Feng Shui Numbers and Chinese Numerology
The Chinese always had deep interest in numerology. They strongly believe that numbers are not just for mere calculations. Numbers for them have magical qualities of their own that can affect destiny and human life in some ways.
In Feng Shui, the nature is also generally considered very magical. Since nature is also expressed with numbers, Feng Shui numbers and Chinese numerology are somehow closely related with each other.
The Feng Shui Numbers
In Feng Shui numbers, the figures are generally used in representing the five different elemental forces: earth, fire, water, wood, and metal. These elements are expressed based from the Luoshu's diagram with nine stars and nine directions. Feng Shui numbers are mostly used in predicting the future, like the Feixing calculations.
Also, it is used to study a direction's auspiciousness and gauge the elemental forces' quality to act in the environment. For the Chinese, they believe that if they can possibly change their Feng Shui numbers, their lives can be changed as well. Chinese has strongly believed that it is not just a superstitious, but one act of empowerment.
Feng shui numbers generally have yin yang qualities, just like everything else that is in nature. The odd numbers are considered as the yang, and the even numbers as the yin. Prosperity and growth is closely associated with the yang quality. This means to say that yang numbers are mostly desirable than yin numbers. Still, there are a lot of exceptions to this rule.
Auspicious Feng Shui Numbers
Generally, the number eight (8) is an auspicious number because it sound similar with ‘prosperous' or in Cantonese, ‘fa'. This number is also the ‘yinnest' among all the yin numbers between one and nine. Most, if not all, Chinese firmly believe that if a person is at the bottom, the only way possible is to go up. Meaning to say, the number eight (8) represents potential and growth, an effective change from the bad luck to the good luck. This number also stands for bagua, or the eight trigrams that is a popular symbol for transformation.
In business, other numbers that apparently are perfect for profits are 888 and 328 since they similarly sound as "thrice prosperous" and "business will easily prosper".
The number six (6) is also another auspicious number, along with 326 and 666. The number two (2) as well, represents the yin and yang complementary forces. For prosperity and health, the numbers 1,2,3,6 and 8, or a combination of these always sound lucky.
The number four (4) is the number that most Chinese avoid. For them, it means death, or ‘sie' in Cantonese. Also, character-wise, the number four is written as if the sun is obscured by clouds, which stands for bad luck. Chinese avoid to have cars or houses with the number four or other combinations like 14 which means ‘must die', 24 means ‘easily dying', 44 means ‘dying and dead', and 74 meaning ‘surely dead'.
Feng Shui numbers are not things to be afraid of. Numbers are there to serve us. How effective the numbers are, is simply based from your own perceptions of what they can do.