1、1Numbers and OmensThere is a set of famous streets in Gaoxiong City in Taiwan, China, which all begin with numbers. They are Yixin (One Heart), Ersheng (Two Sacreds), Sanduo (Three Mores), Siwei (Four Upholds), Wufu (Five Fortunes), Liuhe (Six Realm), Qixian (Seven Virtues), Bade (Eight Moral Precep
2、ts), Jiuru (Nine Wishes), and Shiquan (Perfect Ten) streets. This sequence of auspicious street names gives people a warm feeling when they hear it, and bring more than a little luck to the residents.Many foreign visitors cant help but exclaim that the Chinese are really creative, and can line numbe
3、rs up so “auspiciously”.Chinese not only use numbers to appeal for good fortune, they also bring them out to chew people out: “You 250fool, you do things neither three or four without any order or out of touch, and still you dare to say that Im 13 points stupid and 3-8 scatterbrained.”Although it is
4、nt really possible to know where these came from, one thing is for sure: numbers are intimately related to the daily life of Chinese!中国台湾的高雄市有一组有名的道路，都是以数字起头，它们是一心路、二圣路、三多路、四维路、五福路、六合路、七贤路、八德路、九如路、十全路。这一串吉祥的路名让人听了感到温暖，并给沿街居民带来不少好运气。 许多外国游客赞叹不已，说中国人真有创造性，竟能够把数字排列得如此“吉祥” 。 中国人不仅用数字求好运，还用数字骂人：“你这个二百五（呆
5、子） ，你做事不三不四（不上规矩） ，你还敢说我是十三点（愚蠢） ，说我是三八（心不在焉） 。 ” 尽管不可能真的了解这些用法的来源，但是有一点可以肯定：数字与中国人的日常生活密切相关！ Origins in the Book of ChangesIn antiquity, people kept tallies by trying knots, and only employed numbers and words later on. From natural phenomena and life experience, people came to recognize the signs
6、of change in a particular matter. For example, there was the ancients saying that “if the moon has a halo it will be windy, and a damp plinth foretells rain.” It is inevitable that there will be misfortune in life, so people began to adopt ways to attract the auspicious and expel the malicious. Add
7、to this that people have psychological activity and the ability to link things together in their minds, and a whole set of auspiciousness-attracting and evil-expelling habits took shape.源出易经：远古时期人们结绳记事，后来才使用数字和文字。 通过观察自然现象、积累生活经验，人们逐渐能够认识万物变化的预兆，比如，古人说：“月晕知风，础润知雨。 ”由于生活中不可避免地会发生不幸事件，所以人们就用各种方式祈福驱邪，加
8、上人们的心理活动和联想能力，于是就形成了一整套祈福避祸的风俗习惯。The I Ching or Book of Changes is a compilation which records the experience 2of people in ancient times with luck and divination. In the Book of Changes, each number has some significance: one is the tai-ji or “great supreme”, two is the “two rituals”, three is for
9、the “three powers”, four for the “four directions”, five is for the “five pathway”, six stands for the “six realm, seven for the “seven rules of government”, eight means the “eight trigrams”, nine is for the “nine chains”, and ten is the ten depictions”. 易经记载了古人预测吉凶祸福的占卜活动， 易经中的每一个数字都有一定的含义：一为“太极” ，
10、二为“两仪” ，三为“三才” ，四为“四象” ，五为“五行” ，六为“六合” ，七为“七政” ，八为“八卦” ，九为“九星” ，十为“十干” 。We often say “three yang make good fortune” to describe the hope that misfortune will be held at bay and good luck will follow. It is a saying often used at the New Year and symbolizes a new beginning and finds its origins in th
11、e Book of Changes. Yang is the positive force and there is enormous Yang and very weak Yin (Negative force) in the first, second, and third of the nine trigrams. So the three Yang are very positive.我们常说“三阳开泰“，以期远离凶险，万事亨通。这句成语源自易经 ，常常在新年里使用，表示新的开端。阳是宇宙间的正气，在九爻的第一爻、第二爻和第三爻中，阳已经远盛于阴，所以三阳的阳气极盛。Someone f
12、eels that numbers have no connection with fortune good or ill, says that the only significance numbers have is what people ascribe to them. Trying to say that a given number is either auspicious or ominous is mere superstition. Still, unlike the Western sensitivity to the number 13, Chinese have a w
13、hole philosophy built up around numbers, which is spread or experienced in real life. 国际道教基金会主席李恒力（音译）认为数字和祸福并无任何联系，它们的意义是人们强加上去的，硬要说一个数字吉利或不祥，只不过是迷信而已。 中国人不像西方人那样只对数字 13 敏感，他们对数字有一整套观点，体现在日常生活中。Gods can be alone, but people cannotOne is number marking the beginning, and also has the meaning of “ind
14、ependent” or “alone”. 神仙可以孤单，人却不能孤单：“一”是表示开端的数字，同时含有“单独”或“孤单”的意思。In Taiwan people prefer even numbers which symbolize “fortune comes in pairs. They are more wary of one, three, five, seven, and nine. Because the character for “odd” in Chinese (dan) also means “alone”, people are not very fond of it.
