings, and calamities experienced by humanity throughout that year. The zodiac animal associated with Wushen is the Monkey; thus, individuals born in the Year of the Monkey are said to be in their benming nian (natal year), directly ‘facing’ the Tai Sui, while those born in the Year of the Tiger are considered to ‘clash’ with the Tai Sui. Both groups are traditionally advised to visit Daoist temples to perform the An Tai Sui (‘Stabilising the Tai Sui’) or Bai Tai Sui (‘Worshipping the Tai Sui’) rituals, offering reverence to the Tai Sui Star Lord to neutralise adverse astrological influences. The Tai Sui cult originates in ancient Chinese astronomy—specifically the Jupiter-based sexagenary cycle—and the folk taboo against disturbing the earth where the invisible Tai Sui deity resides (hence the saying ‘disturbing the earth above the Tai Sui’). It is believed that the Sixty Jiazi Tai Sui deities take turns serving as celestial overseers, monitoring human conduct and moral conduct across the realm; therefore, during years of conflict with the Tai Sui, devotees observe sincere worship and prayer to dispel disasters, transform misfortunes into blessings, and ensure peace, safety, and smooth passage through the year.