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AFP - Getty Images
A salesman holds a gold coin with a snake image on it to mark the upcoming year of the snake in a gold shop in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, Thursday.
BEIJING -– Chinese New Year is just days away and, as hundreds of millions of people across China head back home in record numbers to ring in the Year of the Snake, many are eager to see what lies ahead.
Enter the Feng Shui master.
Though some in China see Feng Shui and astrological horoscopes as a fun novelty exercise in mysticism, for others Feng Shui masters are an essential consultant on any and all matters -– whether they be financial, political or romantic.
Some trusted experts are reputed to pull in tens of thousands of dollars in commissions for each consultation from superstitious individuals and even companies wanting to peer into their murky futures.
Feng Shui master Chen Shuaifu’s credentials are top-notch.
The 60-year old has been a stalwart of the industry for years and serves as chairman of the Chinese Feng Shui Association, which has more than 50,000 members.
In 2012, Chen gave us his predictions for the Year of the Dragon, which included an auspicious year for those born in the Year of the Snake -- such as 1929, 1953, 1977 and 2001 -- like Xi Jinping, born 1953, who has since risen to head of the Communist Party and will formally become president of China at next month’s National People’s Congress.
He also urged those born in the Year of the Dog -- including 1958, 1982 and 2006 -- to postpone life decisions, small consolation to Rick Santorum, born 1958, whose presidential campaign folded last year.
Chen has been fielding calls all month from believers to get his thoughts and predictions for 2013.
Chinatopix/AP
Passengers wait for their buses in Shanghai Friday as millions of Chinese make their way for family reunions ahead of the Chinese New Year.
Bad news for pigs
Getting the bad news out of the way right off the bat, Chen predicted a terrible year for those born in the Year of the Pig, which fell on 1959, 1983 and 1995, among other years.
“Snakes and pigs clash and don’t get along,” Chen explained. “If the pig doesn’t have bad luck, then his or her family will suffer the ill fortune.”
A year after he predicted the Year of the Dragon would be a prosperous year for snakes -- “snakes grow up to become dragons,” Chen sagely told NBC News last year -- this time he forecast a down year for serpents.
Traditionally, one does not have good luck in the year of his Chinese astrological sign.
Ever the politician, though, Chen predicted that the snake’s poison would not fell Xi.
“The emperor is not affected by this bad luck,” noted Chen.
For pigs and every other snake except Xi, Chen strongly urges that they consult a Feng Shui master and consider dedicating a part of their home to Tai sui, celestial generals appointed by the Jade Emperor -- the ruler of heaven and all other realms -- to oversee the matters of mankind.
Perhaps most ominously for some, Chen declared 2013, the “year of the widow” warning that many “marriages will die” and that the divorce rate will be higher than normal.
To counterbalance the dark negativity surrounding troubled marriages, Chen recommended that homes be decorated in red as much as possible.
“In China, a city develops faster if it has more red colors,” Chen said, “It is the same all over the world. So try to use red colors as much as possible.”
Good times for roosters, monkeys
Despite his ominous predictions for current marriages, Chen had good news for those planning to get married: Do it.
“Tradition and experience tells us that it’s good to get married on the year when China changes leaders,” Chen said. “It is also a good time to have babies if you are planning.”
Others poised for a good year are those born in the Year of the Ox -- such as 1961, 1973, 1985 and 1997; Rooster -- including 1933, 1957, 1981 and 2005; and Monkey -- such as 1956, 1968, 1980 and 1992. The monkey is said to be the only animal clever enough to handle the snake.
And for entrepreneurs looking for the next big thing to invest in, Chen strongly urged them to look at Internet companies.
“The most successful businesses this year will be e-business,” he said. “Think Alibaba or Amazon.”
Chen made a range of other predictions for 2013, including:
- 2013 should bring rapid economic development for China with GDP growth of 9%. Like last year, though, Chen has little faith in the mainland’s real estate market, despite signs that it’s heating up again.
- Sino-U.S. relations will be healthier than many people expect. “It’s hard to hurt America and it’s even harder to hurt China,” says Chen, who doesn’t expect either country will want to test that belief.
- Ever the nationalist, Chen predicted peace between China and Japan over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands dispute, but not for the reasons you may think: “If Japan dares to fire the first bullet, China has the power to fight against it until China recaptures the Diaoyu islands,” Chen declared. “So everything will be quite smooth between Japan and China.”