15、 But although people like even numbers, the gods can be alone. Thus in odd-numbered months holidays have been stipulated to help people get by, from New Years (first day of the first month on the lunar calendar) and Tomb Sweeping Day (third day of the third month) to dragon Boat Festival (fifth of t
16、he fifth), Chinese Valentines Day (seven of the seventh), and Old Peoples Day (ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar).台湾神学院神学教授童凤婉（音译）指出，台湾人偏爱双数，因为双数表3示“好事成双” 。他们对一、三、五、七、九等单数比较谨慎。由于单数的“单”字在汉语里有“孤单”的意思，所以人们不大喜欢这个字。虽然人们喜欢双数，但神仙们却可以孤单，因此单月里定下一些节日让人们庆祝，从新年（农历正月初一）和清明节（三月初三） ，到端午节（五月初五） 、七夕
17、（七月初七）和重阳节（九月初九）等都是单数。At weddings, when Chinese people give “red envelopes” with gifts of cash, they only send even amounts, like 1200 or 3600. because the pronunciation of “four” is close to that of “death”, if you send 4400 to the bride and groom, people wont be grateful and might even criticize y
18、ou behind your back for failing to understand basic manners. At funerals, on the other hand, people usually give offerings with the last digit being odd, so as to avoid ill fortune not come “alone”.婚礼上，中国人会送装有现金的“红包” ，但只送双数，如 1200 元或 3600元。由于台湾话“四”的发音近似“死” ，所以，如果你送给新郎新娘 4400 元的话，他们不但不会感谢你，甚至还会暗地里骂你不
19、懂规矩。然而在葬礼上，人们送礼的末位数都是单数，这是为了避免“祸不单行” 。Happiness comes in pairsWhen people got married in ancient times, betrothal gifts would include a document recording all the details of the accompanying gifts. The writing style was rather meticulous. Thus, for example, chickens or ducks would be written as “Fou
20、r wings of poultry”. Gold bracelets would be written “Gold bracelets becoming a pair”. Candles would be written as “Festival candles with double glow”. No place would odd numbers be allowed.双喜临门：娄祝匡（音译）教授在中国民间习俗一书中提到，古代人结婚送聘礼嫁妆时，会附一张礼帖，详细记录每一件礼物，措辞颇有讲究，譬如，鸡鸭会写成“德禽四翼” ，金手镯写成“金镯成双” ，蜡烛写成“喜烛双辉” ，绝不允许出现
21、单数。When inquiring into the others name and the “eight character horoscope” of the other party, it would be written for instance: “The groom or bride is in the beginning of the sixth month of his her twentieth year, having been born at such-and-such an hour” The number of characters in the Chinese te
22、xt would always have to add up to an even number; if they were short one then an “auspicious” character would be added.”向女方“问名”或互换“生辰八字”用的庚贴可能会写成“男某某乾造某某年某某月某某日某时建生”以及“女某某坤造某某年某某月某某日某时瑞生” ，所用字数也要凑成偶数，如果缺一个字，就会加上一个“吉祥”的字。A writer adds that because the character for “odd” also means “incomplete”, when
23、 she was in her old home in Beijing, they would always make sure that the number of steamed rolls made for New Years was even in order to make a good beginning.作家肖敏（音译）补充说，由于“单”字含有“不完整”之意，所以，在她的北京老家，新年时人们做的花卷一定得是双数，预示着有个好的开始。A scholar of folk traditions, argues that Chinese have always been rather i
24、nclined to the number three. Just open up a Chinese dictionary and there are sayings using 4three or multiples thereof sprinkled everywhere. They are even more numerous in local sayings and slang. 民俗学者黄博和（音译）认为，中国人一向比较喜欢使用“三”这个数字。打开任何一本汉语词典，随处可见由“三”或其倍数构成的词组，各地的谚语和俚语中更是不计其数。He points out that one re
25、ason Chinese like three is that it stands for “many”. In Lao Tzu it is said that “Tao gave birth to the one, the one gave birth to two, two gave birth to three, and three gave birth to ten thousands of things.” From nothing to something, or something to infinity, “three” plays a critical role. 他指出，中
