Returning Tai Sui in 2024 还太岁: 4 Easy Steps to Do it Correctly

The time to return Tai Sui in 2024 has arrived. At the end of each year, many people perform the ritual of returning Tai Sui (还太岁), or Tai Sui thanksgiving prayer.

If you have visited temples to capture Tai Sui, sought divine assistance, borrowed from Guanyin’s treasury, etc., during the “Gui Mao Rabbit Year (癸卯兔年)” of 2023, you’ll need to return to the temple at the year’s end to perform the rituals of returning Tai Sui and the divine items.

Follow our comprehensive guide on how to correctly perform the returning Tai Sui ritual, choose auspicious days, prepare offerings, and master the method of returning divine items at home.

Who is Tai Sui?

Tai Sui is a revered deity in Taoism, responsible for overseeing the fortune and misfortune of humanity for the year, originating from ancient celestial worship.

The traditional method of keeping time in ancient times was the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches system, which uses ten Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui, and twelve Earthly Branches: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai, (甲、乙、丙、丁、午、己、庚、辛、壬、癸及十二地支：子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戌、亥) combined in cycles.

From Jia Zi to Gui Hai, a total of sixty years makes a cycle, hence referred to as “Sixty Jia Zi. 六十甲子” Each year venerates a Tai Sui, collectively known as “Sixty Tai Sui Deities 六十太岁尊神” or “Sixty Tai Sui Star Lords 六十太岁星君.” Taoist scriptures say, “The Grand General is the year’s commander, 大将军者，岁之大将也” thus Tai Sui is also known as the Grand General.

The Tai Sui of the current year is called “This Year’s Tai Sui, 当年太岁” and the Tai Sui of the believer’s birth year is known as “Personal Tai Sui, 本命太岁” also referred to as “Personal Yuan Chen 本命元辰” or “Personal Guardian God. 本命保护神”

Since Tai Sui governs the fortunes and blessings of humanity for the year, its power is immense and must not be offended. There’s a saying, “Do not stir the earth above Tai Sui’s head,” implying the importance of not offending Tai Sui.

Therefore, whether one is directly clashing with Tai Sui or offending Tai Sui, it’s crucial to worship Tai Sui at the beginning of the year, praying for Tai Sui’s mercy and blessings to transform misfortune into fortune and disasters into blessings, ensuring a smooth and prosperous year ahead.

Who Need to Return Tai Sui in 2024

The Zodiac signs that offended Tai Sui in the Rabbit Year of 2023 need to return Tai Sui in 2024, preferably at the same temple where they worshipped Tai Sui earlier that year.

• Rat
• Rabbit
• Dragon
• Horse
• Rooster

Best Time For Returning Tai Sui in 2024

By understanding and participating in the returning Tai Sui ritual—preparing appropriate offerings, choosing auspicious days, and following the steps of the Tai Sui ritual—you can mitigate the adverse effects of offending Tai Sui, ensuring harmony and well-being.

Traditionally, the best time to perform the returning Tai Sui ritual is before the Winter Solstice (冬至), 22nd December 2023, when temples hold returning Tai Sui activities.

However, if it’s not possible to complete the ritual before the Winter Solstice, you can choose to do it before the Start of Spring (Li Chun), i.e., before 4th February, 2024 (Sunday).

These rituals are not only a sign of respect for the Tai Sui deity but also a way for Hong Kong people to preserve their traditional culture.

Auspicious Days for Returning Tai Sui

Auspicious Days for Thanking the Gods, Changing Golden Flowers, Changing Divine Red in 2024

Auspicious Days for Thanking the Kitchen God in 2024

Note: The annual “Thanking the Kitchen God” dates are from the 23rd to the 25th of the lunar December (02.02.2024 to 04.02.2024). However, due to clashes with Tai Sui on lunar December 24th and 25th (Gregorian 03.02.2024 to 04.02.2024), these two days are not suitable for “Thanking the Kitchen God.” Besides incense and candles, sweet foods like tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) and maltose can be added for “Thanking the Kitchen God.”

Returning Tai Sui Offering Overview

• Prepare an even number of two or six brightly colored fresh flowers.
• Purchase Tai Sui garments at the temple dedicated to returning divine favors.
• Write the name and birth date of the individual returning Tai Sui on a “Believer’s” appreciation document.
• Place it in an envelope addressed to the Grand General of Tai Sui, along with incense and candles, on a treasure basin folded from gold and silver paper. This completes the Tai Sui “set.”

Preparing these offerings not only follows the ancient Tai Sui ritual but also expresses respect and gratitude to the Tai Sui deity.

Four Steps for Returning Tai Sui

1. First, worship Dou Mu Yuan Jun (斗姆元君), who oversees Tai Sui, and place the offerings in front of the deities in the temple who require appreciation, as well as in front of Tai Sui.
2. In the main hall, bow three times to Tai Sui, offer longevity incense, and insert thin incense sticks into the incense burner.
3. After worshipping the Tai Sui of the Year of the Rabbit, read the letter of appreciation, then worship the “current Tai Sui” associated with the individual returning Tai Sui.
4. After worshipping Tai Sui, dispose of the letter of appreciation and the Tai Sui garments in the incinerator or hand them over to the temple priest.

Returning Tai Sui at Home

For those living abroad or unable to personally visit the temple to return Tai Sui, they can choose to conduct the returning divine and Tai Sui rituals at home.

This involves writing “In Appreciation of the Current Tai Sui (酬谢当年太岁)” on red paper or placing a Tai Sui talisman on the home’s altar.

If there is an altar at home, place the written red paper on a clean red platform and simply arrange an incense burner in front for offerings.

What’s Next After Returning Tai Sui?

After returning Tai Sui, check if your zodiac clashes with Tai Sui in the new year (Fan Tai Sui). If there is a clash, you should prepare to worship Tai Sui again.