Eric Baculinao and Le Li contributed to this report.
On behalf of all us at Behind the Wall, thanks for reading and best wishes for a happy Chinese New Year and prosperous Year of the Snake.
Leave a Comment:
And a bad year for those making predictions, (like every other year...)
How about those Mayans?
The radio preacher from Cleveland or wherever?
Hey NBC, where's the headlines reguarding the plea bargin Jessie Jr. made with the Feds.? Spending untold million's of Campaion cash $$$$? Still trying to spin it so it looks like a White man set him up?
You should be reading from Fox. Not all articles have to be about politics, but then again this is not the year of the *ss like when Bush was suppose to be a President
"When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain't the way" - Stevie Wonder
When I first saw the headline, I thought the article was about Obama's tax plan.
Feng Shui --- What happens when you give somebody your money to rearrange your furniture.
Wilman, the Mayans never predicted the end of the world. 2012 was simply the end of a cycle and it was Dec. 21 was simply the last day of the last year of that cycle, and it happened to be as far as they had written down dates. There was NOTHING about the end of the world. Stupid new-age types put that spin on it.
Who is the cleveland radio preacher?
@Denver Bill, Who gave money away? Bush gave Iraq enough to make over 1 Trill that was all borrowed money.
That Tax Return you got from Bush, That was Borrowed Money.
What about the 2 Trill that Cheney misplaced, Under GWBs time in office? Wink, wink on that.
Bush was an easily led around alcholic by Cheney and neither man should have benn allowed anywheres near the Oval Office. That's a fact you can stick in your Bong and suck it up or roll it in a tube and shove it where the Sun don't shine. I don't give a crap that you can't handle the truth but at least ease up on the Troll Aid that you suck down so easily.
@6dogs,
If you want to engage in a dialogue about which President has spent or wasted the most money, I will be happy to oblige. However, I suspect, based on the content of your posts, that you are better suited to cast aspersions upon those you so glibly refer to as "Troll Aid suckers" than you are to defend your own sacred cows.
They will look into the "heavens" for an answer, and find none.
Maybe they should look at themselves........
huh....
pass the sweet and sour pork please...
what year is good for female chines babies?
Does anyone know what Chinese sign on the calendar they were born? They have 12 signs of different animals with meanings.
http://www.chinesenewyears.info/chinese-new-year-calendar.php
Starbuck49 - Thanks for the info! I will be cooking Chinese food tonight. Too much going on this month! MardiGras, Chinese New Year, Valentine's, President's Day and several family members' birthdays...Whew!
Welcome
Rabbit, supposedly a cultured, refined sign. Or so I've been told. I guess I need to look into it a little more.
Let the snake devour the ox. Obama is the ox.
Magic 8-Ball, is this a bunch of baloney? YES Will it be a good year for the "RAT"? YES
I am really looking forward to an action by NASA to set up another website to prove this is not true.
Hey, I'm a monkey! A great year for me! Woo-hoo!
So you will be piloting an Iranian space ship?
All hail the Monkey King!
He can do anything!
oops - sorry Jim M. - misquote
;)
party on
Hello losers, ALL included.
That's not such a nice thing to say.
My name one hung man, welcome year of snake
the chinese can go to hell because no one cares what they say Gods going to put them there any how the sooner the better as far as I care
How old are you.....ten?
They don't care what you say either. To them, you are nothing.
There is a Black Snake in the White House?
That is an insult to snakes.
I know. It's a "fake", black snake.
The monkey was in the White House from 2000 to 2008.
