What a Number Means in Asian Countries

Written by Riki

Vietnam: # 3
It is believed that taking a picture with three people is a bad luck.
Reference:
“3 (number).” Wikipedia. 21 Jun. 2010. 22 Jun. 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_(number)#As_a_lucky_or_unlucky_number

Nepal: #8
It believed a lucky number in Nepali mythology, and eight strings are used in the traditional dress “Daura”.
Reference:
“Nepal Culture.” Saarc Tourism. 2009. 6 Jun. 2010.
http://nepal.saarctourism.org/nepal-culture.html

Myanmar (Burma): #9
The number is a lucky number since the sound nine “ko” also means “seek protection from the gods”.
Reference:
“Buddhist Monks Novices and Nuns.” Journeys. Jun.2010. 6 Jun. 2010.
http://www.journeysmyanmar.com/buddhist_monks_novies_nuns.htm

Thailand:# 9
In Thailand the number nine is considered a good number because the sound of nine “gao” is similar to the sound “kow-nah,” which means to “move forward.”
Reference:
“Lucky Number 9.” thaizer.com. 22 Nov. 2007. 6 Jun. 2010. http://www.thaizer.com/culture-shock/lucky-number-9/

Cambodia #:9, #10
If you add up a series of numbers and becomes nine, it is a good luck Number ten means bad luck in Cambodia.
Reference:
“Cambodian Myths.” Cambodian Learning Facilitators. 2010. 6 Jun. 2010.
http://www.camlefa.org/cam_myths.html

Philippines: #13
It is a bad luck to eat meal with 13 people
Reference:
“Superstitions and Beliefs Related to Death.” Living in the Philippines. 2010. 6 Jun. 2010.
http://www.livinginthephilippines.com/philculture/superstitions_and_beliefs.html

Indonesia: odd numbers
Taking picture with odd-numbers of people is a bad luck.
Reference:
Luxamore.“Superstitions of Indonesia.” Content for Reprint. 31 Jan. 2008. 6 Jun. 2010.
http://www.content4reprint.com/religion-and-spirituality/metaphysical/superstitions-of-indonesia.htm

Korea: #3, #7
Number 3 and 7 is believed as lucky numbers in Korea
References:
Li, Li. “Superstition or Modernity?” M/C Journal. 22 Jun. 2010. 22 Jun. 2010. http://journal.media-culture.org.au/0703/07-li.php
W. Tim G. Richardson. “Mother Tongue Marketing.” witiger.com. 8 Jun. 2010. 22 Jun. 2010. http://www.witiger.com/marketing/cultures.htm

Japan: #7, #8
Because of the influence of western culture, the number seven is often considered a lucky number in Japan. The number eight also can be said is a lucky number because the first letter of the sound of eight “hachi” is the same as the first letter of “happy.”

Chinese culture :#2, #6, #8
In Chinese culture, many people take numbers seriously, and there are more lucky numbers than unlucky ones:The number two is considered a lucky number because it is believed that “all good things come in pairs.”The number six is also a lucky number because its sound is similar to the sound which means “flowing and smooth”The number eight is also a lucky number because the sound of eight is similar to the sound of the word which means making money.

References:
Drwi.“Chinese Lucky Numbers.” chinatravel.com. 15 Oct. 2008. 6 Jun.2010.
http://www.chinatravel.com/facts/traditions-and-custom/chinese-lucky-numbers.htm

Number #4
In China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Japan, the number 4 is often avoided because the sound is similar to the word “death.”
Reference:
“Tetraphobia.” Wikipedia. 22 May 2010. 6 Jun. 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetraphobia

After doing this research, I realized that many countries in Asia are pretty superstitious about numbers. Chinese culture is quite superstitious, and it influences a lot to neighborhood countries due to its immigrants. However, besides that I found many westerners who have lived in other Asian countries also felt people in those countries care about lucky or unlucky numbers very much, and often writes phrase like “….. (country name) is more superstitious than any other countries in Asia.”