00:00This year is the year of the horse, and we're trying to make it the best year yet.
00:04By the way, Leslie, what's your zodiac sign?
00:06Why don't you take a guess, Tiffany?
00:08Well, you kind of look like a snake to me.
00:10Oh, you're really funny. I'm actually born in the year of the horse.
00:13So it's your year?
00:14Well, it's my year in that it's my zodiac year,
00:16but if you're thinking I'm going to have good luck, well, that's not the case.
00:20Because when it's your zodiac year, that's called your benning年,
00:23and that's considered bad luck because you're thought to offend Tai Sui, the god of fortune.
00:27Oh, gosh. Well, I hope nothing bad happens to you.
00:30But that means the rest of us are off the hook, right?
00:32Well, don't be so sure. We ought to check your sign, too.
00:35Well, I'm a rabbit, and it was just my benning年 a few years ago.
00:38Well, aside from the horse this year, there are a few other signs that need to be careful,
00:42and look at that. The rabbit's one of them.
00:44Wait, what? That's not even fair.
00:46Don't worry. There's something we can do about it. Follow me.
00:56We're here at Zhinan Temple in the outskirts of Taipei,
00:59a Taoist temple that was built 137 years ago.
01:04Every year for the Lunar New Year, thousands of people come to pray for good luck.
01:08But if you're like me and Tiffany, and you need to appease Tai Sui, well, they do that here, too.
01:12And with us today, we've got the chair of the temple, Gao Chao Wen,
01:17who knows the most about these traditions.
01:19Welcome to Zhinan Gong.
01:20Thank you so much for being with us here today.
01:23Zhinan Gong is a place of a cruise ship, a cruise ship.
01:26Now, we're going to try to do what we want to do.
01:30We want people to come to Zhinan Gong in the future.
01:33Zhinan Gong has six different types of development.
01:36The spiritual, education, and the culture, and the nature of the world.
01:40Of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs,
01:42every year there are a few that are unlucky.
01:45If you think of the zodiac wheel as a clock,
01:48and the baminian is 12 o'clock,
01:50then the signs at 3, 6, and 9 are also in need of spiritual help.
01:56For example, this year, the horse offends Tai Sui.
01:59Opposite the horse on the zodiac wheel is the rat,
02:02and the other signs that need help are the chicken and the rabbit.
02:06But Tai Sui isn't just one deity.
02:09It's a roster of 60 historic generals and bureaucrats
02:12who are deified for their virtuous spirit.
02:15Each year, they rotate duties as guardians for the year.
02:39For example, he's a武将, Mingdai的时候 the武将.
02:42At the same time, we have a very清楚記載 of his history.
02:48Really horrible things can happen to you
02:50if you have a sign that offends Tai Sui,
02:53like car accidents, illness, or relationship issues.
02:57To get around these poor fortunes,
02:59people can an Tai Sui or appease Tai Sui
03:02to make things right for the year.
03:04To do this, we need to register with the temple,
03:06who will then keep a small lantern lit for us throughout the year.
03:10Our names will appear in these little cubbies,
03:13and throughout the Lunar New Year,
03:14monks will pray to help relay our wishes to the gods.
03:18There's also a number of lights that are on the other side.
03:20The light lights will be like your smartphone.
03:23There is a door.
03:24With the on-scene, you have a connection.
03:25On-scene, you have a connection.
03:27You have connected to the other person.
03:28So you can be able to submit this願意
03:31to be in指南宮.
03:32To be in Tai Sui,
03:33at the same time, there is also a connection.
03:39Hello, I'm not at Tai Sui.
03:40You have been able to do this?
03:41No.
03:42You should not write the information.
03:44What are the names and the details?
03:44You should be in the name of the other hand.
03:47A little bit of basic information is needed like your name, address, and lunar birthday.
03:52If you don't know that, that's okay because they can convert it for you.
03:56Then there's the matter of payment.
03:58You can either use cash or even card.
04:01Once you finish registering for Antai Sui, you'll receive a protective amulet.
04:06But its powers aren't activated yet until you pass it over an incense burner outside.
04:12And that's it.
04:13But Jinan Temple doesn't just offer Antai Sui.
04:16In fact, it offers even more powerful blessings to supercharge your fortune in the new year.
04:22Taiwan's President Lai Qingde and Vice President Bi Kim Xiao keep a ceremonial rice barrel here for good fortune.
04:29On top are a few props for good luck.
04:31A wooden ruler keeps your judgment measured.
04:34Scissors help cut out your destiny.
04:36A scale maintains balance.
04:38A mirror encourages introspection.
04:40And a sword cuts down on sinful thoughts.
04:43Once again, there's a sword.
04:45It's also called避邪.
04:47But it's the most important to let you die, eat, and eat.
04:50Each temple is a little different in their interpretations of these religious traditions.
04:54So if you go elsewhere, your experience might differ from ours.
04:58But for the most part, Antai Sui is a widely practiced custom.
05:02Well, I'm feeling a lot better now that we've appeased Antai Sui.
05:06Me too.
05:07And now I'm really looking forward to the year ahead, starting off with some good Lunar New Year-y.
05:11We hope you enjoyed our efforts to have a more fortuitous year of the horse.
05:16And don't forget to Antai Sui.
05:18Ryan Wu, Hank Xu, Tiffany Wong, and Leslie Liao in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.
05:23Welcome to Antai Sui.
05:25Whatever you feel, I'm thinking.
05:26I'm feeling 12 months later.
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