2026 Year of the Horse: “Duo Chun” & “Duo Sui Jun” to Attract Good Luck on Li Chun
The Start of Spring (Li Chun) in the Gregorian calendar falls on February 4, 2026, marking the official beginning of the Bingwu Year (Year of the Horse).
The Start of Spring is the starting point of the Sexagenary Cycle (Gan-Zhi calendar), signifying the arrival of a new cycle. As a pivotal moment of transition between the old and new cycles, people with a relatively weak birth chart or those who have faced repeated misfortunes—especially those clashing with the Year God (Sui Jun)—must avoid impatience, arrogance, and confrontation on this day. It is best to stay relaxed, keep kind thoughts, and maintain a positive mindset. Rooted in traditional Chinese understanding of astronomy, the calendar, natural phenomena, and respect for time and life, people often choose to “Duo Chun” (Hide from the Spring) on the Start of Spring to pray for blessings, welcome good fortune, and attract luck in the new year. Colloquially, “Duo Chun” means “hiding from the Year God.”
On February 4, 2026, the Start of Spring, we officially enter the Bingwu Year. Bing is the fire of the sun, shining brightly everywhere; Wu is yang fire and the red horse. In the Bingwu Year, Bing Fire sits on the Yang Blade (Yang Ren), and Wu contains the yin earth of Ji, leading to extreme yang transforming into yin. The Nine Purple Fire Luck begins to surge and clash with the annual energy.
The entire year can be summarized as:
Radical changes, breaking the old to establish the new, gentle outwardly but strong inwardly, able to keep wealth once it comes.
1. Abundant Fire Brings Blessings, Wealth Can Be Secured
The Four Pillars of Destiny at the Start of Spring 2026 are:
Bingwu Year, Gengyin Month, Jiyou Day, Bingyin Hour.
The Master Element is Ji Earth, born in early spring when cold lingers and farmland remains frozen. Two Bing Fires warm the chart—abundant fire brings profound blessings. Wood governs the Officer and Seal stars, supporting each other, turning weakness into relative strength. Water, representing wealth, is absent.
The first half of the year brings many opportunities and challenges, but with little meaningful support from noble people. It is easy to become impetuous, stubborn, and stuck in a one-track mind, repeating mistakes. Only in the second half can you properly exert your abilities, with efforts more likely to pay off. This year, fire struggles to generate wealth, and the wealth star is lacking. Hard work will only gradually translate into rewards in the latter half. You must cut unnecessary expenses, increase income and reduce expenditure, so that wealth can be preserved once earned.
2. Fire Fanned by Wind, Breaking the Old to Build the New
In the Bingwu Year of the Horse, “clarity” and “change” go hand in hand. Old orders and hidden conflicts will surface, forcing drastic reforms. The of intense fire energy with the Nine Purple Great Luck is like fire fed by wind: the collapse of old things and the eruption of new ideas will be more intense. New concepts will break through constraints and emerge radically; clinging to outdated ways will leave you vulnerable to the shocks of the times.
3. Yin-Yang Alternation, Women Rising
In the Bingwu Year, Bing Fire sits on the Yang Blade of Wu Fire. Wu contains Ji, a yin earth element, and is the pivotal branch where “extreme yang turns into yin” among the twelve Earthly Branches. Thus, transformation will be accompanied by a shift in yin-yang forces. More women will step from behind the scenes into the spotlight, gaining control over greater resources and important positions. Men should avoid excessive risk-taking and radical moves, cultivate restraint, maintain stability, and adapt to changes.
4. Gentle Outwardly, Strong Inwardly, Rational and Calm
Fire governs both “propriety” and “violence.” Unrestrained Bingwu fire can easily lead to impatience, radical actions, conflicts, and confrontations. Therefore, this year you must stay calm, manage your emotions well, and learn to adapt appropriately while upholding your principles and bottom lines. Plan thoroughly before any action, never overlook the importance of stability, and avoid wrong decisions that bring unnecessary risks and losses.
5. Adding Fuel to the Fire, Avoid the South
The Bingwu combination has extremely strong fire energy. The Five Yellow Sha star occupies the southern Li Palace, combining with the fire luck to form a pattern of “adding fuel to the fire.” The south and southwest are prone to disputes and troubles. The southeast, where the Nine Purple lucky star resides, is a prosperous direction but carries mixed fortunes due to excessive fire.
6. Realistic Goals, Reject Internal Friction
On a personal level, the strong fire this year brings abundant energy, vitality, and strong communication skills, which favor self-improvement and self-expression. Plan ahead and focus your time and energy on structured, gradual progress toward your goals.
With the Injury Officer star restraining your strong energy, you can face challenges with wisdom and ability, gaining a certain degree of control and breakthroughs. However, avoid scattered focus and excessive thinking that leads to internal friction. Set reasonable goals, release stress in a timely manner, and accept imperfection.
Wealth stars are lacking this year, so effort and reward may not be proportional. Make sound financial plans; only when accumulated labor is converted into tangible returns can you hold onto what you gain.
Fire flares upward but does not moisten downward, so the economy may show “false prosperity,” and price fluctuations could intensify. Do not switch jobs casually if your current position is stable. Reject the lure of empty fame and superficial profit, and maintain solid inner strength.
In addition, those with a weak original birth chart or a dislike of fire should consult a professional. They can analyze the annual flow, recommend auspicious items, and adjust home or office environments to improve overall fortune.
Who Needs to “Hide from the Spring” in the Bingwu Year?
Now that we have entered the new Bingwu Year, which groups of people are more likely to be affected by external forces and need to “Duo Chun” to avoid clashing with the Year God, reduce negative influences, and start the year on a good note? Below is a detailed guide to the practice of “Duo Chun.”
