Zodiac Year of Birth


The Zodiac Year of Birth is called Ben Ming Nian (本命年) in Chinese. The animal year when a person was born is called his / her Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Year of Birth).
When is Zodiac Year for a person ?
Ben Ming Nian refers to the Chinese lunar year which starts from the Chinese New Year (Chinese Spring Festival) and ends on the Chinese New Year's Eve (the last day of the Chinese lunar year). For example, 2022 is Year of the Tiger starting from Feb.1, 2022 to Jan. 21, 2023. So, for the person under the Tiger sign, 2022 is his Ben Ming Nian.
The distinctive zodiacal way of calculating years based on the lunar calendar decides that every once in every twelve-year cycle people will meet their birth signs.  12 zodiac animal years are regarded as a cycle in Chinese lunar calendar, so every 12 years, people will encounter their Ben Ming Nian. In other words, when people are at the ages of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and even 84, they are actually experiencing their Chinese zodiac birth year. One person may go through seven to eight zodiac years in a life time. 

Zodiac Year of Birth is an Unlucky year

In folklore, it is a very popular superstition that people's zodiac year of birth is an unlucky year, so it is also called Threshold Years, which means a year with a lot of obstacles in life.
Why is Ben Ming Nian considered ominous? It is said that starting from the Chinese New Year of one's year of birth, people will offend 'Tai Sui', a mysterious power or celestial body that could control people's fortune. Impacted by this power, people will suffer either exultation or misery during that year.
However, there are effective ways to diminish the unlucky impacts. The most popular solution is wearing red underwear, socks or waist belts given by elders, for red is believed to bring them good luck. Some jewelry accessories may also help, such as pendants and bracelets with auspicious images.


Avoid Bad Luck in One's Ben Ming Nian
Although it seems that people in their Ben Ming Nian are surrounded by crisis, there are effective ways to diminish the negative impacts.

1. Dressing in Red
The most popular way to avoid miserable events is to wear red underwear, red waist belt and red socks, which are believed able to suppress the evil spirits. In case of being set up by bad guys, people can also get a pair of red shoe-pads, which may trample everything dishonorable.

However, these stuff must be purchased by families or friends. If the one buys those items themselves, the function will be greatly reduced. Due to Chinese people's special affection for red, thus redness has become the token of festivities, success, bravery, rightness, and prosperity.

2. Wearing Talismans
Talismans like jade bracelet and crystal necklace are also useful to defend personal safety. Jade, crystal and gold possess psychic power, which help to appeal to good luck. If these accessories designed in Pixiu image, it would be much more auspicious. Pixiu is a mythical creature who can bring people wealth and suppress the evil.

3. Blood Donation

It is said that people are more likely to suffer physical injuries in their zodiac year of birth. Apart from avoiding high-risk outdoor activities, they could also choose to make a blood donation to avoid the misfortunes.


4. Enshrining the God, Tai Sui
As the fortune of the whole year is controlled by Tai Sui, it would be better if people go to temples to worship the god. Hence, their career will be prospered and their life will also be smooth.


What To Send To A Person In His/Her Zodiac Year?
As Ben Ming Nian is regarded as an unlucky year, people who are in their zodiac year are destined to face lots of problems and obstacles. If your family members or friends are in their Ben Ming Nian in 2022 year of the Tiger, sending them proper Ben Ming Nian gifts could help them greatly improve their luck. In traditional Chinese culture, red is an auspicious color which can ward off evil spirits. Therefore, it's good to choose something in red like red scarf, red belt, red clothes etc. to someone in his zodiac year as a gift. Click to get some advices of Good-luck Gifts to a Person in His/Her Zodiac Year. 


Fortune In Ben Ming Nian

According to the Chinese astrology, the zodiac year is a year of bad luck. Most Chinese people are afraid to spend their birth sign year. Why is it unlucky? It's said that the people during the Ben Ming Nian are easy to encounter Tai Sui who is the legendary God in charge of people's fortune. Their fortune usually fluctuates during the year. Many bad things such as illness, financial loss, extramarital affair etc. may happen to them. Some people think it's superstitious to believe this. In fact, it's not completely bad for people in the zodiac year. It varies greatly from individual to individual. Some people may have good fortune instead of bad luck. But in general, marriage, moving house, travel, starting business…are thought to be worthy of great attention during the year.

2022 is year of the Water Tiger, so it's the Ben Ming Nian for the people under the Tiger sign. Click to find horoscope predictions for the Tiger People in 2022. People born under the Tiger sign clash Tai Sui in 2022. Click Chinese Zodiac 'Fan Tai Sui to get some cures. 

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