AZUZ: Many of the numbers associated with this earthquake are huge: more than 67,000 people killed; 21,000 missing; 45 million residents affected in Sichuan province. But there's also a focus on a smaller number: eight. In Chinese culture, eight traditionally has a positive meaning. But some people are looking at how the number's connected to a few events that have taken place this year. As Alina Cho tells us, for them it's adding up to bad news.
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ALINA CHO, CNN REPORTER: It may be the worst-kept ancient Chinese secret: 8 is a lucky number. That's why the Beijing Olympics will begin on August 8, 2008, or 8-8-08. In Chinese, the word for eight is similar to the word for wealth, so the Chinese people believe eight and prosperity are connected. The number 8 is everywhere: People try to get married on the 8th, and a Chinese airline paid more than a quarter million dollars to get this phone number: eight 8s. So, if that's the case, why are the blogs on fire with this: eight is a "curse for China"?
Three recent events: all negative, all linked to the number 8. First, a massive snowstorm blankets China on January 25th; 1 plus 2 plus 5 equals 8. Second, widespread protests against Chinese rule in Tibet. Date: March 14th; 3 plus 1 plus 4 equals 8. Third, a devastating earthquake hits Sichuan province, killing tens of thousands on May 12th; 5 plus 1 plus 2 equals 8. And the quake hits 88 days before the start of the Olympics.
CHO: Is this a lucky number? Is it an unlucky number? So, which is it?
ROSE WELSH, NUMEROLOGIST: Well, it's both.
CHO: Rose Welsh is a numerologist. She says eight on its side is a chain, like a chain of events.
WELSH: It was waiting to happen, that.
CHO: You're saying they should have known?
WELSH: They did know.
CHO: But on the streets of Beijing, many believe it's just a bad coincidence. Says this man: "It's nonsense. It's just superstition." And in New York's Chinatown...
RANDY FUNG: My old house was 404. 4 is a bad number in Chinese, but nothing happened to me.
CHO: But maybe that's because 4 plus 4 equals 8. Now, a lot of people we talked to in China believe all of this eight business is just a coincidence; many still believe eight is a lucky number. And there is currently no talk about changing the start date for the Olympic Games. Alina Cho, CNN, New York.
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