The Foundations of Chinese Numerology

Numerology is about numbers, and the foundations of Chinese numerology is the Luo Shu Square and He Tu Diagram.

Luo Shu Square

From the diagram, we can see white circular dots and black dots. White dots represent Yang, black dots represent Yin. Calculate the dots and we will get the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

The odd numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are white circular dots and are Yang. 
The even numbers 2, 4, 6, and 8 are black dots and are Yin.

Luo Shu Square is considered a magic square. Representing the Square in numbers will make it easier to understand why. From this chart, we can see that the sum of each of the 3 rows, of each of the 3 columns, and of both diagonals are all 15. The interesting thing is that 15 is also the number of days of Qi, one of the ancient Chinese time-measuring units. As 7 days equals one week, 15 days equals one Qi.

While the Luo Shu Square divides numbers into two Yin-Yang groups, the He Tu Diagram groups numbers by the number 5, the number that is at the centre of both the Luo Shu Square and the He Tu Diagram.

He Tu Diagram

The He Tu Diagram has ten numbers. The first five numbers, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are called generating numbers (生數).  Each number plus 5 becomes the corresponding numbers (成數), which are 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Pairing the generating number and the corresponding number forms the He Tu Diagram. Each pair has one Yin and one Yang number, also shown in the diagram as white circular dots and black dots.

The He Tu Diagram is naturally related to the five elements, which are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The relationship between the five elements and numbers is:

Chinese numerology is not only used for fortune calculation, such as name numerology, it has also been applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a long time. According to the theoretical book of classical Chinese medicine, “Huangdi Nei Jing“, the five internal organs are associated with numbers, and they start with number 5.

Thousands of years have passed since Luo Shu Square and He Tu Diagram were mentioned. We might never be able to fully understand ancient Chinese numerology, but we can show our recognition and respect for ancient people who perceived the world not merely intuitively but also mathematically. The journey to the understanding of nature and the human being started long ago in human history and will never end.

Notes:

1. Book of Changes, 孫振聲，白話易經（星光出版社，1981), 509
2. “Five days is called one Hou, three Hou is called on Qi, six Qi is called one Shi, four Shi is called Sui.”「五日謂之候，三候謂之氣，六氣謂之時，四時謂之歲」Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine: Plain Conversation [黃帝內經:素問], chapter 9, The Cycles of Nature and the Manifestations of the Viscera [六節髒象論].
3. 「東風青色，入通於肝，其數八；南方赤色，入通於心，其數七；中央黃色，入通於脾，其數五；西方白色，入通於肺，其數九；北方黑色，入通於腎，其數六」 Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine: Plain Conversation [黃帝內經:素問], chapter 4, Discussion on the Important Ideas in the Golden [金匱真言論].

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Bear Play: the Ability

Five-animal Play is concerned not only with the external movements that can be seen but also with the internal abilities. In addition to proper movement and presenting the features of animal play, there is a hidden ability that needs to be developed, and it’s grounding ourselves with the mind. Bring attention to the lower Dantian before each animal play. The lower Diantian is the storehouse of energy located around 3 finger widths below the navel. Breathing gently and directing the mind to Dantian harmonizes inner and outer energy and leads to tranquility. While practicing, visualize the natural environment in which the animal is playing; after practice, gather Qi towards the body, and guide Qi down with palms pressed down. The mind is always there to serve our intentions.

The Bear Play is the third play in Five Animals Play. A Chinese idiom says, “Great genius often lies concealed”. The bear is a good example. Stockily built and strong, bears are solitary by nature. A fun fact is that the original meaning of the Chinese character 能 (ability, power) refers to 熊 (bear). Moreover, Huangdi, a legendary Chinese ancestor, was born into the clan of “possessor of bears (有熊)”. He is well known not only as an ancient leader but also for his contribution to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The TCM doctrine “Huangdi Nei Jing” is named after Huangdi, the possessor of ability.

The Hand Gesture: Bear Paws

Four fingers bent together. Thumb press on the tip of the index finger and form a circle.

Guidelines:

• Movement led by the motion of the waist, not hands
• As the body rotates, hands move. Visualize the energy circling the Dantian
• Breathing in as the body shifts upward and breathing out as the body bends forward
• When the body is upward, lift the chest and contract the belly to stretch the front side. When forward, draw in the chest to squeeze the internal organs 

Benefits:

• Movement of the lumbar joints and muscles prevent lumbar muscle strain and soft tissue injury 
• Hands movement helps to guide the energy circulating, which improves function of  stomach and spleen 
• Movement has a massaging effect on the digestive system, and helps with indigestion, sluggishness, bloating and constipation

Guidelines:

• Lift hip and leg first then shift the weight to the front foot with knee bent 
• Drop the front foot heavily on the ground in a manner that creates vibration to the hip joint. Visualize yourself moving like a massively strong bear

Benefits:

• Tones the liver and spleen 
• Strengthens muscles around the hip. Improves balance and helps with weakness at the lower limbs, and knee pain

Bear Swaying is supposed to help with knee pain. But I found that it can bring out an old injury if you have already had knee issues. Use your own judgment when you feel knee pain doing Bear Swaying to identify if the movement is causing the issue or is part of the healing process.

Notes:

1. Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine: Plain Conversation [黃帝內經:素問], translated into English by Li Zhaoguo (Xi’an: World Publishing Corporation, 2005).
2. Health Qigong Management Centre of General Administration of Sport of China, Health Qigong – Wu Qin Xi [健身氣功 -五禽戲] (Beijing: People’s Sports Publishing House, 2005).
3. VCD, Health Qigong – Wu Qin Xi [健身氣功 -五禽戲] (Beijing: Beijing Sport University Audio & Video Press, 2005).

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