Chinese Number Meanings: Sounds, Symbols and Lo Shu
Chinese number symbolism combines sound associations and cultural use. Eight can evoke prosperity through its sound, while four can evoke death; context and language affect the association.
Sound associations
The association of four with death rests on similar pronunciations; eight and prosperity are linked especially through southern Chinese speech. A pun is a linguistic association, so its force can change across languages and dialects.
Pairs and sequences
Repeated or paired numbers can emphasize a sound association. Six commonly suggests smooth progress, and nine longevity or enduring rank. These are cultural readings of numbers rather than positions in a birth chart.
A computational number square
Lo Shu arranges 1–9 in a square where each row, column and diagonal sums to 15. Flying-star calculations use its ordered positions. That arithmetic is a different task from reading a telephone number as a phrase.