The Number 8 Means More Than Just Luck
We know that in Chinese culture, the number eight is associated with happiness, luck and prosperity, but it means so much more to others around the globe. We dug into other fields of thought to share with you the many interpretations of this auspicious numeral. Japanese Culture In Japan, the number eight is also considered lucky, but the reason is a bit different from that in Chinese ethos. The Japanese favor the number because of the shape of the character (八) The symbol bro
Lucky Cell Phone Numbers: The Power of 8
Lucky cell phone numbers are big business in China. Just ask any of the Chinese vendors offering auspicious cell phone numbers at premium prices. Highly coveted phone numbers can go for anywhere from $1,000 to $33,000 in cell phone stores. Vendors typically store popular numbers on lists that also specify the prices. The most desired cell phone numbers in China are those that have consecutive 8’s, followed by 9’s or 6’s. An ideal – and thus a very favorable – cell phone numbe
The Luckiest Buildings: 88 Floors and Beyond
Most of the tallest buildings in China have between 80 and 88 stories or a height dimension that ends with the number 8. Before technology permitted construction of buildings that high, many skyscrapers in China had floor plans that looked like the Chinese character for the number 8. If you aren’t already familiar, this is because the Chinese believe that the number 8 bestows powerful luck and 88, happiness and prosperity. Two IFC is the second building in a pair that make u
08/08/08 Mania
August 8, 2008 was a day virtually all Chinese people looked forward to. Most famously, it was the date on which the 2008 Summer Olympics, which took place in Beijing, China, kicked off. More specifically, the Beijing Olympics commenced at 8:08 pm on 08/08/08. Elsewhere in the city, Chinese couples had plans to get married that very day. So what was the reason for the big commotion concerning August 8, 2008? The eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the decade
Chinese Airline Pays Top Dollar For Lucky 8 Phone Number
In August 2003, an auction was held for coveted phone numbers containing the lucky number 8. About 100 phone numbers with lucky digits were up for grabs. A very special phone number, "88888888", was auctioned off and Sichuan Airlines had to have it. After several rounds of bidding, the number was sold for 2.33 million yuan or about 280,723 US dollars. The digit 8 is a lucky number in China as it has a similar pronunciation to the Chinese character which means "rich." So a p
The Phonetic Sound of “8”
The number 8 is to Chinese people what the number 7 is to Western culture, and likely much more so. After all, would Westerners go to the extreme of forking over thousands upon thousands of dollars for a license plate stacked with 7s the way a select few Chinese individuals have done for license plates teeming with 8s? But why exactly does the number 8 hold such supremacy in the minds and hearts of the Chinese? The answer is quite simple. The mystical appeal of the number 8 l
Pricey License Plates
In China, license plates are issued randomly, just like here in the US. However, there are auctions held for more desirable plates so the superstitious and very wealthy can claim the best of the best. The number 8 is now widely considered to be lucky and 4 to be unlucky, especially among those who are Confucian. The Mandarin word for the number 8 is “bā”, which is close to the word “fā” meaning, ”to be rich.” This means that many flock to the plate auctions in hopes of sc
