Xinwei Tai Sui General Li Su

Xinwei Tai Sui General Li Su is one of the Sixty Jiazi Tai Sui deities, assuming office during Xinwei years—such as 1991 and 2051—and overseeing all human fortune and calamity for that year. As the Xinwei year corresponds to the Year of the Sheep, those born under this zodiac sign enter their benming nian and thus sit directly beneath Tai Sui; those born in the Year of the Ox, meanwhile, clash with Tai Sui (chong Tai Sui). According to folk custom, both groups should enshrine and worship Tai Sui at temples to seek the deity’s benevolent intervention and protection. The concept of Tai Sui originates in the ancient stellar-calendar system centred on Jupiter (Sui Xing), whose twelve-year orbital cycle formed the basis of early Chinese timekeeping; the saying ‘daring not to dig earth above Tai Sui’ reflects the profound reverence accorded to Tai Sui as the supreme celestial administrator of the year. Devotees commonly visit Daoist temples on the 8th day of the 1st lunar month to worship Tai Sui, praying for disaster aversion, longevity, and smooth passage through the year.