26、国人喜欢“三”字的一个原因是，三表示“多” 。 老子中写道：“道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。 ”从无到有，从有到无限， “三”起着关键作用。Elevators without fourth floorsIn ancient China the number 4 and 72 were perhaps both mysterious numbers, and moreover that “four” was a symbol for the great earth.没有四楼的电梯：学者苏雪林（音译）写道，在中国古代， “四”和“七十二”这两个数字可能都是神秘的数字，而且“四”象征着大地。Bu
27、t in Taiwan four is not especially well looked-upon. Hospitals and hotels normally have no fourth floor, and the numbers in the elevator just skip right from three to five. Its probably only in places where Chinese people live that this type of facility is necessary. Also, the price of an apartment
28、on the fourth floor is usually cheaper.但是，在台湾“四”却不那么受欢迎，医院和旅馆通常没有四楼，电梯上的数字从“三”直接跳到“五” 。也许只有在中国人生活的地方，才需要有这样的设施。此外，四楼的房价也常常会低一些。In general, Chinese assign little good or bad significance to “five”.“May the five fortunes approach your door” is a saying often seen at festival occasions. The five fortun
29、es are long life, wealth, health, an ethical life, and a peaceful death.一般说来， “五”在中国人看来并没有什么好坏的意义。 节庆时，人们常见到 “五福临门” 四个字，所谓五福，即寿、富、康宁、攸好德、考终命。Besides this, the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) provided a framework for people at former times to classify natural phenomena. Confucianism a
30、lso says that five implies the concept of “the mean.”此外，过去人们用五行（金、木、水、火、土）划分自然现象，儒家也认为“五”字含有“中庸”之意。Confucians believe that five is very close to the path of the golden mean of “adopting the middle between two extremes”, and also promotes the thought of the “five pathways”. As a number, five has two
31、at the front and two behind, with one in the middle. Thus five fits in well with the idea of the “mean” always promoted by Confucian scholars.占卜术作家甄醉（音译）指出，儒家认为“五”非常接近“不偏不倚”的中庸之道，促进了“ 五行”之说。 “五”这个数字，前面有两个数，后面有两5个数，当中是一个数， “当中这个数居于正中，左右各有两个数辅助，因此，五正符合儒家所提倡的中庸思想” ，他这样写道。One six eight, on the way to su
32、ccessWhere did “66 everything goes smoothly” come from? It might have something to do with playing dice. Six is the largest number on a dice, so wouldnt one win by coming up with two sixes?一六八，一路发:“六六大顺”这句话源自何处？中国风俗与手工艺基金会秘书长林茂霄（音译）认为，这句话可能和掷骰子有关。骰子上最大的点数是“六” ，如果你掷出了两个“六” ，不就赢了吗？ According to inform
33、al statistics, not many people take seven to be a lucky number. According to the old Yu Hsiao Ling Yin, when someone first dies the mourning period should be seven days. “Doing the sevens” is the custom at funerals in Fukienese areas. For the first seven days after someone passes away, to the sevent
34、h days, there are appropriate rituals for each. Some people, because the number seven can easily bring to mind “doing the sevens”, plus the fact that the seventh month of the lunar year is “ghost month”, dont like it.根据非官方统计，极少人把“七”当作吉祥数字。古书 Yu Hsiao Ling Yin （此书名待查-译注）上说，人一去世需服丧七天。 “做七”是福建的丧葬习俗，从一个
35、人去世后的头七天，到第七个七天，都有相应的仪式。由于“七”这个数字容易使人想到 “做七” ，加上农历七月是“鬼月” ，所以，有些人不喜欢数字“七” 。The fondness for “eight” comes, most people would say, from the Cantonese. In Cantonese, eight and “success” are similar in sound. And in North China, there is the saying that “if you want to succeed, dont stray from eight”.
