Xinchou Tai Sui General Yang Xin

Xinchou Tai Sui General Yang Xin is one of the Sixty Jiazi Tai Sui deities who assume annual duty in the Xinchou year (e.g., 2021, 2081), overseeing all human fortune and calamity for that year. As the Ox is the zodiac sign associated with Xinchou, those born in the Year of the Ox enter their benming nian (birth-year cycle) and thus sit directly beneath the Tai Sui, while those born in the Year of the Goat experience a ‘clashing’ (chong) relationship with the Tai Sui. According to folk custom, both groups are advised to visit temples to install and venerate the Tai Sui image with sincere devotion, seeking the Star Lord’s protection and mitigation of adverse influences. The Tai Sui concept originates from the ancient Jupiter-based calendrical system; the saying ‘daring not to dig earth above the Tai Sui’ reflects the deep-rooted belief in the Tai Sui as the supreme celestial authority governing the year. Devotees commonly attend Daoist temples on the 8th day of the 1st lunar month to worship the Tai Sui, praying for disaster avoidance, longevity, and smooth passage through the year.