The Secrets Behind the Numerology of Stroke Counts: The Good and Bad Fate Codes of 81 Numbers

📝 TL;DR Summary
Within the tradition of name-based numerology known as “shùlǐ,” a Chinese name functions much like an old-fashioned radio. By adding up the stroke counts of each character in accordance with the standards set in the Kāngxī zìdiǎn, one obtains a number that represents the “channel” to which the name is tuned. Every number from 1 to 81 is believed to have its own unique frequency: 1 is the “launch channel” representing the beginning of all things, 13 is the “genius channel” for those with exceptional wisdom, 21 is the “leader channel” symbolizing clarity and brilliance, and 24 is the “wealth channel” that brings prosperity. Meanwhile, traditional “unlucky numbers” like 4 and 34 resemble static-filled frequency bands full of interference. This article explores these 81 “fate channels,” detailing how the calculation works, how they are applied, and acknowledging the limitations even textbook authors admit—namely, that this is an interpretive form of numerological culture, not a scientific law.

I. Introduction: Turning the Frequency Knob

You’ve probably seen those old-style radios in classic films—wooden casings, knobs, and a pull-down antenna. By moving the dial from 88.0 to 92.5, you tune into jazz music; shifting it to 98.0 brings you to the news station. There are also certain frequency bands in between that produce nothing but static noise. The same device, with just different numbers, can broadcast entirely different programs.

The “numerology school” within the field of name studies relies precisely on this concept when analyzing names. In their view, every Chinese name comes equipped with a set of numbers—the sum of its strokes—and each number “broadcasts” its own frequency related to good fortune or misfortune. You may have encountered visual representations of this idea before: traditional lunar almanacs available on the market often feature a chart showing the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of numbers from 1 to 81. He Rongzhu mentioned in the preface to his Textbook of Name Studies that readers frequently come across tables listing the “fate-related numbers based on 81 strokes,” prompting him to ask:

“Many people surely encounter these fate-related numbers based on 81 strokes in lunar almanacs. But who invented these numerical judgments? And what is their accuracy level?”
—— He Rongzhu, Textbook of Name Studies, China Materials Publishing House, 2012

The fact that even the author of a textbook questions its origins and reliability underscores the inherent controversy surrounding this system. In our previous article (Series 3.5), we compared names to a three-story building—comprising the Heaven Grid, Personal Grid, and Earth Grid. This time, we’ll open up each “door number” on these grids to explore what exactly those channels numbered from 1 to 81 are broadcasting behind them.

II. Exploring the Core Analogy: 81 “Fate Channels”

1. Where Does the “Number” Come From? Counting Strokes Using a Dictionary from 300 Years Ago

The numerology school adheres to strict rules: when counting strokes, the traditional formal script in the Kangxi Dictionary must be used as the standard. He Rongzhu wrote with great emphasis when explaining the process of the “Five Elements School”:

“For the Five Elements School, the number of strokes is the basis for fate analysis. Therefore, it is essential to calculate the correct number of strokes in a name, using the stroke count standards from the formal script in the Kangxi Dictionary.”
—— He Rongzhu, Textbook of Name Studies, China Materials Publishing House, 2012

Why exactly this dictionary published in 1716? He Rongzhu explained that the Kangxi Dictionary “redefined the radicals of each character and their correct stroke counts,” while also including both common characters and their variant forms. In an era when variant spellings were widespread, different writing styles meant different stroke counts. Without a unified dictionary, there would be no standard to adjust to. According to traditional interpretations, even the radicals themselves carry hidden codes: the three-drop water radical (氵) is not counted as 3 strokes but rather as 4, just like the “water” character; the left ear radical (阝) is counted as 8 strokes, similar to the “fu” character. In other words, the dial of this “radio” was calibrated based on standards from three hundred years ago.

2. Numbers Generated by Grids, Channels Determined by Numbers

Remember that “three-story building” mentioned in section 3.5? Each grid in the Five Elements system is formed by adding up groups of strokes, resulting in a specific number. What the numerology school does next is use these numbers to consult the channel list ranging from 1 to 81—to see which station each of your Heavenly, Personal, and Earthly grids has “tuned” into. What if the number exceeds 81? Traditionally, you subtract 80 first: 95 minus 80 equals 15, so you return to channel 15. This is exactly like a radio’s frequency bands—after 107.9, the needle loops back to 88.1; the frequency cycles, but the lineup remains unchanged.

