Foursome in classical Chinese culture
Remember:
– Four cardinal points - north, south, west and east;
– Four seasons - summer, winter, autumn and spring;
– China's four great inventions - paper, compass, gunpowder and typography (the technology of printing documents was invented by the Chinese, a particularly rich collection of seals can be viewed in the Shanghai Museum);
– Four Worthy Occupations of a Noble Man - Playing a Musical Instrument, chess, calligraphy and painting (we talked about this in an article about the Yuyuan garden in Shanghai);
– Four Great Mansions of China - Penlai, Yuan, Tenwan and the Yellow Crane Tower.
As you can see, four is very popular in classical Chinese culture. In the religious sphere, it is also common:
– Four Noble Truths in Buddhism;
– Four main texts in Taoism;
– The four sacred texts of Confucianism.
Interesting Facts
Beijing City Lost Olympiad Elective Race 2000 of the year. But out of dislike for numbers 4, they did not apply to host the Olympiad 2004 of the year. But, on 2008 year they moved with pleasure and won.
A medical study was conducted in the USA. It turned out, that deaths among Asians from heart attacks on the fourth day of the month are 13% higher, than on other days. This is a prime example of, how belief materializes, and in a disgusting way.
Despite the passion of Chinese emperors for numerology, in the Forbidden City, the four meet. There are four watchtowers at the four corners of the main wall.
Lo Shu Square
Just look at the photo below., to understand, what does he look like. Luo Shu is a magic square, in which the sum of the digits in all its rows (diagonal, vertical and horizontal) equals 15. It is focused on the lunar calendar.
Is considered, that Luo Shu plays an important role in judgmental systems and metaphysics. It helps not only to determine the inclinations and character of a person, but also learn, how productive his particular life span will be.
How to calculate it? Nowadays, there are various online services for this., where everything is automated. You just need to indicate the date of your birthday and compare it with the date in the Chinese calendar. Then it remains only to write the resulting numbers into the square cells.
How to figure it all out? Ideally, delve deeper into the topic. But here's a quick summary, which will help you to comprehend the basics:
- The top row is identified with the human mind.
- Average personifies spirituality.
- The lower one refers to the physical body, business and financial success, as well as greed and selfishness.
- The first vertical column is identified with the ability to generate ideas and express thoughts.
- The second has to do with such qualities, as perseverance and determination.
- The third vertical column demonstrates the ability to correlate words with actions.
Exploring the meaning of Chinese numerology and its principles, It should be noted, that in Lo Shu square there is 20 lines. Here's what you need to know about them:
8 power lines: any row is completely filled with numbers
It doesn't matter, diagonal, vertical or horizontal. 8 lines of weakness: rows are not filled with numbers
4 small lines. Key in terms of character and personality disclosure. Although sometimes they are completely absent. In this case, personality analysis is carried out, relying on numerical values.
This is all very interesting. Many people, starting to get involved in this topic, study books of the chinese school of numerology, get acquainted with the works of practitioners. But if you just want to make your own square out of interest, then it will not cause any difficulties - modern services will compose it automatically in a second, and also give a brief information about the meaning of each digit.
Numeral 8 among ordinary Chinese
It is very prestigious to have an eight in a phone number or at home. To get a license plate even with one eight you need to pay extra. AT 2003 an unknown Chinese sold a local landline number to Sichuan Airlines, all-eights. The price was 2,33 million RMB.
Two eights is even better. The European spelling of the number '88' is very similar to the Chinese characters 'Shuan Xi'.
'Shuan Xi' are two characters, denoting 'happiness', which translates as ‘double happiness’ or ‘great happiness’. These hieroglyphs are very popular, they are written on any subject in order to increase sales. There is even a popular brand of Chinese cigarettes with this name..
AT 2008 the Beijing Olympics began 8 August in 8 o'clock in the evening 8 minute and 8 seconds. And it worked! The Olympic Games are rarely profitable for the host country, and the Chinese were able to earn about 150 million dollars.