36、大多数人认为，人们对“八”的喜爱源于广东话，因为广东话里的八和“发”读音相近，中国北方也有这么一句话， “要得发，不离八” 。Hong Kong, where most of the population is Cantonese, is perhaps the place where faith in numbers is strongest. It is a very crowded, very competitive industrial metropolis. Businessmen are especially obsessed with success or failure, so
37、 they have to include auspiciousness in consideration of any affair like opening a factory or signing a contract. If they can choose a day with eight in it, then they have a “successful” beginning. Nine symbolizes smoothness and endurance, while six, as noted, is for “66 everything goes smoothly.以广东
38、人为主的香港也许是最迷信数字的地方。李恒力分析说，香港是一个拥挤不堪、充满竞争的工商业大都市，商人们极其关注生意的成败，所以，他们在诸如工厂开业、签订合同等活动中都要考虑是否吉利。如果选择了含“八”的日子，那么他们就有了一个“成功”的开端。 “九”代表顺利和长久；“六” ，则如前文所说，表示“六六大顺” 。In the 1980s, lucky numbers went from Hong Kong into Guangdong Province as this trend began to spread from south to north.The last digits of the p
39、hone number of the Canton Hotel are 8168, a homophone for “success and yet more success”. Most of the shoe stores in the Longfu Building in Beijing use “auspicious” prices on their tags. One of the fastest movers is one whose 6tag is 168, which symbolizes “the road to success”. And when businessmen
40、stay in hotels, they like to stay in rooms 518, 688 or 816. one hotel in Guangdong even has a higher price on rooms with lucky numbers.20 世纪 80 年代，吉利数字开始由南向北从香港传到中国大陆的广东省。 中国时报专栏作家刘成峰（音译）在一篇报道中指出，广州宾馆电话号码的最后几位数字是 8168，与“发一路发”谐音。北京龙府商厦（音译）里大部分鞋店都在价目牌上标上“吉祥”价码。标价为 168 元的鞋子是卖得最快的一种，因为这个数字象征“一路发” 。商人住宾馆
41、时，喜欢住 518、688 或816 等房间。广州的一家宾馆，吉利号码的房间开价竟然比其它房间高。Believe it or not, its up to youNine generally refers to a great majority or large numbers. In former times people often used nine to say “a great many.”信不信由你：“九”一般指大多数或大数目。过去，人们常用九表示“许多” 。Because nine is an extreme number, Chinese have the saying tha
42、t it is inauspicious to run across nine. Especially for older men, the 69th and 79th birthdays are celebrated as the 70th and 80th instead. Many people also believe that a young man of 29 is at the decisive point in life.由于“九”是个极数，所以，中国人认为碰到“九”不吉利。尤其是老年男性，69 岁和 79 岁的生日是当 70 岁和 80 岁的生日过。许多人还认为 29 岁是人
43、生中的关键时刻。When people use lucky numbers to symbolize wealth and fortune, or peace and benevolence, and number can be explained in such a way as to make it fit. Arent “everything starts with one and comes around again,” “seven generations living together”, and “wealth flowing across the four seas” all
44、pleasing to the ears? 任何一个数字都可以被解释成吉数，用来表示财富与好运、和平与慈悲，等等。 “万事始于一，周而复始” ， “七世同堂” ， “四海财源滚滚来” ，这些话不是一样顺耳吗？Although thats easy enough for us to say, there are still plenty of people who play the lotteries or play the ponies, running near and far, burning incense to the gods, looking for a lucky number
45、that belongs only to them!说起来虽然容易，但还是有许多玩彩票、赌赛马的人到处烧香求神，寻找属于他们自己的吉利数字！Notes:1. 一心，二圣，三多，四维，五福，六合，七贤，八德，九如，十全2. divination: 占卜术3. tai-ji: 太极4. two rituals: 两仪5. four directions: 四象6. five pathways: 五常（仁、义、礼、智、信）7. eight trigrams: 八卦78. dan: 单9. eight character horoscope: 生辰八字10. the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth): 五材 （金、木、水、火、土）11. the mean: 中庸