3. Channel Lineup (Excerpt)

This table contains 81 rows in total. Here are some of the channels with the highest “viewing ratings”:

(Interpretations taken from He Rongzhu’s Textbook of Name Studies, “Table of Auspicious and Inauspicious Numbers of the 81 Dynamic Numbers”; Fang Lichen’s Zhengming Daoxing offers similar annotations for numbers 1–81—for example, regarding channel 34, he writes directly: “Disasters follow one after another; success is unlikely. This number is extremely inauspicious—consider changing the name.” — Fang Lichen, Zhengming Daoxing, Civil Aviation Publishing House of China, 2007)

Interestingly, He Rongzhu once counted the “inventory” of this lineup—out of the 81 numbers, 49 are considered auspicious while 32 are inauspicious. After excluding those that are too extreme or not practical to use, “the truly usable ‘auspicious numbers’ amount to just over twenty,” some of which are traditionally prohibited for women. In other words, more than half of the channels have no programs to broadcast according to traditional practitioners—achieving a consistently strong “signal” with all grids at their optimal level is far more difficult than one might think.

III. Back to Chinese Names: Tuning a Name’s Frequency

To put this process together, the numerology school follows four steps when evaluating a name:

1. Counting Strokes: Determine the number of strokes in each character using the standards outlined in the Kangxi Dictionary.
2. Calculating Grids: Add up the values for five distinct grids—Heaven Grid, Personal Grid, Earth Grid, Outer Grid, and Total Grid (the calculation method was explained in Section 3.5).
3. Checking Channels: Refer to the numerology chart ranging from 1 to 81 for each grid to see whether it falls under a “musical station” or an “static-filled station.”
4. Analyzing Interconnections: Examine the relationships between the five grids through the framework of the Heaven-Human-Earth triple to determine if they support one another in a harmonious cycle or conflict with each other.

Under this standard, a well-tuned name is one where all five grids land on favorable numbers and interact in a mutually reinforcing manner. Conversely, changing just one character is like retuning an entire radio station: altering the strokes of one character shifts the total sum of all five grids, thereby rearranging all associated frequencies. This is why consultants using this method often fill pages with candidate characters, tweaking them back and forth—much like a DJ constantly testing different stations late at night.

In a previous example, we calculated the Personal Grid for the poet Bai Juyi as 5 strokes for his surname plus 8 strokes for the first character of his given name, totaling 13. According to this “program schedule,” he was tuned to Channel 13—a station associated with exceptional wisdom and artistic talent. His poems are known throughout society, and traditional enthusiasts smile knowingly: indeed, the signal on this station is strong.

That said, even the textbooks set boundaries for this process. He Rongzhu explicitly noted when presenting the table of auspicious and inauspicious values for the 81 numerology numbers:

“The 81 numerology values consider only the Personal Grid and Total Grid, but they are meant solely as a reference—never to be used as the sole basis for naming.”
—— He Rongzhu, Textbook of Name Studies, China Materials Publishing House, 2012

Put in radio terms: don’t stay stuck listening to one station just because its music sounds great.

IV. Back to Reality: The Meeting Table Next to the Channel Chart

Scene 1: Numbers beside the Lunar Calendar. In many Chinese households, the lunar calendar is placed on a desk alongside the regular calendar. When flipping to a specific page, rows of auspicious or inauspicious numbers from 1 to 81 are neatly printed there. When elders choose names for newborns, they calculate the number of strokes using a dictionary while referring to this channel chart—treating it as their familiar “verification process.”

Scene 2: Running into an “Electrostatic Channel.” A couple finally settles on a name they love, only for a well-meaning friend to perform a calculation: the total grid number comes out to 34—on the channel chart, it clearly states, “This number brings great misfortune; it’s better to change the name.” The couple immediately breaks into cold sweat. Online, younger people treat numbers like 4, 9, and 14 as topics for humor: some share their own “unlucky numbers” jokingly about having “built-in noise,” while others mock the number 4 as a “channel that gets automatically skipped everywhere.”

Scene 3: The Textbook Author’s Honest Admission. This system isn’t absolute. He Rongzhu, on one hand, compiled the entire channel chart, but on the other, he honestly acknowledged its limitations—such as pairing successful people’s “unlucky numbers” with unsuccessful people’s “auspicious numbers” for comparison, only to find that it doesn’t always hold true. He also reminds us that names change along with a person and their circumstances, meaning “the numbers associated with good or bad fortune can shift too.” Adding to this is the old criticism mentioned earlier: the Five-Grid method focuses solely on the number of strokes rather than the meaning of the characters. Thus, this channel chart is more like an intriguing program guide than a definitive judgmental tool.

