What Is Benming Year
Benming Year (本命年) refers to the year that coincides with one's own birth zodiac sign. It comes once every 12 years and is a unique folk cultural concept deeply rooted in Chinese daily life.
For example: A person born in the Year of the Tiger will experience their Benming Year in the next Year of the Tiger, 12 years later.
Folk Belief: Benming Year as a "Threshold Year"
Why Benming Year Is Considered Risky
Traditional folk custom believes that Benming Year brings fluctuation of fortune — easy to encounter trivial troubles, changes and minor setbacks. In traditional terminology, this is called "Zhì Tàisuì" (值太岁) — one's zodiac directly "faces" the year's ruling Grand Duke Jupiter.
Because of this, Benming Year is also called "Kǎn'er Nián" (坎儿年) — literally "threshold year" or "hurdle year."
Core Custom: Wearing Red
The most widespread Benming Year tradition is wearing red items for protection and blessing:
| Red Item | Custom |
|---|---|
| Red underwear / underpants | Must be gifted by someone else (not self-bought); worn from New Year's Eve |
| Red belt / waistband | Tied for the full year; wards off disaster, welcomes blessings |
| Red string / bracelet | Worn on wrist; protects against bad luck and ill-wishers |
| Red socks & shoes | Full-body red presence strengthens the protective qi field |
| Red scarf / accessories | Additional red items enhance the auspicious effect |
Other Traditional Remedies
- Worship Tàisuì: Visit a temple to pray to the year's Grand Duke Jupiter for protection
- Tàisuì talisman: Carry or place an amulet specific to the year's ruling deity
- Donation & merit: Make charitable donations at temples for spiritual protection
- Avoidance customs: Stay away from funerals, avoid visiting the sick, be cautious with long-distance travel
- Low-key behavior: Avoid major risks, large investments, or impulsive life changes
- Harmonious zodiac accessories: Wear a figurine or charm of a compatible zodiac (e.g., Rat wears Ox, Ox wears Rat)
Zodiac Compatibility Pairs
Folk tradition suggests wearing the zodiac of your "Six Harmony" (六合) partner for protection during Benming Year:
| Your Zodiac | Wear This |
|---|---|
| Rat (子) | Ox (丑) |
| Ox (丑) | Rat (子) |
| Tiger (寅) | Pig (亥) |
| Rabbit (卯) | Dog (戌) |
| Dragon (辰) | Rooster (酉) |
| Snake (巳) | Monkey (申) |
| Horse (午) | Goat (未) |
| Goat (未) | Horse (午) |
| Monkey (申) | Snake (巳) |
| Rooster (酉) | Dragon (辰) |
| Dog (戌) | Rabbit (卯) |
| Pig (亥) | Tiger (寅) |
Benming Year is an important carrier of zodiac folk culture, reflecting Chinese people's pursuit of stability, peace and auspicious life.