Next blog posts
04-12-2015: Holiday ‘Double Seven’ - Valentine's Day in Chinese
05-12-2015: Buses in Beijing - prices, routes, timetable and travel tips
06-12-2015: Jinshanling site on the Great Wall of China
07-12-2015: Area (neighborhood) Xintiandi in Shanghai
08-12-2015: The number '9' in China is a symbol of eternity in Chinese numerology
09-12-2015: China's Double Nine Celebration - History and Tradition
10-12-2015: Yuanmingyuan Garden or Old Summer Palace in Beijing
11-12-2015: Banning Wikipedia in China - reasons and positions of the parties
13-12-2015: Buses in Shanghai - ticket prices and routes for tourists
15-12-2015: Airline ‘Pobeda’ - prices for air tickets and ‘pitfalls’
18-12-2015: Laba Festival or Buddha's Enlightenment Day in China
20-12-2015: Shanghai Zoo - how to get there, opening hours and prices
22-12-2015: Shanghai wildlife park
24-12-2015: China's '7' is good and bad at the same time
28-12-2015: Dongzhi Festival - the winter solstice festival in China
31-12-2015: The site "Yellow Crane" congratulates all readers on the New 2016 year!
01-01-2016: Jingshan Park in Beijing and an observation deck overlooking the city
02-01-2016: Beihai Park in Beijing - how to get there, prices and legend
04-01-2016: Numeral 4 in China - consonant with the word "death"
05-01-2016: Mid-Autumn Festival in China and moon cakes
Rare number 11
It is used on rare occasions.. Eleven is used in selective reasoning, related to astrology. And in Eastern culture, it personifies life., after death.
11 - destructive number. Although it may not be different, times associated with posthumous existence. But, as you could see, the same number has several meanings in different contexts. And so 11 in fortune telling means the emergence of the opportunity to reincarnate. Sometimes it even personifies the renewal of vitality..
But the predictions are digital 11 hardly favorable, because number limits health. In the 12-ary cycle, it has only one meaning - destruction. In decimal, it is completely absent.. Therefore, many experts perceive it as a return to the starting point..
Whatever it was, 11 is the tipping point number. And meets, by the way, seldom.
Number nine
Nine is an odd number, which more often has positive energy. The number nine is also identified with eternity and long life.. It depends on whether, how is it used and in what context it is used.
In ancient China, the number nine was associated with the imperial court.. In the imperial palace, you can find nine dragon walls. In the building of the imperial palace in Beijing, you will see 9999 rooms.
Modern Chinese still use lucky numbers. Not by chance, when the Olympic Games were held in China, the date was chosen for the start of sports 08.08.2008, and for the start time of the games – 8:08:08 P.M.
Julie Po's Chinese numerology
A few words should be said about this in the end.. Julie Poe is a seasoned expert in the topic under discussion, who owns the knowledge of all schools of numerology. She has developed her own unique analysis system.
What is the place of the Chinese school in Julie Poe's numerology? She is in charge of the subconscious. Turning to this knowledge, putting them into practice, you can learn about the abilities, talents and gifts of man. Realistically even define, what information is recorded in his soul and mental body. And find out, who he was in the past, also real.
Julie Po's Chinese School of Numerology allows you to create various protective tools, charms and amulets, which then a person can use throughout his life.
Interestingly numerologist characterizes the periods of birth. It is worth at least to familiarize yourself with them:
- From the 1st to the 9th number. People, born at this time, often face setbacks and problems. In the past, they worked out karmic tasks for 80 %.
- From the 10th to the 19th. Those born at this time should devote their lives to spiritual development.. They have a special mission in this world.
- From the 20th to the 29th. People, born in this period, it will be difficult to succeed, even if they put in their best effort. Their karmic working off is only 60 %. Desirable, so that in this life they try to fill the world with something good.
- 30-is also the 31st. These are special numbers. People, born on these days, it will be difficult to adapt to the surrounding reality. They will have to face many setbacks. Numerologist advises to take it for granted. Is considered, that nothing can be changed anyway.
