WHEN FIRE MEETS FIREIn the Chinese calendrical system, the “Fire Horse Year” combines two forces that create a “Double Fire” configuration that practitioners say can amplify restlessness and bring simmering tensions to the surface. A worshipper holds incense sticks while praying at the altar of baite, the mythical divine mount of Wenchang, the God of Literature, at Sinjhuang’s 213-year-old Wenchang Temple, where visitors seek blessings for academic or career advancement. Photo: Billy WuFolklorists also reference the phrase “Scarlet Horse and Crimson Sheep” (赤馬紅羊劫), a nod to historical periods known for social upheaval and institutional shifts. In a Fire Horse year, this inherent restlessness is often amplified. At Sinjhuang’s 213-year-old Wenchang Temple (文昌祠), worshippers turn to Bai Te (白特), a mythical creature who serves as the mount of Wenchang, the God of Literature.

Source: Taipei Times February 13, 2026 17:12 UTC