Chinese Numerology: The Meaning of Numbers in Taoist Tradition

In Chinese culture, numbers are far more than quantities. Each number has a phonetic sound that carries positive or negative associations, plus an energetic quality in Taoist cosmology. This is why Chinese people pay premium prices for phone numbers, license plates, and addresses containing lucky numbers.

The most auspicious number is 8 (八 ba), which sounds like 'prosperity' (发 fa). The most avoided number is 4 (四 si), which sounds like 'death' (死). The number 9 (九 jiu) represents longevity and is associated with the emperor.

Understanding number symbolism can help you choose auspicious dates and enhance your environment. For personalized auspicious number guidance, connect with Master Ding here.

Numbers in the Bagua

In Feng Shui's Bagua system, each of the eight trigrams corresponds to a number. These numbers are used in the Flying Stars system and for date selection: 1 (Water, career), 2 (Earth, health), 3 (Wood, family), 4 (Wood, wealth), 5 (Earth, center), 6 (Metal, helpful people), 7 (Metal, creativity), 8 (Earth, prosperity), 9 (Fire, fame).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are even numbers always better than odd numbers? Generally, even numbers are considered more auspicious because they represent pairs and harmony. But 1 (unity) and 9 (longevity) are auspicious odd numbers.

Q> Does number 4 always mean bad luck? Not necessarily. In some contexts, 4 represents stability and foundation. It is best avoided for celebrations but is not universally negative.