Among odd numbers, “9” is the most popular for the following reasons: First, it pronounces likes “Jiu” in “Chang Jiu (lasting)”; second, it is the largest positive number (the ancients regarded odd numbers as positive, and even ones as negative). The emperor is known as “Jiu Wu Zhi Zun”, with the meaning of the imperial throne. In the Book of Changes,“Jiu Wu” is the fifth Yao of the Qian Diagram, and is the best. “9” means this Yao is positive, and represents an extremely positive and flourishing phase. Qian symbolizes heaven, so “Jiu Wu” represents the emperor. The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is called the Double Ninth Festival. “9” is a positive number, and two “9’” mean doubling the positive number. The Double Ninth Festival is also known as a Festival for the Elderly. “99” sounds like “Jiu Jiu (long)”, and has the meaning of praying for the health and longevity of the elderly. “9” also has the meaning of “many”. “Jiu” in “Jiu Si Yi Sheng” (”escape from death)”, “Jiu Niu Yi Mao” (”a drop in the bucket”), “Yi Yan Jiu Ding” (”a word which carries weight”) and “Jiu Niu Er Hu Zhi Li” (”making tremendous efforts”) is not directly definitive but rather has more referential meaning. Consequently, multiples of “9” also have the meaning of “many”, which can be reflected in expressions such as “Shi Ba Ban Wu Yi” (”skill in wielding the 18 kinds of weapons”), “Nu Da Shi Ba Bian” (”A girl changes fast in physical appearance from childhood to adulthood”), “San Bai Liu Shi Hang” (”masters in every walk of life”), and “Jiu Jiu Ba Shi Yi Nan” (”too many difficulties”) and so on. “9”also has the meaning of “high and deep”, which is reflected in the expressions “Jiu Xiao Yun Wai (”throw to the winds”) and “Jiu Quan Zhi Xia” (”dwelling place of the dead”). In civil society, Chinese people like counting dates based on units of “9”. Starting from the first day after the winter solstice, every nine days is regarded as one unit. They are called First Nine, Second Nine, Third Nine and so on. The coldest time is called “Shu Jiu Han Dong”.
The number “7” is rather mysterious. For example: “Bei Dou Qi Xing” refers to the Big Dipper; “Er Shi Ba Xing Xiu” refers to the 28 stars, which includes seven stars in all four directions; “Qi Xian Nv” refers to seven fairies; “Qi Se” means ”rainbow”; “Qi Yan” means a poem with seven characters in each line; “Jian An Qi Zi” refers to the seven scholars of Jian’an; “Zhu Lin Qi Xian” refers to the seven sages of the Bamboo Grove. “7” also has a romantic color. The 7th day of the 7th lunar month is called the Begging Festival. According to folk legend, the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid will meet on that day. The Begging Festival is seen as China’s Valentine’s Day. In abbreviated internet language, “7” is often used to mean “wife” because it sounds like the pronunciation of “Qi (wife)”, and “527” means that “I love my wife”. “7”is also a bit unlucky in some instances. According to Chinese custom, “Shao Qi (fete)” should be held after people’s death. It shall be counted based on units of “7 days” commencing from the date when the person died. They are called the “First Seven”, the “Second Seven”, the “Third Seven”, the “Fourth Seven”, the “Fifth Seven”, the “Sixth Seven”, and the“Last Seven (Seventh)”. The mourning platform shall be set up for the fete in the morning and evening. It will last 49 days. People have different sayings about the source of “Shao Qi (fete)”. But they are all related to the belief that the soul continues to exist after death. In addition, the linking of “7” and “8” has the meanings of excessive and messy, which can be reflected in expressions such as “Luan Qi Ma Zao” ( “in a mess”), “Heng Qi Shu Ma” (“in disorder”), “Qi Zui Ba She” (“gabble”), “Qi Shou Ba Jiao” (“in a bustle”), and “Qi Shang Ba Xia” (“an unsettled state of mind”), and so on.
“5” is at the center of all multiples of 10, and is the number which balances Yin and Yang. “5” represents all. The ancients called the Five Elements the “Wu Xing” -gold, wood, water, fire and earth - which they thought of as the basic elements making up the world. There were “Five Emperors” in ancient legend. The central emperor among the Five Emperors was the Yellow Emperor, the progenitor of the Chinese nation. The “Earth of Five Colors” on the altar refers to the earth of five colors (green, red, yellow, white, black) selected from five directions, namely east, south, centre, west and north. Earth is selected from the whole country. “Wu Yin” refers to five tones, namely Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zhi and Yu. “Wu Wei” refers to the five flavours (sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty). “Wu Zang” refers to the five internal organs (heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys). “Wu Fang” refers to the five directions, namely east, west, south, north and centre. “5” has the meaning of “whole” . “5” also has the meaning of “various”. “Wu Cai Bin Fen” means being suffused with color. “Wu Guang Shi Se” has the meaning of bright colors and a variety of styles. “Wu Hua Ba Men” has the meaning of various and changing patterns. “Wu Hang Ba Zuo” means all walks of life.
“3” has the meaning of “many”, which is reflected in expressions such as “San Ren Xing Bi You Wo Shi” (“there is always someone to learn from”), “Wu Ri San Xing Wu Shen” (“Every day I examine myself time and again”), and “San Si Er Hou Xing” (“be prudent”). “San Bu Guan” means “nobody cares”; “San Bu Zhi” means “knowing nothing”; “San Chang Liang Duan” refers to an unexpected misfortune especially death. The linking of “3” and “5” means many times or a large number in general, which is reflected in expressions such as “San Fan Wu Ci” (“repeated”), “San Ling Wu Shen” (“repeated orders”), “San Wu Cheng Qun” (“in knots”), and “San Nian Wu Zai” (“in a few years”). “San Xin Er Yi” has the meaning of shaky will or inattentiveness. “San Yan Liang Yu” means “few words”.
“1” is the beginning of all things. “Jiu Jiu Gui Yi” means ending in a new start. “1” also has the meaning of being complete and unified, which can be reflected in expressions such as “Yi Tong Tian Xia” (“unify the whole country”), “Si Hai Gui Yi” (“unify”), and “Wan Zhong Yi Xin” (“all the people of one mind”). “1” also means being the most important. For example: “Yi Ba Shou” means the chief principal unit; “Yi Piao Fou Jue” means a one-vote veto which can be conducted in extreme cases. “1” also means being solemn and sacred. Some Chinese commemoration days of a political nature are on the first day of some months. For example: the day when the Chinese Communist Party was founded was July 1; the day when the PLA was established was August 1; the day when the People’s Republic of China was founded was October 1.
