中西文化对比之数字解读

TheComparisonofNumberCulturebothinEnglishandChineseThemeaningof“1”isalmostthesameinbothChineseandEnglishculture.1.Itisthestartingpointofallthingsallovertheworld.InHuaiNanzi,itsays:“1”istherootandnatureofeverything.(《淮南子》有语“一也者，万物之本也。)Inwesternculture,“1”representstheoriginalityinsteadoftheproduce.AnditbelongstothefieldofSun(属于太阳的领域).2.Itisthesymbolofourachievements,statusandhonor.No.1isthetargetofmanysuccessfulpeoplewhowantstostandatthepinnacle(顶点)ofcareerandlifeandalwaysbetheblessedoneofGod(天之骄子).Forexample,theOlympicGames,thegoldmedalmeansfirst,thusalltheathletesspendcountlesseffortsforitregardlessoftheirnationality;itnotonlyrepresentstheparticipants’highestabilityandtheachievement,butalsobringsgreatglorytothewinner’scountryandpeople.InChineseculture,“2”isanevennumber,conveyingthemeaningofthe“double”.Chinesepeoplealwaysexpectgoodthingstocomeinpairs(好事成双),so“2”isapopularandauspicious（吉利的）number.Forexample:1.“喜喜”willbepostedonthewallsandroomsduringmarriagedays,whichmeans“happinesscomesincompany”.2.Whenwepraiseothers,wewillsaysheisendowedwithbothbeautyandtalent(才貌双全)orheisanexpertinbothliteratureandmilitaryrealms(文武双全).Inthewest,2isthefirstevennumberwithnegativenatureorqualities(阴性)asitbelongstothefieldofthemoon(属于月亮的领域).Thisisthefirstnumberrelatedtothree-dimensionalspace.“2”isdivisibleandcannotsymbolizethesoulorspiritexceptmaterialorphysicalthings.“3”hasbeenattachedgreatsignificanceinChineseculture.FromourancientChineseperspective,thecharacter“三”meanstheharmonyoftheheaven,theearthandhumanbeings.(在汉语中上横代表天，下横代表地，中间代表人，即天地人为一体。)Ancientpeoplethoughtthatallthenumbersaregeneratedfromone,endedwithten,andfulfilledbythree.(数字始于一，终于十，成于三。)Besides,wehavemanyideasaboutthree.Suchas:1.thethreelives(thepreviouslife,thislife,andtheafterlife(前生、今生、来生为三生)；2.threemoralprinciples(三纲):rulerguidessubjects,fatherguidesson,husbandguideswife.3.threegenerations:father,son,andgrandson(父子孙为三族)4.threereligions(三教):Confucianism(儒教),Buddhism(佛教),andTaoism(道教).5.ithasthemeaningofauspiciousnessandlongevityasaluckynumber,suchas:1)ThreeRamsBringBliss(三羊开泰);2)Threedurableplantsofwinter(岁寒三友)--pine,bambooandplumblossom.However,thepronunciationof“三”issimilarwith“散”(separation),weshouldbecautioustouseitinmanyhappysituations,especiallyweddingoccasions.“3”isrespectedinwesternculture.Itisanoddnumberwithpositivenatureorqualities(阳性).ItisthesymbolofreproductiveabilityandbelongstothefieldofMars(属于火星的领域).Pythagoras,thephilosopherofancientGreece,called3“theperfectnumber”.AccordingtotheancientGreekMythology,theuniverseisgovernedbythreeGods,namely,Jupiter(theMainGod),Neptune(GodoftheSea),andPluto(GodofDeath)。Thetrinity（三位一体）inChristianreferstotheunionoftheFather,theSonandtheHolySpirit.“4”inChineseculturecontainsconflictingculturalmeanings,wesay:1.“Menwillnotbeconfusedinhisforties”,whichassociatesagewithwisdom;2.Theseniorsexpectfourgenerationsundertherooftogether(四世同堂);3.Citiesseekforatransportationsystemextendinginalldirections(四通八达)。Mostofthetime,however,theChinesethenumber“4”isataboo(禁忌)duetoitssimilarpronunciationwith“死”(death).Sohospitalsdonotarrangebedsnumbered“4”;thehotelshavenoroomandfloorslabelednumber“4”.“4”conveyssomebadmeaningsinmostcasesinwesternculture,suchas:1.“thefourth”istheeuphemisticexpressionsofthetoilet.2.“four-letterwords”meansvulgarwordsinAmerica.3.“404”referstopeoplewhoisconfusedandknowslittleofaparticularthing.e.g.Heisatotal404anddon'ttalktohim.IntheChinesecultureandlife,5isanwidely-appliednumberowningtoitsextendingculturalvalue.1.“thefiveelements:gold,wood,water,fireandearth(五行).2.“thefiveethicalrelations:monarchandhissubjects,fatherandson,brothers,husbandandwife,andfriends(“五伦”：封建礼教指君臣、父子、兄弟、夫妇、朋友五种伦理关系).在中国古代，“五”指金、木、水、火、土；与此同时，“五”也与中国传统文化密切相关，诸如五行、五福临门、五方保护神、五湖四海等等。进一步说，用数字“五”代表东西南北中五方，是中国一项非常悠久的文化传统。现在，北京奥运吉祥物选择五个福娃，既可与奥运会标志五环相呼应之外，又符合中国人口众多、历史悠久、文化丰富的国情。“5”=3+2.IntheWest,“3”isthenumberofpositivequalitiesand“2”ofnegativequalities.“5”belongstothefieldofJupiter(5属于木星的领域).Fridayhaslongbeenconsideredunluckyasithassomebadassociations.1.AccordingtotheBible,theLordGodcreatedthefirstmanAdam.AndhetookaribfromAdamtocreateEve-thefirstwoman.AnditissaidthatAdamwascreatedonFriday.Besides,heandEveatetheforbiddenfruit-theappleonFridayaswell.3.JesuswasalsopersecutedonFriday.InChineseculture,“6”iswidelyusedandcarriesgreatvalueandluckyconnotations.（内涵）1.“thesixlinearrelatives(六亲)”:intheancienttimes,thisreferstothefather,mother,brother,sister,wifeandson.2.“sixflavors(六味):thebitter,sour,sweet,spicy,salty,andlightflavors.3.Theemperorhassixbigpalacesforherconcubinesofhighstatus(皇上的后宫有六宫或六苑).4.Thepregnantwomenarecalled“身怀六甲”.5.Thesixth,sixteenth,andtwenty-sixthdayonLunarcalendarareallgooddaysformarriage.我国自古以来就有崇尚“六”的观念。考古发现秦始皇的铜马车皆以“六”及其倍数为度。先秦时期六部儒家经典称为“六经”或“六艺”，诸子中最著名的阴阳、儒、墨、名、法、道德总称为“六家”，皇后的寝宫称“六宫”。古代把亲属关系归纳为“六亲”，天地四方合称为“六合”或“六幽”。妇女怀孕也称为“身怀六甲”.民间有“六六大顺”的吉语，农历初六、十六、二十六被视为举行婚礼的吉日。IntheWest,“6”symbolizeslove,fertility,peaceandabundance,belongingtothefieldofVenus.(它象征爱、生殖力，以及和平与丰饶，属于金星的领域.)However,“6”inEnglishisanunpopularnumber,whichisviewedasasini