Grand Duke Jupiter
As the lunar year comes around, it is a time for making arrangements to appease the Tai Sui. Actually appeasing may be the wrong word. The more apt phrase may be to make offerings.
This Tai Sui. Some have called it the Grand Duke Jupiter but that may not be entirely correct. Neither is it wrong as the Tai Sui is related to the 60 year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar. Why it is probably wrong is that tradition and custom along with deity belief has evolved and blended itself into this practice. But I suppose we leave that to the scholars!
Those of us who are said to come under this year’s Tai Sui radar are those born in the tiger, monkey, boar and snake years. For tiger years check it out here. The other years are:
Monkey 1968
Boar 1959
Snake 1977
Adding or deducting twelve years would give the other years. For example 1956 (1968 -12) is also a monkey year. The other animal signs work the same way.
According to the Tai Sui story, it is not all bad. You see, there are 60 variants of Tai Sui and if the story is to be believed, they are earthly deities assigned to look after the peace and harmony of earthly life. In a sort of way, they are here to guard the peace, a sort of policeman. So, if one is on the right side of the law there is nothing to fear.
To be on the right side of the law requires a few simple acts on our part. All that is required are a few simple offerings which can be done after the beginning of spring, the LiChun.
The date this year is 4/2/2010. From that day on we can make offerings to Tai Sui. It is not correct as some advise to do that now simply because the Tiger Tai Sui only takes office after the 4th. However it is a practice to thank this year’s Boar Tai Sui after the winter solstice DongZhi which fell on 22th December.
Coming back to the tigers, monkeys , boars and snakes, the offering ritual is in reality very simple. However some choose to crowd with others at their favorite temple to do so. It is a nice social event that is if you have the free time to hang around and inhale the smoke and incense.
Some who have their own shrine make it very simple. The ingredients are fresh flowers, fresh fruits, clear green tea, oil lamp and the Tai Sui seal. For fruits, apples are favorites as it rhymes as harmony and peace. Most of the stuff can be bought quite easily. It is the last bit which is a little tricky. In most Chinese communities, one just pop into the incense shop and ask for the Tai Sui seal and the shopkeeper will give it to you. The simple one is a piece of printed paper with words on it. In the old days, they were wood block printed but now everything has gone digital. And prettier too. If you can’t find one, it is fine although the traditionalist will say that the seal is important as it contains magic words.
The ritual or ceremony involves placing on the offering items, light the lamps, burn the incense, make your wish aloud, make a few prayers and then burn the Tai Sui seal along with the paper representation of gold or money. The job is done. Some may want to do it again in 6 months time. Half yearly bonus for Tai Sui.
Tai Sui practice also goes hand in hand with “Grandpa Tiger” practice. Sounds familiar? It is the practice of sending off the nasty people who make our lives difficult and heralding those good Samaritans into our lives.
These are all a mixture of astrology and folk practice which has evolved through the times. I don’t do Tai Sui but I thank my mother who does all the hard work.
