VITA VISSUTA

I tried to resist, but today I had to take the decision and hit the “cancel my line” option for my Singapore mobile number.

I requested the mobile operator Giga to switch into an e-sim, moving into a new iPhone, and optimizing my communication network, following the complaints of many friends always challenged on which line I was reachable. The only way to do that is to authenticate with Singpass, and this is impossible, as I do not hold anymore a work/resident visa in Singapore. Reached a few time their assistance, and they have not assisted me with any other option. I may understand their security policies, but I also remember, years back when I subscribed while abroad, that they had also different authentication.

Well, let me take this announcements to speculate a bit on numbers.

Chinese numerology is an intricate system that blends philosophy, linguistics, and superstition—revealing how sound and symbolism shape people’s perception of luck, destiny, and success. Its origins trace back thousands of years to Daoist and Confucian traditions, which viewed harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity as essential to prosperity. Numbers, being universal yet symbolic, came to embody this harmony.

Unlike Western numerology, which links numbers to mystical or cosmic vibrations, Chinese numerology relies heavily on phonetic associations in Mandarin and Cantonese. The pronunciation of a number often resembles a word with positive or negative meaning. The number 8 (ba) is almost synonymous with wealth and good fortune because it sounds like fa, meaning “to prosper.” This belief has profound real-world effects: businesses pay premiums for phone numbers and license plates containing eights, and property prices can soar simply for including the digit. The 2008 Beijing Olympics famously began at 8:08 p.m. on August 8—a date chosen for its auspicious symmetry.

In contrast, 4 (si) is considered unlucky, as it sounds like the word for “death.” Many buildings in China omit the fourth floor altogether, replacing it with “3A.” Similarly, 14 or 24 may be avoided, as their combinations reinforce the negative tone. On the other hand, 6 (liu) implies smooth progress, 9 (jiu) longevity and eternity, and sequences such as 168 (“road to continuous wealth”) or 888 (“triple fortune”) are seen as especially powerful.

Despite modernization, numerology remains deeply woven into Chinese society, and I’m aware has even some influences on me, after so many years walking the streets of Asia.

So far I can count 3×8 “prosperity“, 2×9 “longevity“, and only one 4, “death“: it was a lucky number, and I knew it!