The Secret Behind the Number "Eight": Why Are Chinese People So Obsessed with It?
⭐️Introduction:⭐️
The Secret Behind the Number "8": Why Are Chinese People So Obsessed with It?
From ancient emperors to modern citizens, the number "8" has always held a special place in Chinese culture. It not only symbolizes nobility and power but also resonates with the word for "prosperity," making it a beloved lucky number. Today, we uncover the mystery behind the number "8" and explore how it evolved from ancient philosophy to modern life, becoming an indispensable symbol of good fortune for the Chinese people.
The Historical Origins of "8"
The popularity of the number "8" among Chinese people has deep historical roots. In ancient China, there was a simple philosophical belief in the harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity. Numbers within ten were associated with heaven and earth, with odd numbers representing heaven and even numbers representing earth. Eight was considered the "greatest of numbers." Ancient emperors used "eight rows of dancers" in ceremonies, "eight food vessels" in sacrifices, "eight bells" on their carriages, "eight methods" to govern officials, "eight principles" to rule the people, and "eight policies" to administer the state. Thus, the number eight held a highly revered status.
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The Profound Influence of the Bagua Theory
Additionally, the widely accepted "Bagua" theory has a long history. The Book of Changes states: "The Great Ultimate generates the Two Forms. The Two Forms generate the Four Symbols, and the Four Symbols generate the Eight Trigrams." Here, the Two Forms represent yin and yang, while the Eight Trigrams are Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui.
The Legend of King Wen and the Bagua
Legend has it that the Bagua was drawn by the ancient figure Fuxi, symbolizing eight natural phenomena. Later, the story of "King Wen being imprisoned and developing the Zhouyi" emerged. When King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, was still a feudal lord (Marquis of the West), he was dissatisfied with King Zhou of Shang and was reported. As a result, King Zhou ordered Ji Chang to be imprisoned in Youli.
Confined for seven years, King Wen spent his time delving into the study of the Bagua. He combined the eight trigrams into sixty-four hexagrams, leaving a legacy for future generations to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune.
"8" and the Zhou Dynasty's Longevity
Another legend states that Jiang Ziya pulled King Wen's carriage for eight hundred steps, leading to the Zhou Dynasty's eight-hundred-year reign. Thus, eight became the lucky number of the Zhou Dynasty.
The Modern Popularity of "8"
As history moved into modern times, southern regions, where Buddhism flourished, particularly revered and hold superstitious beliefs the number "8." After the reform and opening-up, the pronunciation of "eight" (bā) became associated with "prosperity" (fā), spreading nationwide. Almost all Chinese people began to choose "8" as their luckiest number.
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⚡️Keywords
🍀Lucky number, eight, Chinese culture, Bagua, Star8s, Chinese elements, good fortune, prosperity
