Bangkok, Thailand
Sunday 2 February 2020
Hello there,
It is incredible that we are already in the second month of this new year. And today is the second day of the second month in the year 2020. What a rare coincidence! Probably because this occasion is rare plus some beliefs about "number" in some societies including China, today is considered an auspicious date for people to start a new business, a marriage life, etc.
Here in Thailand, however, despite that many people have beliefs about numbers too, their beliefs seem mainly influenzed by two different roots. One originated from Thai tradition; the other from Chinese tradition. Because of the different origins, the sets of numbers seen as good or bad are rather different. For example, number 9 is considered the most auspicious number among many Thai people. Its sound "kao" is basically similar to the sound of action "step forward" or "progress". Other auspicious numbers are 7 and 5. Meanwhile, Chinese Thais think 4 is not a good number, so they avoid having it as possible on their properties such as their address, their car license plates and their phone numbers. Others embrace both Thai and Chinese beliefs about the good and bad numbers.
All in all, beliefs about number seem mixed and merged. The intensity of the beliefs ranges widely too. Some people take their belief seriously, while others hardly give any attention in this. Some even think such ideas about good or bad numbers are non-sense.
How about you? Do you have such belief in your society or do you believe that?
Gigi
Sunday 2 February 2020
Hello there,
It is incredible that we are already in the second month of this new year. And today is the second day of the second month in the year 2020. What a rare coincidence! Probably because this occasion is rare plus some beliefs about "number" in some societies including China, today is considered an auspicious date for people to start a new business, a marriage life, etc.
Here in Thailand, however, despite that many people have beliefs about numbers too, their beliefs seem mainly influenzed by two different roots. One originated from Thai tradition; the other from Chinese tradition. Because of the different origins, the sets of numbers seen as good or bad are rather different. For example, number 9 is considered the most auspicious number among many Thai people. Its sound "kao" is basically similar to the sound of action "step forward" or "progress". Other auspicious numbers are 7 and 5. Meanwhile, Chinese Thais think 4 is not a good number, so they avoid having it as possible on their properties such as their address, their car license plates and their phone numbers. Others embrace both Thai and Chinese beliefs about the good and bad numbers.
All in all, beliefs about number seem mixed and merged. The intensity of the beliefs ranges widely too. Some people take their belief seriously, while others hardly give any attention in this. Some even think such ideas about good or bad numbers are non-sense.
How about you? Do you have such belief in your society or do you believe that?
Gigi