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushmonkey3.htm
Oh God Rocky,, now you did it,, that name just speaks, O-Abomination..Shouldn't even mention that name to the depressed,,its just like a pill that makes people want to kill???LOL,,,,And that is coming from a person who was filled up with every pill they could pump into me and I got ten times worse depression, suicidal and such.. Now almost 3 years not taking a thing, well I am only part nuts but not dead like the doctors want,, he he..LMAO,,, O-Abomination is a bad pill and it's killing Americans slowly but surely.. NIKE,,take a Jesus PILL,,they calm you down, you can again think and then pray. All the worldly things, WELL this world is HELL today and we have better waiting, stay strong, stay blessed, because MY whole outlook right now. If you are "NOT" being attacked by Satan at this time in history, YOU are probably his minion because why would he attack his own Army. HE WOULDN'T and he surely knows who is winning this war. Yet many fail today to stand for Gods Army and they make easy targets.. Don't be that easy target, Take up you sword and shield, invoke the name and they will flee,,They may come back but each time they get weaker... I only have one reason to live today and I look forward to death in my pain and suffering, But God is using his people today in a powerful way. BE ONE OF THOSE being used by God. Too many are falling to SATAN and this world, this world being filled with drugs so your mind is not sound, Doctors filling us up with every drug, so our minds are not sound and this O-Abomination only making unrest and dividing us for their great purpose and I promise in my testimony, my faith today. They are not of Gods purpose for any of us...STAY STRONG, stay in the word, and testify to what you see and hear. If you notice I do allot of that today but God has given me signs that I have wrote about and the blind again won't see, the deaf do not hear. I HEARD, I HAVE SEEN 3 great signs, number 4 happening right now as I speak, TWO more will happen soon and I give all praise to God, and the rest can call me crazy...LMAO,,but truly serious..be blessed and WATCH< SF-LV and the coming heavens...Gods word to me, passed on to those who hear..Because you will soon SEE as I have in the testimony of these facts. A half hour here, a mass murder or ten a storm, a sign from heaven and massive destruction that has yet to raise its head..CALL ME CRAZY BECAUSE EVEN THE CHURCHES ARE TODAY AND I SING PRAISE BECAUSE IT WAS TOLD TO ME THAT THEY WOULD..
Oooo, I don't like to read this since I'm a little piggy. Last year was good fortune and this year bad? I wonder how my sheep husband will do this year.
THE TYGER (from Songs Of Experience)
By William Blake
and blatantly changed by ME using artist creativity, and well - maybe I'm just "monekying around with the words...
Guess what sign I am :)
Monkey! Monkey! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Monkey! Monkey ! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
"millions of people across China head back home in record numbers to ring in the Year of the Snake, many are eager to see what lies ahead."
Confucius say Man who lay woman on ground gets piece on earth.
...
Once upon a time, two chaste monks were walking alongside a river - when a beautiful woman asked them for help to cross the river.
The eldest monk, immediatly picked up the woman, and carried her across.
Then he returned and continued upon the path with his companion.
After a short time - the younger monk said: We monks of our order are NOT supposed to have contact with women!!! Why did you pick her up so casually and carry her across the stream???
The old Monk replied: Brother - I set that woman down a long time ago.
Why is it that you have not?
Wool diligence,Excellent.Loved that fable.
The Chinese hold their New Year in high regard more than we do ours.It is a big celebration for them and I would love to be able to go to China and celebrate with them.
I know what sign I was born under. I was born under the sign that says hospital. Amazes me that Chinese people can be so intelligent and have one of the fastest growing economies in the world and still fall for Feng Shui nonsense. This character is making probably millions off selling a bunch of saps silly nonsense. Check their astrologer, maybe they should check their astronomer instead to make sure some asteroid is not going to fall on their head. Now I must stop to fix my aura since it seems to be leaking out on the floor, read my astrological chart to see the best time to have a bowel movement and knock down my half million dollar house because my Feng Shui masters tells me it is pointed in the wrong direction.
Actually Wool that is a Buddhist story. I am not sure whether it originated in China or Japan.
To Chuck. Why do Christians insist on picking up the sword and fighting with someone? Why not sit home, sit back in that easy chair and have a cool one? Invite the neighbors over. You know the Jewish family, Hindu Family, Buddhist Family, Athiest Family and even the Mormons, well give them some Mormon gin since they do not drink beer. You are worrying about nothing. Those are just myths to provide you with moral principles so you are not a jackass. Satan is a fictious being made up to personify evil. Heaven and Hell are not places you go when you die but are part of the everyday human condition. Stop being driven by fear and stop making yourself into a slave. Be happy. It is a great life you have so enjoy it.
Oh please, in China every year is the year of the snake.
Serpents represent wisdom cast upon the earth.
All serpents are dragons, but not all dragons are snakes.
Horoscopes are false heavens. There are no Wu Li in horoscopes.