Forget rats ... the ox is this year's lucky charm

It may be the Year of the Rat but it's better to decorate your house with figures of oxen rather than rodents.

That's the advice from a celebrated fung shui master who says the ox is a lucky symbol this year while rats are seen as having a pessimistic outlook.

'Those born in the Year of the Rat face a difficult year because their animal sign is faan Tai Shui [offending the God of Tai Shui],' Peter So Man-fung said.

'Horse people will also suffer but it depends on whether they were born in winter. Horse people born in winter months will suffer the most, but those born in hot summer might have better luck.' He advised people not to place figures of a rat or horse at home.

'If you believe in faan Tai Shui, it's best not to place any rat or horse figures at home. I recommend ox figures, as ox is this year's lucky sign,' Mr So said. Tai Shui is one of Taoism's 60 grand commanders assigned to oversee the lunar year cycle.

But this dire warning has not deterred companies selling toys and souvenirs from trying to cash in. One of the biggest winners is Walt Disney, which has repackaged its iconic Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie dedicating the Lunar New Year.