There is much more to tell about this.. People, interested in the topic, definitely worth familiarizing yourself with Julie Poe's books on Chinese numerology. You will be able to learn a lot of interesting things about karma, month of birth, annual cycles, metacycles and the level of soul development, subconscious maps and much more.
Number 7 - positive associations
More Chinese 7 pronounced ‘chi’. As known, Chinese tonal. Any set of sounds takes on a different meaning, tone dependent, by which it is pronounced. Seven is the ‘chi’ consonance, spoken in the first tone.
If ‘chi’ is pronounced in the third tone, then this word ‘arise’. maybe, for this reason it is associated with gender relations. To meet on the seventh day - to luck in a relationship.
If ‘chi’ is pronounced in the fourth tone, then this word is ‘vitality’. This gives the figure 7 positive value, but I have not seen any interesting manifestations of this association in Chinese culture.
In traditional culture
Six in the culture of China is presented extremely positively. Is considered, that a happy person should have "six relatives", that is, happiness is when a person has relatives: father, mother, brother, sister, wife and child.
I will also remember six classical Chinese arts.: etiquette, music, archery, reading, writing and mathematics. In ancient China, all this was considered an art form for a noble person - that, what he must own well.
Here we see the difference between the concept of "art" in Chinese and European civilizations.. The word “art” means theater and music. In China, this is a broader concept..
For instance, calligraphy is a real art in China. If you bought a beautiful painted hieroglyph in China, then you may be stopped at customs, because the creativity of calligraphers is appreciated here no less, than paintings by artists. Stock up on checks from the store, to prove the legal origin of this work of calligraphy.
Number 4 - stability
"Four" is feminine. This number in Chinese numerology is patronized by Mars., spring and fire. Is considered, that it symbolizes the union of four mythical forces - the Sun, Earth, Sky and moon.
"Four" tunes to career growth, building strong business relationships, attracts perspectives to life. Also personifies loyalty, perseverance, rationality and stability.
Aside from the topic of Chinese numerology by date of birth, then you can remember, what 4 in oriental culture means the number of seasons, symbolic animals, mythical creatures and beginnings, virtues and light sources.
7 - number, relationship-related
Hard to tell, where did this association come from. maybe, this is due to the ‘Day of the Double Seven’ - the holiday of lovers, which I already wrote about in the blog.
Traditions of showing love with numbers 7 not common. If a man gives a woman flowers, it is more popular to give 9 colors or multiples of tens.
Abstain from weddings in the seventh lunar month. The reason for this is the belief in 'the month of ghosts'. By the way, the seventh month is generally considered unsuccessful for any business. The Chinese prefer not to travel at this time, and there is an opportunity to save a little on flights to China, if you buy tickets in August. However, prices in August are not always cheaper, year after year is not necessary.
‘Ghost Month’ didn’t stop the Chinese from opening the Beijing Olympics in 2008 year 8th August. But it opened on the 8th of the 8th month in 8 pm 8 minutes. Eight is a very lucky number, and, apparently, counted, that the eights will be stronger.
Tetrophobia
Four is knocked out of the row of even numbers bringing luck. The fact, that this figure is indicated in the letter by the same hieroglyph, like the word "death". If in our time in Western countries to superstition, related to numbers, are usually ironic, most Chinese people take digital symbology very seriously. In everyday life, the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom try to avoid numbers. 4, to not allow, so that it appears in phone numbers and car numbers. In many buildings you will not find the fourth floor or office with this number., instead, use the designations 3A or 5A. Fears also cause numbers 13 (because 1 and 3 add up to 4) and 14 (hieroglyphs, to which these two numbers correspond, can also be read as "certain death"). They are replaced by combinations of 15A and 15B, respectively. Or, dangerous numbers are simply skipped. For the same reason, in China, flights on the TU-154 plane are especially unpopular..
People, not prone to superstition, such fear can be beneficial. Acquisition of an apartment by number 4 or buying a phone number, containing fours, can be much cheaper than their real market value. Sellers, those who know about the tetrophobia of their compatriots, try to sell everything, which contains a terrible figure, with big discounts. However, the same fears can cause, that merchants will round up prices to a nice number in their favor.
