Tai Sui, has been regarded as a sort of mysterious force that can somehow dominate and influence people’s destiny. When it comes Tai Sui, perhaps you are most impressed by the folk saying that, those who clash with Tai Sui in Ben Ming Nian will face misfortune in that very year. In fact, Tai Sui refers to the Grand Duke Jupiter. In ancient times, Chinese astronomers numbered the years according to the 12-year orbital cycle of Jupiter. For example, in a Zi year, Tai Sui will be at a Zi direction while in a Chou year, it will be at a Chou direction, and so on. The Twelve Earthly Branches correspond with each other in space and time, which means an earthly branch will refer to time when it comes to heaven and refer to space or direction when it comes to earth. Therefore, Tai Sui in Feng Shui terms is actually the direction of earthly branch in a year. For example, in the year of Geng Yin, Tai Sui falls to Yin, so Yin (northeast) will be where the Tai Sui located in that year; in the year of Xin Mou, Tai Sui falls to Mou, so Tai Sui will be located at Mou (east) in that year. Ancient Chinese people took Tai Sui as the Grand Commander of the Year and the due direction of it was regarded as the position of worship.
Every year, the direction of Tai Sui is considered the superior or monarch position which opposes the subject or inferior position. The opposite direction of Tai Sui (Sui Po Direction or The direction of Year Breaker) is known as conflict with Tai Sui, which means the subject will offend its monarch. In Feng Shui theory, it is a top taboo to conflict, clash or damage Tai Sui. The directions in conflict with Tai Sui are as follows:
- A door opposite the direction of Tai Sui. If the door of your office or room is facing the direction of Tai Sui or the opposite, it is a clash with Tai Sui.
- Layout. If your seat, bed, office, kitchen or bedroom faces away Tai Sui or the opposite direction, it is a clash with Tai Sui.
- Break ground. It is a taboo to break ground at the direction of Tai Sui or the opposite direction. Otherwise, you will offend Tai Sui and invite misfortune.
In addition, you will clash with Tai Sui if you attend school, engage in trade, work or travel to the direction if Tai Sui or the opposite.
Another folk saying goes that, Tai Sui is the God of Year (or Grand Commander of the Year) who is in charge of people’s fortune and is most powerful of the gods. There are sixty Gods of Year who have different names and take turns to govern in cycles. Generally, if your animal sign is same with a year, you will clash with Tai Sui in that year; if your animal sign conflicts with the sign of a year, you will conflict with Tai Sui. Legend goes that in a year of clash with Tai Sui, you will have changeable luck, poor health, and be prone to lawsuit, dispute and obstacle.
Some people believe that Tai Sui is a kind of glossy ganoderma recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica, which grows in moist soil and is edible or used as medicine. It can ”fight aging and prolong life if taken for a long time” and can regenerate once cut. Legend has it that, those who dig a Tai Sui will face endless misfortunes, thus clash with Tai Sui.
