Feng Shui and Chinese Numerology

The Chinese have always had a deep interest in numerology. For them, numbers are not only for calculations, they have a magical quality of their own, in the sense that they can affect human life and destiny in some way. In Feng Shui, nature is also considered magical and since nature can be expressed through numbers, Feng Shui and numerology are closely related.

In Feng Shui, numbers are used to represent the five elemental forces (metal, wood, water, fire and earth) as expressed in the nine directions and the nine stars of the Luoshu diagram. Numbers are often used to predict the future (e.g. Feixing calculations), to study the auspiciousness of a given direction (e.g. Bazhai analysis), and to gauge the quality of elemental forces acting in the environment (Wuxing arrangement). The Chinese believe that if they can change their numbers or their Feng Shui, they can change their life as well. To them it is an act of empowerment and is not to be trivialised as superstitious.

Like everything else in nature, numbers have yin and yang qualities. Odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9) are considered yang while even numbers (2,4,6,8) are considered yin. Since yang quality is associated with growth and prosperity, the yang numbers are generally more desirable than the yin numbers. However, there are many exceptions to the rule.

Eight is considered an auspicious number not only because it sounds the same as "prosperous" or "fa" in Cantonese, but also because it is the yinnest of the yin numbers from 1-9. The Chinese believe that if you are at the bottom, the only way for you to go is up. So 8 stands for potential and for growth: a change from bad luck to good luck. Eight also stands for the 8 trigrams (bagua) – an auspicious symbol of transformation.

Often, numbers are assessed not only in terms of their yin and yang quality or their symbolic meanings, but also on homonymy, or their sound.

In business, where the aim is to grow and make a profit, the three digit numbers like 328 and 888 are very popular with the Chinese because they sound the same as "business will easily prosper" and "thrice prosperous". Generally three digit numbers are preferred over two or four digits because 3 is a yang number and it stands for "liveliness" or "san" in Cantonese.

Six is also very auspicious, not only because it has the same sound as "profitable" or "luk" in Cantonese but also because 6 is twice 3 and 3 is a lucky primary number since it takes a minimum of 3 points to create a geometrical shape. Three is the beginning of all things and twice 3, that is 6, means progress and doubling of everything that you started with. For the same reason the three digit numbers 326 and 666 are also popular with the Chinese.

Two is not too bad either, even though it is the first of the yin numbers. Two represents the complementary forces of yin and yang. It has a bilateral symmetry and has the same sound as easy or "yi" in Cantonese, so it is a sought after number as well. Often, 2 is put in front of the other lucky numbers to make it seem easily achievable. For example the numbers 23, 26, 28 and 29 are desirable because they have the same sound as "easily growing", "easily profitable", "easily prosperous" and "easily enough" in Cantonese respectively. For the same reason, try to avoid putting a 2 in front of other unlucky sounding numbers like 4 (death or dying). The number 24 is considered unlucky homonymy wise, because it sounds the same as "easily dying" and 2424 is a very unlucky number indeed.

Seven Has the same sound as "certainty" or "for sure" (chut) so it goes well with 2 and 8, 72 and 78 sound the same as "certainly easy" and "prosperous for sure" respectively in Cantonese. Again, try to avoid putting a 7 next to unlucky numbers like 4, 74 sounds the same as "dead for sure" and is considered unlucky.

Both 1 and 9 are good numbers to have. One stands for "unity" while 9 stands for "longevity" or "enough", so they combine well with other lucky numbers. However since 9 is the yangest of the yang numbers it implies the onset of decline, therefore combination numbers like 39, 69 and 89, while they sound good, imply over development.

For the same reason 999 is not a desirable number because it is too yang and the only way for it to go is down, in the sense that the follow up number is 1000 and the beginning of a new cycle – starting all over again. In the past, Nine is reserved for the Emperor and ordinary people are not allowed to use the number. The doors to the imperial palace are all decorated with (9x9) 81 brass knobs to signify the majesty of the Emperor. We know from history what happened to all Emperors, they get overthrown in the end. So unless you have a good ego and a strong desire for constant renewal, do not choose 9, 99 or 999.

Any numbers that start with 1,2,3,6 and 8 or a combination thereof will always sound lucky. To achieve a feeling of health and prosperity you can choose numbers from these combinations and you cannot go wrong, especially well if you can balance the yin and yang numbers in their combinations. For example 3388 or 1618 and 1328 are all very auspicious, because they have a combination of two yin numbers and two yang numbers, so they are considered balanced and ritually correct, in harmony with each other.

Most Chinese try to avoid the number 4, because 4 sounds the same as "death" (sie) in Cantonese. Character wise, 4 is written as though the sun is being obscured by a cloud, so pictorially, it stands for a cloudy day and bad luck. The Chinese do not like to have a house or a car with the number 4 or a combination like 14 "must die", 24 "easily dying", 44 "dying and dead" and 74 "surely dead". The only time 4 is considered auspicious is when it is used with a 5 or an 8, for example 54 sounds the same as "shall live forever and will not die". Forty-eight sounds the same as "sure to prosper" and 84 sounds the same as "forever prosperous" and hence they are acceptable to the Chinese.

If you have a number you do not feel positive about, do not worry. I have a solution for you. My Feng Shui teacher, Master Ren Zhi-Lian, has given me a cure to overcome the inauspiciousness. It involves a simple ritual of painting two red dots to either side of the unlucky numbers on display. For example if you have a 4 or a 14 as your house number, paint it like ·4· or ·14· with numbers in black and the dots in vermilion red. A dot or a zero symbolises nothingness; a pair of them in red will nullify any inauspiciousness associated with the number. This cure only works if the numbers are written down. For mobile or telephone numbers, you need to actually change the numbers to change your luck.

Do not be afraid of numbers. Numerology is there to serve us, like Feng Shui, not the other way round. Choose a house, a unit and a car that you really like first, then worry about the numbers. If you are destined to have them then the luck of the numbers can be changed by mandate of heaven, expressed through your will. Numbers by themselves do not have any power. The effectiveness of numerology comes from your perception of what these numbers can do. They can give you a numerical hint (or an intuition) of how you are feeling about a situation or a place. Likewise, the act of changing or re-ordering a number empowers you to change the situation psychologically. Physical changes for the better often follow a change of mind set. Remember the wisdom of the following Chinese saying on Qi energetics:

"Where the Mind goes, Qi will follow and Action will take place"

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