Despite, that most try to avoid the demonic number, 4 in China is also an important sacred symbol. As mentioned above, for Eastern philosophy there is nothing absolutely white and absolutely black. The positive values of this figure represent the four seasons., four elements or four cardinal points.
Number 11
Many superstitious people consider the number unlucky. 11. This number is even dedicated to the American mystical horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman "11.11.11", which came out on screens 11 November 2011 of the year. Conspiracy theorists associate this number with the Kennedy assassination and tragic events. 11 september. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center stood next to each other, forming a giant number "11". Planes crashed into them 11.09 (1+1+9 = 11). Wherein 11 September was 254 day of the year, and 2+5+4 is also equal 11. First plane, who crashed into the mall tower, flew on the flight 11.
Sights of China - where you can meet 8
The Chinese believe in the magic of numbers, but, Fortunately, they don't build temples. Although, if you remember the nine, then the Forbidden City itself in Beijing can be considered the temple of this figure, there the nine is found everywhere - from rivets on the gate to the number of animal figures on the roof. Similarly, in the Temple of Heaven, the nine is present everywhere..
A famous building can be found in China, dedicated to digital 8. It is located in Shanghai Pudong District. This is Jin Mao skyscraper (golden prosperity tower). It has an octagonal base, the basis of the structure - eight pillars, in a buiding 88 floors and so on.
Another interesting mention of the figure eight is in the Summer Palace in Beijing.. Here is the famous bridge with 17 arches. Number 17 Is the amount 8 and 9. This is exactly what the architects intended - to combine in one place the two most successful numbers in Chinese numerology..
Five stars on the flag of China
This is a very big mystery – why are there five gold stars on the flag of China? The official version sounds like this: "Five stars symbolize the unity of the people of China under the rule of the Communist Party". And an explanation: “The Big Star is the Communist Party, and four small ones are the working class, peasantry, small and national intelligentsia. " This version doesn't look very nice.
There are other opinions. The first is that the stars represent the five ethnic groups., living in the PRC - Han, Manchus, tibetans, Mongols and dicks
Attention! The latter is the name of the people, living in northwest China
Another version – five was specially used, to show the continuity of the modern state among the emperors.
It is surprising, that the meaning of the symbols on the flag has several interpretations. The flag for the Chinese is of great importance, remember at least the lifting ceremony in Tiananmen Square.
Tetraphobia
We 13 considered a bad number, but we are not afraid of him so much, like the Chinese of the four. Moreover, it is not only a Chinese phenomenon.
– in Japanese 4 pronounced "shi" is similar to the word "death";
– in Korean 4 pronounced "sa" is similar to the word "death";
– in Vietnamese, these words are similar, but more distantly.
Tetraphibia is not only a Chinese phenomenon, and typical for the entire southeast of Asia. Often absent in buildings 4, 14, 24 and so on floors, no floors with 40 by 49. It still happens in Hong Kong, that there is no 13th floor. Hong Kong was formerly a British colony, and they inherited from the English a dislike for number 13. As a result, 50-th floor by number turns out to be 35th in fact.
Hong Kong builders can be understood. Apartments and offices are more expensive here, the higher the floor. Any property on four floors per room, on the contrary, is cheaper. In this way, they "fill" the price of real estate, and tetraphibia is not the main motivation here.
Taiwanese and South Korean armed forces fundamentally do not use numbers 4 in the serial numbers of ships and aircraft. But the Chinese army despised tetraphobia, and does not pay attention to it.
Almost all Chinese people avoid the number four in phone numbers, houses, apartments, cars or whatever.
Some number combinations in China sound intimidating. 14 - want to die, 24 - you will die easily, 74 - you will definitely die and 94 - you will die forever. The last phrase sounds illogical to us., but for the Chinese it makes sense, and this meaning is terrible.
In neighboring Japan, the number 49 sounds the scariest way - "pain to death".
