Dear All,
After Dong Zhi aka Winter Solstice of Year 2007, all Paying of Gratitude to Lord Tai Sui of Ding Hai Year will end (for those who miss this, can do it before 16th Day of Lunar 12 Month of Ding Hai Year).
And after sending off of Deities on the 24th Day of Lunar 12 Month of Ding Hai Year, all people who got into conflict with Lord Tai Sui of Wu Zi Year will have to prepare to pay their respect to Lord Tai Sui of Wu Zi Year known as General Zou Dang or General Ying Bang.
So when is the best time or day to pay respect to General Zou Dang or General Ying Bang?
According to Chinese Custom Records, paying respect to a New Year Lord Tai Sui starts on Li Chun Day which means that, the start of a Lunar New Year (a lot of people may think that the 1st Day of Lunar 1 Month is the start of a New Lunar Year, but actually is not, if we are to go according to the Old Ancient Calendar, Li Chun shall be the actual day of the arrival of Spring Season).
And so, not necessary to wait till the 4th Day of Lunar 1 Month, after the returning of Deities from the Celestial Palace.
So when is Li Chun Day for Wu Zi Year?
Li Chun Day for Wu Zi Year falls on 28 Day of Lunar 12 Month, 04 Feb 2008, after 19:03Pm.
So for those who needed to pay respect to Lord Tai Sui of Wu Zi Year, you all can do it on the 29 Day of Lunar 12 Month, 05 Feb 2008.
Where can we pay respect to Lord Tai Sui of Wu Zi Year?
Here're a few Temples that you can visit:
Bao Chi Temple at Magazine Road (near to Subordinate Court at Chinatown, with 60 Tai Sui)
Yue Hai Qing Temple at Philip Road (in CBD, they got the oldest set of 60 Tai Sui in Singapore)
Jade Emperor Temple at Havelock Road (with temporary tablet for Wu Zi Year Tai Sui)
Jade Emperor Temple at Telok Blangah Road (2 Temples there, with One statue for Dang Nian Tai Sui)
Tian Fu Gong aka Ma Zu Temple at Telok Ayer Street (with One statue for Dang Nian Tai Sui)
An Ji Sheng Wang Temple at West Coast (with 60 Tai Sui)
Lei Yin Temple at Bukit Merah View (with One statue for Dang Nian Tai Sui)
& more
So what must be prepared?
Usually the Temples that dedicate Altars for the Tai Sui will have set of offerings prepared for Devotees, but if you all need to prepare extra or on individual share, here's the suggested items:
1 One set of Mandarins (5 quantities)
2 One set of Chinese Tea Leaves & Traditional Cookies (Jian He)
3 One set of Lord Tai Sui Incense-paper (optional)
4 One set of Lord Tai Sui Talisman (optional, beware that, only choose the Taoism one, not those mix with other Religions Wordings/Charms on it)
5 One set of Incense (not to short, medium length will be best more than 48cm)
6 An Ang Bao with an amount of S$1.20 or S$12.00
7 A Spiritual Petition to report on the name, age, DOB and address of the person who paying respect to Lord Tai Sui (some Temples will prepare for the devotees, if not, can always look for any Taoist Spiritual People for one)
Hope that by paying respect to General Zou Dang or General Ying Bang, necessary blessings will be bestowed to one self and the family.
Wu Liang Shou