Chinese Zodiac Clashes and Tai Sui
Tai Sui (太歲) is the year's ruling branch, personified as the Grand Duke Jupiter; a zodiac sign "offends" Tai Sui when its branch is the same as the year's, clashes it, or forms a punishment, harm or break with it.
| Clash (沖), 6 pairs | Rat–Horse (子午), Ox–Goat (丑未), Tiger–Monkey (寅申), Rabbit–Rooster (卯酉), Dragon–Dog (辰戌), Snake–Pig (巳亥) |
|---|---|
| Six harmony (六合), 6 pairs | Rat–Ox (子丑), Tiger–Pig (寅亥), Rabbit–Dog (卯戌), Dragon–Rooster (辰酉), Snake–Monkey (巳申), Horse–Goat (午未) |
| Three harmony (三合) | Monkey–Rat–Dragon (Water), Pig–Rabbit–Goat (Wood), Tiger–Horse–Dog (Fire), Snake–Rooster–Ox (Metal) |
| Punishment (刑) | Rat–Rabbit (子卯), Ox–Goat (丑未), Ox–Dog (丑戌), Tiger–Snake (寅巳), Tiger–Monkey (寅申), Snake–Monkey (巳申), Goat–Dog (未戌); self-punishment: Dragon, Horse, Rooster, Pig |
| Harm (害), 6 pairs | Rat–Goat (子未), Ox–Horse (丑午), Tiger–Snake (寅巳), Rabbit–Dragon (卯辰), Monkey–Pig (申亥), Rooster–Dog (酉戌) |
| Break (破), 6 pairs | Rat–Rooster (子酉), Ox–Dragon (丑辰), Tiger–Pig (寅亥), Rabbit–Horse (卯午), Snake–Monkey (巳申), Goat–Dog (未戌) |
Who offends Tai Sui in 2027
The 2027 branch is 未 (Goat).
| Sign | Relation with 2027 Tai Sui |
|---|---|
| Rat | 害太歲 |
| Ox | 沖太歲, 刑太歲 |
| Tiger | – |
| Rabbit | 三合 (ally) |
| Dragon | – |
| Snake | – |
| Horse | 六合 (ally) |
| Goat | 值太歲 |
| Monkey | – |
| Rooster | – |
| Dog | 刑太歲, 破太歲 |
| Pig | 三合 (ally) |
The five ways to offend Tai Sui
- Own year (值): the year has your branch. Read as a spotlight year with change of role or home.
- Clash (沖): your branch is opposite. The strongest relation, read as movement and upheaval.
- Punishment (刑): friction, often with close people or agreements.
- Harm (害): indirect, small misunderstandings.
- Break (破): the mildest; plans need a second pass.
Each sign in 2027, in one line
- Rat (子): 害太歲.
- Ox (丑): 沖太歲 + 刑太歲.
- Tiger (寅): no direct relation.
- Rabbit (卯): ally (三合).
- Dragon (辰): no direct relation.
- Snake (巳): no direct relation.
- Horse (午): ally (六合).
- Goat (未): 值太歲.
- Monkey (申): no direct relation.
- Rooster (酉): no direct relation.
- Dog (戌): 刑太歲 + 破太歲.
- Pig (亥): ally (三合).
Where Tai Sui comes from
Tai Sui began as a counter-planet: an invisible body moving opposite Jupiter, whose twelve-year orbit gave the twelve branches. Over time it became a deity of the year, with a named general for each of the sixty years. The almanac also marks the year-breaker (歲破), the branch opposite Tai Sui, which in 2027 is 丑.
How people mark a Tai Sui year
Many families in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia visit a temple early in the lunar year to pay respects to the year's Tai Sui, especially when their sign is in conflict with it. askjoss treats this as cultural practice and focuses on what you can plan: which months and days suit big moves, and which are better for preparation.
The same relations work day by day: every almanac day "clashes" one sign. See the daily almanac.
How askjoss computes it
All relations come from fixed branch tables (six clashes, six harmonies, four trines, the punishment groups, six harms, six breaks) in our open engine. Your personal year also depends on your day branch, which your Joss Profile shows. Full notes, including every simplification, are on How we calculate.
Common misconceptions
- "Offending Tai Sui means bad luck." Classical texts read it as a year of change; askjoss treats it as a prompt to plan, not a verdict.
- "Only your zodiac sign matters." Many practitioners also check the day branch, and the year's relation to the whole chart.
Sources
- 《協紀辨方書》: defines 太歲, 歲破 and the year spirits used in day selection.
- 《三命通會》: sets out the clash, punishment, harm and combination tables.
Related: What is BaZi? · Day Master · Five elements · Tong Shu almanac · Da Liu Ren · Qi Men Dun Jia
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to offend Tai Sui?
Your zodiac branch is the same as the year's, opposite it (clash), or in a punishment, harm or break relation with it.
Which signs offend Tai Sui in 2027?
Rat (害太歲), Ox (沖太歲, 刑太歲), Goat (值太歲), Dog (刑太歲, 破太歲).
Which sign clashes the Goat?
The Ox: 丑 and 未 sit opposite each other on the twelve-branch wheel.
askjoss presents Chinese metaphysics as cultural tradition and a tool for self-reflection. It is not medical, legal, financial or psychological advice, and no reading can promise an outcome.