**Today is Friday the 13th**, a date often associated with bad luck in Western culture. But **have you ever wondered how other cultures view numbers and luck?**

As a lifelong student and teacher of Chinese philosophy, spirituality, history, and martial arts, who lived for 15 years in Taiwan, I've developed a deep appreciation for Chinese culture.

These traditions are an integral part of my life, and now, as a mother of two half-Taiwanese teenagers, they've become part of my family's heritage.

One fascinating aspect is their intricate system of lucky and unlucky numbers. Let's explore this:

#### Lucky and Unlucky Chinese Numbers

The Chinese are very superstitious about certain numbers due to how they sound similar to other words (homophones). This impacts many aspects of daily life, from phone numbers to building floors.

#### Unlucky Numbers:

1. **4 (四, sì)** - Most unlucky, sounds like 死 (sǐ), meaning "death"
   - Often omitted in building floors, addresses, phone numbers
   - Can lower property values if present in an address
   - Giving gifts in sets of 4 can be seen as offensive
   - In Hong Kong, some high-rise buildings omit all floor numbers containing 4

#### Lucky/Unlucky - The Number 13:

1. **13 (十三, shí sān)** - Has mixed connotations
   - Traditionally considered lucky in Chinese culture, meaning 'assured growth' or 'definitely vibrant'
   - The phrase "十三點" (shí sān diǎn) can mean "very lucky" or "just perfect"
   - However, in modern times:
     - Some consider it unlucky due to Western influence
     - Others, particularly feng shui practitioners, view it negatively because 1 + 3 = 4, and 4 is unlucky
   - In Taiwan and some Chinese-influenced areas:
     - Some buildings may omit the 13th floor, especially in newer or Western-style constructions
     - Traditional buildings or those adhering to Chinese numerology might include the 13th floor
   - Perception often depends on individual beliefs, Western influence, and specific context

#### Elevator Example:

In many Chinese-speaking regions (mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong), an elevator's "50th floor" button might actually take you to the physical 35th floor. Buildings often omit floors containing 4 (四, sì), sometimes 13 and 14 too. You might find:

- No 4th, 14th, 24th, 34th floors
- 40-49 entirely missing
- Sometimes skipping from 39th to 50th floor

This practice is widespread in areas with significant Chinese cultural influence, affecting not just residential buildings but also hotels and offices.

#### Lucky Numbers:

1. **8 (八, bā)** - Luckiest, sounds like 發 (fā), meaning "wealth" or "prosper"
   - Highly sought after in phone numbers, license plates
   - 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony started at 8:08:08 PM on 8/8/08

2. **6 (六, liù)** - Lucky, sounds like 流 (liú), meaning "flow"
   - Associated with things going smoothly
   - **666 is considered very lucky, unlike in Western culture***

3. **9 (九, jiǔ)** - Lucky, sounds like 久 (jiǔ), meaning "long-lasting"
   - Associated with the emperor in ancient China
   - Forbidden City has 9,999 rooms

4. **2 (二, èr)** - Lucky, associated with pairs and good things coming in doubles
   - Gifts often given in pairs

5. **3 (三, sān)** - Lucky, sounds like 生 (shēng), meaning "life"
   - Significant in Buddhism (Three Jewels)

#### More Lucky/Unlucky Numbers:

1. **5 (五, wǔ)** - Can be both lucky and unlucky
   - Unlucky: Sounds similar to 無 (wú), meaning "not" or "without"
   - Lucky: Associated with the Five Elements (五行, wǔ xíng) in Chinese philosophy

2. **7 (七, qī)** - Has both positive and negative connotations
   - Positive: Sounds like 起 (qǐ), meaning "start" or "rise", and 氣 (qì), meaning "vital energy"
   - Negative: The 7th month is known as the "ghost month"
   - Lucky for relationships (Chinese Valentine's Day is on the 7th day of the 7th month)

#### Some Number Combinations in Internet Slang:

- 520 (我愛你, wǒ ài nǐ) - "I love you"
- 88 (八八, bābā) - "Bye bye"
- 1314 (一生一世, yīshēng yīshì) - "Forever"
- 5201314 - "I love you forever"

These beliefs can influence major decisions, from choosing wedding dates to purchasing homes or vehicles. Some people will pay premium prices for lucky number combinations.

Learn more about Chinese numerology here:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_numerology

**What's your take on numerical superstitions? Do you have any in your culture? Have you encountered these beliefs in your interactions with Chinese people or culture?**