9, 18, 72, 108.

[xiao yao]

Does anyone know the significance of the number 36 in kung fu or chinese medicine/philosophy etc?

Ive heard its related to Yi Jing, but not sure how or why

[Crosshandz]

Multiples of 9 feature strongly in Chinese Martial arts due to the importance of 9 in Chinese philosophical thought. 36, 72, 108 all numbers you'll see constantly in Chinese martial arts.

[SPJ]

12 animals a cycle

12x2 = 24

12x3 = 36

12x4 = 48

12x5 = 60

12x 6 = 72

12x 7 = 84

12 x 8 = 96

12x 9 = 108

so when you compile your forms or routines

you set your basic 4 or basic 12 moves

then vary them or derive more from them.

you then have 24 postures

48 postures

and 108 postures

etc etc.

[David Jamieson]

9 is the significance.

9 is the highest number.
multiples of it are given the attributes of the original.

9x1=9
9x2=18
9x3=27
9x4=36
9x5=45
9x6=54
9x7=63
9x8=72
9x9=81

read the results left number descending right number ascending.

why it's a mathematical cats cradle! lol.

[hskwarrior]

For some of us:

36 (6+3 = 9) = HEAVEN

72 (7+2= 9)= Earth

108 (8+1 = 9) = the sum of the first two numbers for "Association"

9 breaks down to 3


The alleged origin can be borrowed from the Chinese notion that there are 36 celestial Gods.... and 72 terrestial baneful (fatal) influences.

[Hebrew Hammer]

This is a great question or great timing...had a similar question...

What about the number 5? 5 animal styles, 5 demon bag..etc

[David Jamieson]

For some of us:

36 (6+3 = 9) = HEAVEN

72 (7+2= 9)= Earth

108 (8+1 = 9) = the sum of the first two numbers for "Association"

9 breaks down to 3


The alleged origin can be borrowed from the Chinese notion that there are 36 celestial Gods.... and 72 terrestial baneful (fatal) influences.

Hey Frank, for your noodle, in my post, add all the single digits in the resulting numbers from the multiplication. they all = 9

[David Jamieson]

This is a great question or great timing...had a similar question...

What about the number 5? 5 animal styles, 5 demon bag..etc

When (if) you were getting your mitzva remember "18" and multiples of it as your monetary gift?

[hskwarrior]

Hey Frank, for your noodle, in my post, add all the single digits in the resulting numbers from the multiplication. they all = 9

of course bro.....but 9 still breaks down to 3, right?

[Vajramusti]

Hey Frank, for your noodle, in my post, add all the single digits in the resulting numbers from the multiplication. they all = 9

-------------------------------------------------

I actually wrote an article on this in an old Inside King Fu issue.

The 3. 9s and multiples of nine leading upto 108
are well known in numerology and ancient Indian astronomy which went
with early Buddhism to China. At one time there were many Indian astronomers in China.

The astronomy has to do with lunar cycles, including what the Greeks called the saros cycle.
Perceptions of harmony.

A copy of the article is on my website at
<www.tempewingchun.cpm>

joy chaudhuri

[David Jamieson]

of course bro.....but 9 still breaks down to 3, right?

There are only 9 numbers and zero.

9 breaks down by adding the last to first and next in IE 9=1+8/2+7/3+6/4+5 which is all the other single numbers.

No other number does this completely and none do it except according to where it is in the count IE: 8= 1+7/2+6/3+5 then you have to double a single to get the last one.

3 has it's significance in trinity understandings of cosmology.
Sun/Moon/Earth
Heaven/Earth/Man
Water/Land/Ether
Man/Woman/Child

Each number is given significance in all societies. Not all significant attributes from one society that ponders numbers map over to another. Otherwise, yes, they can free form be arranged and present their own anomalies to us as we do so and then we start to ascribe meaning to that.

anyway...happy new year!

2012! 20+12=32=5!
2+0+1+2=5!

5 is important this year. :-)

[Chadderz]

For some of us:

36 (6+3 = 9) = HEAVEN

72 (7+2= 9)= Earth

108 (8+1 = 9) = the sum of the first two numbers for "Association"

9 breaks down to 3


The alleged origin can be borrowed from the Chinese notion that there are 36 celestial Gods.... and 72 terrestial baneful (fatal) influences.

For most of us normal people though, it's just a number.

[SPJ]

some people likes 6

so

6x6 = 36

---

north east west south = 4 directions

advance and retreat = 2 ways

4+ 2 = 6

etc etc

[GeneChing]

If anyone finds any more, post them here and I'll merge them in.

[mooyingmantis]

Does anyone know the significance of the number 36 in kung fu or chinese medicine/philosophy etc?

Ive heard its related to Yi Jing, but not sure how or why

Will,
In the Tanglangquan form, Luanjie, the "36 mother techniques" refer to the six characters: 剛 柔 - gāng róu (hard-soft), 陰 陽 - yīn yáng (passive-active), and 虛 實 - xū shí (void-solid/false-real). These six concepts combined with the six lines of the Yijing trigrams create the numerological formula 6 x 6 = 36.