Tai Sui 2027: the Fire Goat Year
Tai Sui (太岁) is the "Grand Duke of the Year": the deity — and in astronomy the counter-Jupiter — that governs each year of the sixty-year cycle. 2027 is the 丁未 (Ding Wei) year of the Fire Goat, governed by General Miao Bing (缪丙); the Tai Sui sits in the Goat's branch 未, in the South-southwest.
"Offending the Tai Sui" (犯太岁) is not a superstition about bad luck at random: it is a fixed table. A sign offends the year when its branch is the same as the Tai Sui's (值), directly opposite it (冲), in a punishment group with it (刑), in a harm pair (害) or in a destruction pair (破). For 2027 that table gives 4 signs, listed below with the birth years that fall in each.
The solar year — the one the Tai Sui follows — begins at Lichun, 4 Feb 2027, 09:46 (Beijing time, UTC+8), not at Chinese New Year (6 February 2027). If you were born between 1 January and Lichun of your birth year, you belong to the previous sign.
Zodiac signs that offend the Tai Sui in 2027
| Sign | Relationship | Chinese | Severity | Birth years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goat (未) | Presiding (Ben Ming Nian) | 值太岁 | Major | 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| Ox (丑) | Clash + Punishment | 冲太岁、刑太岁 | Major | 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| Dog (戌) | Punishment + Destruction | 刑太岁、破太岁 | Moderate | 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 |
| Rat (子) | Harm | 害太岁 | Minor | 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
Goat: Presiding (Ben Ming Nian)
Goats are in their Ben Ming Nian (本命年, 值太岁): the year's own sign sits with the Tai Sui. Classical almanacs read a presiding year as a year of transition rather than misfortune — roles change, chapters close, new ones open. The traditional response is to "settle the Tai Sui" (安太岁) at the start of the year and to wear something red received as a gift.
Ox: Clash + Punishment
The Ox clashes (六冲, 冲太岁) with the Goat: the two branches sit directly opposite each other. Of the five Tai Sui relationships this is the most active — the classical reading is movement: travel, relocation, changes of job or household. Clash years are described as unsettled, not unlucky; tradition favours changes you choose over changes forced on you. The Ox is in a punishment relationship (三刑, 刑太岁) with the Goat. The texts describe 刑 as friction over obligations — paperwork, contracts, guarantees, promises made for other people. The traditional advice is to read every document twice and to avoid standing surety.
Dog: Punishment + Destruction
The Dog is in a punishment relationship (三刑, 刑太岁) with the Goat. The texts describe 刑 as friction over obligations — paperwork, contracts, guarantees, promises made for other people. The traditional advice is to read every document twice and to avoid standing surety. The Dog is in a destruction relationship (六破, 破太岁) with the Goat. 破 is the mildest of the afflictions; the classical image is something breaking midway — a plan, a deal, a device. The practical reading is redundancy: backups, second options, buffers in the budget.
Rat: Harm
The Rat is in a harm relationship (六害, 害太岁) with the Goat. 害 is read as quiet interference rather than open conflict: small betrayals, gossip, favours that cost more than expected, minor health niggles. Tradition emphasises checking details and not lending on trust alone.
Afflicted directions in 2027
| Affliction | Chinese | Direction | Traditional rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tai Sui position | 太岁方 | South-southwest | The Goat's branch 未. Tradition: do not face it directly for long periods and do not dig or renovate there this year. |
| Sui Po (Year Breaker) | 岁破方 | North-northeast | Directly opposite the Tai Sui. Tradition: avoid ground-breaking and major changes on this side. |
| Three Killings | 三煞方 | West | Tradition: you may face it but should not sit with your back to it; no construction on this side. |
Signs the Tai Sui favours in 2027
| Relationship | Signs |
|---|---|
| Six Harmony with the Tai Sui (六合) | Horse |
| Three Harmony with the Tai Sui (三合) | Pig, Rabbit |
Traditional remedies
| Remedy | Chinese | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| Settle the Tai Sui | 安太岁 / 拜太岁 | A temple rite (or a home version) at the start of the year, addressed to the year's Tai Sui general — for 2027, General Miao Bing (缪丙). Done between Lichun and the Lantern Festival by custom, and "thanked" at year end (谢太岁). |
| Tai Sui amulet | 太岁符 / 太岁卡 | A paper talisman or card with the general's name, kept in a wallet or at home for the year. Where possible it is obtained from a temple rather than bought as a decoration. |
| Red items received as gifts | 红绳 / 红内衣 | Red bracelets, belts or underwear are worn through the year; by custom they are given by family or friends rather than bought for oneself. |
| Pixiu and the year's harmony animals | 貔貅 / 生肖合物 | Ornaments of the Tai Sui's Six Harmony animal (Horse) or Three Harmony animals (Pig, Rabbit) are the classical "borrowed harmony" remedy. |
| Avoid the afflicted directions | 避太岁方动土 | No renovation or digging towards South-southwest (Tai Sui), North-northeast (Sui Po) or West (Three Killings) this year. |
These are customs, not guarantees. Nothing on this page predicts an outcome; the tables describe how the classical almanac classifies the year.
Frequently asked questions
- Which zodiac signs offend the Tai Sui in 2027?
- Goat (Presiding (Ben Ming Nian)), Ox (Clash + Punishment), Dog (Punishment + Destruction), Rat (Harm). The Goat is in its own Ben Ming Nian; the other three follow the clash, punishment, harm and destruction tables of the twelve branches.
- Where is the Tai Sui in 2027?
- In the South-southwest (branch 未). Sui Po, the opposite side, is North-northeast; the Three Killings are in the West.
- Who is the Tai Sui general of 2027?
- General Miao Bing (缪丙), the 丁未 general of the sixty-general cycle used in Taoist temples.
- When does the 2027 Tai Sui year start?
- At Lichun, 4 Feb 2027, 09:46 (Beijing time, UTC+8). Chinese New Year is 6 February 2027; the almanac year used for Tai Sui, BaZi and Feng Shui follows Lichun.