TAIPEI, TAIWAN - IF Taiwan's assorted feng shui experts and fortune tellers have it right, Saturday's presidential election will depend on yin, yang and the energy force of life rather more than the economy and ties with China.

Any sign of level pegging when it comes to fate would likely be good news for Mr Frank Hsieh, last spotted in an opinion poll lagging 20 points behind the opposition Kuomintang's Ma Ying-jeou.

It all depends on their cards. Or put another way, whether Mr Ma's water will quench Mr Hsieh's fire.

'They have a fair chance to win the election if they work closely with each other. Otherwise, it looks like a narrow victory for Ma,' he said.

The ancient Chinese I-Ching, or Book of Change, also suggests Mr Hsieh could emerge the victor, according to scholar Liu Chun-tsu.

I-Ching consists of a series of complex symbols and rules based on Chinese philosophy and cosmology to identify order in seemingly chance events.

'The I-Ching hexagram for Hsieh is 'shan di bo', indicating that he is in trouble, but it is possible for him to reverse the trend as there is also the hint of a higher position,' Mr Liu said.

Popular TV horoscope expert Vivian, who goes by one name, predicted Mr Ma and Mr Hsieh had roughly equal chances of becoming head of state.

'Ma, a Cancer, enjoys cordial inter-personal relations this year among his peers, which are helpful for those running for office,' she said, referring to his birth date of July 13, 1950.

'Hsieh, a Taurus, can appeal to more young people in the final stretch of his campaign to boost his chances, along with the help of Su, who's in luck as a Leo,' she added.

She suggested Mr Ma wear blue and Mr Hsieh gold as their lucky colours.

Feng shui expert Jenny Lin, however, saw victory for Mr Ma on the basis that 2008 is the Chinese Year of the Rat.

'The rat year signals big changes for Ma, who was born in the Year of the Tiger and his luck is set to improve,' said Ms Lin, who gives feng shui advice to celebrities and corporations.

Feng shui, or wind and water, is an ancient Chinese belief in channelling good and bad psychic energy through the careful arrangement of furniture and ornaments.

She said Mr Hsieh, born in the Year of the Dog, should watch out for 'sneaks' in his midst.

The Chinese zodiac is based on the cycles of the moon, and associates each of the 12 years forming the cycles with an animal - a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Fortune tellers base their predictions on the traits of each animal while taking account of changes in the five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water - making up yin and yang, the opposing but balancing forces of life.

'Ma is the 'metal' type with square facial features and steady eyes,' Ms Lin said. 'He has a more conservative and cautious trait and can find support from his superiors in pursuing a political career.

'Hsieh has a fire temperament with high forehead and a pointed jaw, and he is smart, aggressive and less patient.'

'But this year is symbolised by the 'water' element - and water puts out fire,' she added.

Eiffel, a tarot card reader who also uses one name, came up with a similar prediction from his 78-card deck.

The tarot card that foresees Mr Ma's future is 'the Wheel of Fortune', Eiffel said, 'meaning things are getting better for him with the Goddess of Fortune looking after him.'

Mr Hsieh's future looks different, though. His card showing cups scattered at the bottom stands for loneliness, he said.