The 2008 Beijing Olympics will begin at 8pm on 8 August, in keeping with one of the nation's lucky numbers.
Numbers in Chinese culture play a significant role based on the belief that certain numbers are lucky or unlucky. In Chinese culture, the luck of numbers is based on the Chinese word that the number name sounds similar to.
Every culture has its own lucky numbers and portents. In some country number 7 is considered lucky, but people there are wary of the number 13 and avoid it at all costs. In Western Christian culture the number 666 is synonymous with Satan, yet this figure is written large as a street address on buildings in Beijing and Shanghai. In China the numbers 6, 8 and 9 are considered auspicious, and mobile phone numbers that contain these three digits are much more costly than others that don’t.
Chinese numerology has its roots in Taoist traditions, and is clearly explained in The Book of Changes. According to custom, odd numbers symbolize the bright male yang, and even numbers the dark undefined female yin.
Zero symbolizes non-existence, completeness and the godhead that, having no beginning or end, is eternal and so symbolized by a circle.
One represents honor, leadership and permanent development.
Two means to double, and is the number of cooperation and balance between yin and yang, man and woman. One popular Chinese saying is that "happiness comes as two." The character associated with weddings and engagements is xi written twice: double happiness. Cantonese people like the number two because it sounds the same as the word "easy" in Cantonese.
Three makes everything possible. It is the number linked to luck and success. It is also a spiritual number, according to The Book of Changes, three unites heaven, earth and man. When Chinese people go to the temple and make obeisance, they koutou three times.
The Chinese number 4 represents temporal matters. Its foundation is the earth and its round roof the heavens. Chinese people believe that this number strengthens the balance between heaven and earth. Number 4 -- si in Mandarin Chinese -- sounds similar to the word for death, and is hence considered inauspicious.
Five is popular in Chinese culture because of its midway position between 1 and 9, and also because of the five philosophical elements - water, metal, wood, fire and earth. There are also 5 blessings - longevity, prosperity, health, a virtuous life and natural death.
The pronunciation of 6 in Chinese sounds similar to the word for prosperity and hence is a very lucky number. You will be surprised to find so many different goods in Chinese shopping malls are priced at 168 yuan -- in sequence of the numbers 1, 6 and 8, it brings happiness because yao, liu and ba sound very similar to yaoliufa, which means "the straight way to prosperity."