01 Time and Location for Duo Chun
The exact Start of Spring for the 2026 Bingwu Year of the Horse is:
February 4, 2026 (17th day of the 12th lunar month), 4:02 AM
This corresponds to the Four Pillars: Bingwu Year, Wuyin Month, Jiyou Day, Bingyin Hour.
Duo Chun Period:
From the early morning of the Start of Spring day until after sunrise.
Recommended Locations:
If conditions allow, you may go to directions that favor your personal luck or the prosperous direction of the Year God (refer to the auspicious directions of the Nine Palaces Flying Stars below), such as high mountains or reputable hotels, where yang energy is strong. You may also stay quietly in your bedroom, study, or private office at home.
02 People Who Need Duo Chun to Neutralize the Year God
1. People born in the Year of the Rat (clashing with the Year God)
Zi (Rat) and Wu (Horse) clash, a fierce conflict between water and fire.
Prone to instability and conflicts in all areas of life.
Wealth comes and goes easily, draining your energy.
Focus on steady progress and abide by laws and rules.
2. People born in the Year of the Ox (harming the Year God)
Clashing in harm with the Year God, facing more difficulties and setbacks.
Although protected by the Direct and Oblique Seal stars,
there is a lack of substantial support.
Stay alert, cautious, and nip problems in the bud.
3. People born in the Year of the Rabbit (breaking the Year God)
Clashing in breaking with the Year God, facing obstacles in all endeavors.
Energy drains easily, thoughts change frequently.
High effort with low reward, easy to fall into internal friction.
Maintain a positive and optimistic mindset.
4. People born in the Year of the Horse (punishing and valuing the Year God)
Punishing and confronting the Year God, troubles follow one after another.
Frequent setbacks and fluctuations in all aspects.
Challenges in interpersonal relationships.
Stay calm, rational, and act prudently.
5. People with Zi, Chou, Mao, or Wu in their Earthly Branches
Many people do not have zodiac signs that directly offend the Year God, but if their birth year, month, day, or hour contains the Earthly Branches Zi, Chou, Mao, or Wu, they can still easily activate the energy of the Wu year. The Year God will form punishing, clashing, breaking, or harming relationships with these four branches, indirectly affecting your annual fortune.
6. People with birth charts clashing or punishing the annual cycle
Those whose chart (Year, Month, Day, or Hour Pillar) has punishing, clashing, breaking, or harming relationships with the annual Gan-Zhi Bingwu will face obstacles in their development this year. For example, labels such as Mad Bull, White Tiger, Major War Star Evil, Minor War Star Evil in the Yiqi Culture Fortune Analyzer indicate conflicting and inauspicious signals between your chart and the annual cycle.
For instance, pillars of Gengzi or Renzi form a “Heavenly Stem Clash, Earthly Branch Clash” with the 2026 annual pillar Bingwu (Bing Fire overcomes Geng Metal, Ren Water overcomes Bing Fire, Zi Water directly clashes with Wu Fire). Such combinations tend to bring inauspicious outcomes in certain areas of life.
The Month Pillar carries the strongest influence when clashed, as it represents the foundational environment of the Master Element, the link between the original birth chart and the passage of time. It covers the strength of the Master Element, family and kinship ties, career, wealth, and status. Ancient astrologers called it the “Outline,” emphasizing its importance.
Those with the Month Pillar clashed by the annual cycle are prone to major life changes this year. Pay attention to significant events in the family, especially regarding elderly relatives, siblings, or other kin represented by the Month Pillar, as well as major personal upheavals. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses should take extra care if their birth chart forms “Heavenly Clash-Earthly Clash” or “Heavenly Clash-Earthly Punish” with Bingwu.
7. People with Sui Yun Bing Lin (Year Luck Merging)
What is Sui Yun Bing Lin?
- Sui: the flowing year
- Yun: the Great Luck (10-year luck cycle)
-
Lin: overlapping
It means the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches of the current year are identical to those of your Great Luck.For example, someone running a Bingwu Great Luck will meet the Bingwu year in 2026—this overlap is Sui Yun Bing Lin.
If the overlapping Bingwu aligns with your favorable elements and brings positive effects, the year will be smooth and successful.
If Bingwu is your unfavorable element and brings negative effects, you are likely to face significant setbacks and difficulties, with specific manifestations depending on the Ten Gods and palaces in your chart.
03 How to Perform Duo Chun & Hide from the Year God
For the groups listed above who offend the Year God, how to practice Duo Chun on the Start of Spring to avoid clashing with the unstable energy of the old and new Year Gods? Yiqi Jixiang offers the following suggestions:
- During the two hours before and after 4:02 AM on February 4, 2026, if possible, stay alone in a quiet, undisturbed room. Remain awake, turn off all electronic devices (mobile phones, computers, TVs), avoid chatting or being disturbed, and spend the time in peace to prevent arguments and disputes.
Suitable activities during Duo Chun:
Pray alone, meditate, reflect, read positive and uplifting books (avoid books with negative titles or content), write (new year work plans, personal goals, wish lists, thank-you letters to relatives and friends), practice calligraphy, or other relaxing activities.
On the Start of Spring day, avoid contact with people or animals whose birth charts clash, harm, break, or punish yours. Do not move house, get a haircut, or visit places with heavy sick or negative energy (such as hospitals or graveyards).
- Duo Chun is not only about avoiding the unstable energy during the transition between years; more importantly, it helps mitigate the negative impacts of the five elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth) shifting with each solar term throughout the new year. For this, you can use the Fortune Analyzer in the Yiqi Culture app for a detailed professional analysis of your 2026 fortune. Arrange auspicious directions at home or the office to dissolve negative and obstructive energy, promote harmonious circulation of cosmic Qi, stabilize your mind and body, turn worries into joy, welcome blessings, and enjoy a smooth year.
