Lucky Numbers Revealed for Each of the 12 Zodiac Signs
Lucky numbers have always been significant in Chinese culture, with the Forbidden City famously having 9,999 rooms. Auspicious numbers are considered when selecting residences, phone numbers, and even birthdays. Even numbers are generally seen as more favorable than odd ones. The number "2" signifies "harmony," and "6" symbolizes "smoothness." The largest single-digit odd number, "9," represents "longevity," while "8" is regarded as the most auspicious number.
In Cantonese, the number 8 sounds like 'fa,' which means prosperity, wealth, and status. Initially widespread among people from Guangdong, this belief has spread nationwide over more than 20 years of reform, migration, and openness.
While this familiarity with numbers started in southern regions, it has become popular in the north as well. In Beijing, acquiring a phone number with multiple "8s" often requires an additional fee. The eighth floor in real estate projects is also in high demand. Properties marketed to foreign clients usually lack a 13th floor, and those targeting Chinese buyers often omit the 4th and 14th floors.
Expectant mothers in China frequently consult the lunar calendar to choose the most auspicious birth dates. In Hong Kong, businessmen once paid substantial sums for personalized license plates. In the 1990s, plates containing "8" fetched as much as 5 million Hong Kong dollars at auction.
The number "9" is considered the most auspicious for jewelry patterns in Tibetan Buddhism. In Buddhism, the number "7" is revered as sacred, mysterious, and profound. Concepts such as seven injuries, seven retributions, and seven Buddhas abound, as do mentions of seven treasures, seven conveniences, and seven awakenings. Stupas are often referred to as seven-story pagodas. The number "3" represents 'many' in Chinese numerology and symbolizes "Buddha, Dharma, Sangha" in Buddhism, with bells traditionally rung three times as a sign of respect towards Buddha, intended to dispel misfortune.
Among Americans, the number "13" is considered extremely taboo and unlucky, believed to bring about misfortune. This superstition arises from the Christian Bible's account of the "Last Supper," where Jesus dined with his 12 disciples, and Judas, who was the 13th person present, betrayed Jesus, eventually leading to the crucifixion. As a result, Westerners often view the number "13" as a harbinger of bad luck. In the U.S., having 13 people at a dining table is considered inappropriate and there shouldn’t be 13 dishes served. Many high-rise buildings skip the 13th floor, or refer to it as the 14th floor for reassurance. An amusing incident in Pampa, Texas, involved five traffic accidents occurring in quick succession, initially blamed on poor traffic management. However, the police, realizing they had a patrol car numbered 13, changed its number to 25, attributing the accidents to the ill-fated "13."
The Book of Revelation in the New Testament refers to 666 as the number of the beast, commonly associated with great evil in Western belief. Interestingly, in "The Apocalypse," "999" is noted as an unlucky number.
Different zodiac signs have their own lucky and auspicious numbers, which you might find interesting: