22/08/2021
Samurai and Numbers
Like most people around the world, in the past people were rather superstitious. Numbers played a major role in determining luck and fortune. The samurai were no different.
4. Traditionally, 4 is unlucky because it is sometimes pronounced shi, which is the word for death. For that reason, often floors or rooms with 4 are absent in hospitals, apartments or hotels. Particularly hospital maternity sections, room number 43 is avoided because it can literally mean "stillbirth".(死産 - shizan: 死 - death/to die and 産 - childbirth/produce).
In cars and racing, number 42 which sounds like shini (死に – to die) and 49, which sounds like shiku (敷く – to run over) are commonly avoided.
Gifts of items such as plates are normally in sets of three or five, never four. For that reason 4 is also read as “yon”.
7, when pronounced as "shichi", it sounds similar to the number 4, (四 shi) and Chi (blood). Instead, seven is read Nana. Seven is considered a good number since 7 symbolizes "Togetherness". However, the number 7 is also considered an unlucky number due to the way it is written as Kanji, 七 which is similar to a way the samurai would commit seppuku (切腹) in particular a type known as Memboku Seppuku, if he were wrongfully accused of something.
8 is considered a lucky number because of its shape, （八）like that of Mt Fuji, or the stable angled walls of a Japanese castle. It also represents Sue—hiro-garu, “spreading out”and because it is nearly homophonous to the word "Prosperity" (繁栄 han'ei).
9 was considered a good number, when pronounced as Kyū, as it sounds like a word for Relief. 9 was also the most auspicious number in Buddhism. But 9 is also pronounced ku — with the same pronunciation as agony or torture. Combs (kushi) were rarely given as presents as the name is pronounced the same as 9 4 (Ku-shi), or “agonizing death”.
10 is considered a good number because it is pronounced Jū, sounds like the word for "Enough" and "Replete". It is also a homophone for the word "Ample" (十分な jūbun'na).
45 can be seen as shigo, or “after death” (死後).
Incidentally, my car's registration number is 634. 6 can be read as Roku or Mu,...3 is San, Mi, or Sa,...4 is Shi, or Yon.
6 Mu 3 Sa 4 Shi,...Mu Sa Shi !! However, unlike Musashi's 5 Rings, my car only has 4 Rings,...it's an Audi.
