The Number Nine
It is the ninth day, the ninth month and the ninth year of the century….
Triad x 3
In math, 9 is the largest and the last single digit, giving it a specific identity, one of completion and achievement. This sense of attainment gives the number 9 special or sacred meanings and symbols in many cultures and religions. In spiritual traditions, the single triad is considered powerful. It is the three sides that create an enclosure, to enable building both geometrically and metaphysically. There is the physical built space and also the invisible space: the internal structure of mind, body, spirit. It is the power of three. Multiplying it all by three (3×3) creates an intensified energy. Nine.
The number of dragons and kings
In Chinese culture, 9 is auspicious and often associated with the powerful dragon.
The dragon and the number 9 are symbols of the emperor: the emperor and his upper echelon wore nine dragons on their robes, though these robes were covered over by other garments. The dragon symbolizes hidden power. It represents influence, control, change and completion. This is also true in the martial arts: the dragon is hidden, and understands the power of movement, not brute force. The dragon itself is a complex arrangement of nines. It is a composite of nine creatures: camel head, demon eyes, stag horns, cow ears, snake neck, clam belly, tiger soles, eagle claws and carp scales. Its scales are divided into yin and yang: 9×9 yang/ 9×4 yin, 81 + 36 = 117 scales…and each of these numbers equals 9 (8+1, 3+6, 1+1+7).
In Feng Shui, the lo-shu is a tool for creating an harmonious structure. Using direction, with the number of the home’s age at the center of its grid, predictions can be made for the fortunes of the house. It is a 9 square grid. There are three columns and three rows, all called the nine palaces. The numbers in each palace are called stars. There are nine stars.
It is said that the arrangement of the lo-shu inspired the creation of the trigrams of the bagua. There are eight trigrams, with earth at the center (tai chi), creating nine numbers. These are the building blocks for the I Ching. Some in the martial arts hold that meditation and practice will brings the nine dragons to the seeker revealing the secrets of the bagua and the power of its elements and energies.
Nine’s hold energy of attainment and completion, but with that success and its closutre, a new cycle will begin. In many cultures the word nine also means new. One of the hexagrams in the I Ching, is Chi Chi, “after completion,” represented by the elements of water over fire. It urges us to enjoy our success, but prepare for the new cycle of challenges. Cycles are constantly in motion. This is trigram #63. 6+3 = 9. Beyond 9 there comes a new cycle. Appreciate and celebrate your accomplishment, but prepare for the new chapter that awaits. Use the day and its energy: 9/9/09. People get ready…life will happen.
Toni Josephson
Watch TDH #2 http://www.tandao.com/videos/
Download our free Shaolin Crane ebook
WOW. Toni, way to go. Fantastic article about the number 9. You know, I’ve also noticed that in the Hindu and Buddhist Religions, they often suggest that we chant a mantra 108 times (108 is divisible by 9). And In the Catholic Religion, they will often do Novenas for 9 days. And hey, I didn’t know that the dragon was made up of 9 different animal parts! The number 9 is everywhere. Wasn’t it in one of the Beatles’s songs from Revolution?…not sure.
Fantastic, beautifully written article. Thanks!
Love you both :0)
Rose
thanks. yes, you are right, there are connections in many cultures & religions — too much for one post.
Here’s Revolution 9 from the white album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1swOYEZBim0
xo
Toni,
I never new all the symbolism of the number 9. Life, power, flow, so much. I have a question though, that I was wondering if anyone could help me answer. In Judaism the number of life (the chai) is 18, which is very closely related to the number 9 (18/2=9, and 1+8=9) but Judaism distinctly chose to use 18 and not 9. My question is why? what is the difference between 9 and 18?
HI Solo,
The number 18 comes from Gematria, a system of assigning numerical value to a word or phrase, and is almost always Hebrew & sometimes Aramaic. “Chai” means life & has a numerical value of 18.
When any number is multiplied by 9, the resulting digits will add up to 9. Because of it, the ancient Hebrews saw nine an a symbol of truth – always creating itself & returning to itself. There may be a correlation to 9, as 18 is the first increase in it’s value through multiplication: 9 x 2 =18. It is the first reproduction of 9, the creation of some thing new. Life?
Take care, Toni