💡 Cultural Note: The concept of 81 numbers stems from the numerological traditions in the I Ching and belongs to a type of explanatory numerological culture. It is similar in nature to Western astrology and life numbers—coherent within its own framework and widely practiced for centuries. However, there is no scientific evidence suggesting that stroke counts can determine one’s fate. There are numerous schools of thought in Chinese name studies, and many families don’t use this channel chart at all. Treat it as an interesting cultural guide rather than taking it seriously or feeling anxious about it.

V. Practical Tips

1. Treat number analysis as a puzzle, not a medical checkup. Look up the numbers associated with each character in your name and see which “frequencies” they correspond to—view it as a cultural puzzle, similar to reading a horoscope. It can be fun, but don’t take everything at face value.
2. Listen to the “music” first, then discuss the “frequency.” A good name should sound smooth, look pleasing when written, and carry meaningful significance (in terms of sound, shape, and meaning). Even textbooks on numerology note that these analyses are “for reference only” and criticize those who focus solely on numbers rather than their meanings. A name with empty meaning, no matter how favorable its frequency may be, won’t hold up under scrutiny.
3. If you encounter interference, don’t throw out your radio right away. If your name happens to include “unlucky numbers” like 4 or 34, just laugh it off—textbooks themselves admit these rules aren’t absolute, and in reality, there are countless successful people who carry such numbers. Life is more complex than a single radio station.

Want to instantly calculate the five numbers associated with your name and see their traditional meanings? Give GetHanName a try—just enter your name, and we’ll show you the 1–81 numerology chart along with an easy-to-understand “frequency report.”

VI. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is the Kangxi Dictionary used for calculation instead of modern simplified characters?
This system relies on a universally accepted standard reference point. The Kangxi Dictionary (compiled in 1716) standardized character radicals and stroke counts, eliminating the issue of different numbers for the same character due to variant spellings—without such a consistent framework, the channel chart would be useless. This is essentially an industry convention, similar to musicians using the same tuning standard; it’s not because ancient pronunciations are “more accurate.”

Q2: Is the number 4 truly unlucky everywhere?
While the channel chart does classify 4 as extremely inauspicious, its accompanying notes state that throughout history, many “chaste women, filial sons, heroic figures, and extraordinary individuals” have been associated with this number. Additionally, modern aversions to 4 stem more from homophones (“si” sounding similar to “death”), which are a separate concept from the numerological principles behind 81. It is a traditional interpretation, not an absolute rule.

Q3: Do all Chinese people use this 81-number system?
No. The 81-number system is just one tool among many different schools (see Section 5.1, “Top Ten Schools”). Many families choose names based solely on meaning, generational sequence, or pronunciation, and some have never even heard of this chart. It represents optional traditional wisdom, not a rule applicable to everyone.

Q4: If my name falls under an “inauspicious number,” do I need to change it?
According to this tradition itself, there’s no need to. He Rongzhu explicitly stated that the chart is “only for reference and should not be the sole basis for naming,” adding that good or bad fortunes are “not always true” and can change depending on the individual and circumstances. Treat it as a cultural insight—just as you wouldn’t cancel a trip because today’s horoscope says “avoid long journeys.”

VII. Further Reading

• 📖 Heavenly Grid, Personal Grid, Earthly Grid — The Three Layers of a Name’s “Fate Structure” (Series 3.5) — This article breaks down the process step by step: first explaining how to calculate the five grids, then showing how to look up the 81 numbers, so you have a complete guide.
• 📖 The 10 Major Schools of Chinese Name-Bearing: From the Three Elements School to the Zodiac School (Series 5.1) — The numerology approach is just one station among many in the “radio market” of name theories; this piece offers a full list of all such approaches.
• 📖 The Beauty of Rhyme and Rhythm: The “Sound Wave Design” Behind a Great Name (Series 5.2) — Instead of focusing on stroke counts, focus on sound waves: another kind of “frequency” in names, hidden within tones and syllables.

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References

• He Rongzhu, Textbook of Name Studies, China Materials Publishing House, 2012. The sections on the “Five Grids School” and the “Taiyi School” are particularly useful, along with information on the stroke standards from the Kangxi Dictionary, the rule of subtracting eighty strokes for names exceeding eighty-one strokes, tables showing the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of each of the 81 numbers, statistics on favorable and unfavorable numbers, a note stating that these should only serve as references rather than the sole basis for naming, as well as critiques noting that these rules do not always hold true and that emphasis is placed on stroke counts rather than meaning.
• Fang Lichen, Zhengming Daoxing, Civil Aviation Publishing House of China, 2007. The sections discussing the numerical meanings from 1 to 81 and the methods for evaluating company names using these numbers are especially valuable, including the original annotations on the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of numbers such as 4/9/13/21/24/34/81.

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