Question: Are there ‘designated’ Bodhisattvas and Buddhas (本命佛菩萨) who guard over those born in specific Chinese zodiac years?
Answer: No. This belief is not only not taught in any Buddhist scripture (佛经), it goes against the spirit of the Buddhist teachings (佛法) too. As Buddhas and Great Bodhisattvas (大菩萨) have great compassion (大悲) and equanimity (平等心), they will simply protect all beings they can.
It is simply not so that each Buddha or Bodhisattva only has affinity (有缘) with those born in certain years. For example, due to his great popularity, most of us already have connection with Āmítuófó (阿弥陀佛) to some extent, despite differences of when we are born.
Can you imagine one who is mindful of Āmítuófó for help being ‘rejected’ because of being born in the ‘wrong’ year? To ‘pigeonhole’ or ‘carve up’ the immeasurable compassion of fully enlightened ones, who wish to help all beings impartially is thus somewhat slanderous and unkind.
Connections with enlightened ones can be formed and strengthened by anyone with sincere and diligent mindfulness of their names, mantras and/or teachings. Those who have mindfulness will have affinity; those who have affinity will be able to be mindful (有念就有缘，有缘就能念).
