Editing 8 (section)

== In culture ==

=== Currency ===
* Sailors and civilians alike from the 1500s onward referred to evenly divided parts of the [[Spanish dollar]] as "pieces of eight", or "bits".

=== In religion, folk belief and divination ===

==== Buddhism ====
[[File:Dharma Wheel.svg|thumb|right|In Buddhism, the 8-spoked [[Dharmacakra]] represents the [[Noble Eightfold Path]].]]
In general, "eight" seems to be an auspicious number for Buddhists. The [[Dharmacakra]], a [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] symbol, has eight spokes.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Issitt|first1=Micah|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kmFhBQAAQBAJ&q=Dharmacakra,+a+Buddhist+symbol,+has+eight+spokes.&pg=PA186|title=Hidden Religion: The Greatest Mysteries and Symbols of the World's Religious Beliefs: The Greatest Mysteries and Symbols of the World's Religious Beliefs|last2=Main|first2=Carlyn|date=2014-09-16|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-478-0|pages=186|language=en|quote=The dharmachakra is typically depicted with eight spokes,}}</ref> The Buddha's principal teaching—the [[Four Noble Truths]]—ramifies as the [[Noble Eightfold Path]] and the Buddha emphasizes the importance of the eight attainments or jhanas.

==== Islam ====
[[File:Rub_El_Hizb.svg|thumb|right|110px|The [[octagram]] ''[[Rub el Hizb]]'']]
* The [[octagram]] ''[[Rub el Hizb]]'' is often used in Islamic symbology.

====As a lucky number====<!--This section is linked from [[2008 Summer Olympics]]-->
* The number eight is considered to be a [[Numbers in Chinese culture|lucky number in Chinese]] and other Asian cultures.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ang |first=Swee Hoon |title=Chinese consumers' perception of alpha-numeric brand names |journal=Journal of Consumer Marketing |year=1997 |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=220–233 |url=http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=856257&show=abstract |doi=10.1108/07363769710166800 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205013132/http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=856257&show=abstract |archive-date=5 December 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Eight ({{lang|zh-Hani|八}}; [[Chinese numerals#Numeral characters|accounting]] {{lang|zh-Hani|捌}}; [[pinyin]] ''bā'') is considered a [[Numbers in Chinese culture#Eight|lucky number in Chinese culture]] because it sounds like the word meaning to generate wealth ({{lang|zh-Hant|發(T) 发(S)}}; [[Pinyin]]: ''fā''). Property with the number 8 may be valued greatly by Chinese. For example, a Hong Kong [[Vehicle registration plate|number plate]] with the number 8 was sold for $640,000.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.umac.edu.mo/fba/irer/papers/past/vol2_pdf/079-093LN-NZ.pdf |journal=International Real Estate Review |year=1999 |volume=2 |pages=79–93 |title=Hedonic Prices and House Numbers: The Influence of Feng Shui |author1=Steven C. Bourassa |author2=Vincent S. Peng |issue=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6XlGD7PlK?url=http://www.umac.edu.mo/fba/irer/papers/past/vol2_pdf/079-093LN-NZ.pdf |archive-date=13 April 2015 |df=dmy-all |access-date=11 May 2011 }}</ref> The opening ceremony of the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics in Beijing]] started at 8 seconds and 8 minutes past 8 p.m. (local time) on 8 August 2008.<ref name="game">{{Cite web |date=2008-08-08|title=Olympics opening ceremony: China makes its point with greatestshow|url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/aug/09/olympics2008.openingceremony|access-date=2022-11-29|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
* In Pythagorean [[numerology]] the number 8 represents victory, prosperity and overcoming.
* {{Nihongo|Eight|八|hachi, ya}} is also considered a lucky number in [[Japan]], but the reason is different from that in Chinese culture.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jefkins|first=Frank|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sbWvBQAAQBAJ&q=Eight++is+also+considered+a+lucky+number+in+Japan&pg=PA36|title=Modern Marketing Communications|date=2012-12-06|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-94-011-6868-7|pages=36|language=en|quote=...eight being a lucky number in Japanese.}}</ref> Eight gives an idea of growing prosperous, because the letter ({{nihongo2|八}}) broadens gradually.
* The Japanese thought of {{Nihongo|eight|や|ya}} as a holy number in the ancient times. The reason is less well-understood, but it is thought that it is related to the fact they used eight to express large numbers vaguely such as {{Nihongo|manyfold|やえはたえ|Yae Hatae}} (literally, eightfold and twentyfold), {{Nihongo|many clouds|やくも|Yakumo}} (literally, eight clouds), {{Nihongo|millions and millions of Gods|やおよろずのかみ|Yaoyorozu no Kami}} (literally, eight millions of Gods), etc. It is also guessed that the ancient Japanese gave importance to pairs, so some researchers guess twice as {{Nihongo|four|よ|yo}}, which is also guessed to be a holy number in those times because it indicates the world (north, south, east, and west) might be considered a very holy number.
* In [[numerology]], 8 is the number of building, and in some theories, also the number of destruction.

==== In astrology ====
* In the [[Middle Ages]], 8 was the number of "unmoving" stars in the sky, and symbolized the perfection of incoming planetary energy.

=== In sports and other games ===
[[File:8-Ball.jpg|thumb|An 8-ball in pool]]
* In [[association football]], the number 8 has historically been the number of the Central Midfielder.
* In [[baseball]]:
** The [[center fielder]] is designated as number 8 for scorekeeping purposes.
* In [[rugby league]]:
** Most competitions (though not the [[Super League]], which uses static squad numbering) use a position-based player numbering system in which one of the two starting props wears the number 8.
* In the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Games of the XXIX Olympiad]] held in [[Beijing]], the official opening was on 08/08/08 at 8:08:08&nbsp;p.m. [[China Standard Time|CST]].

=== In literature ===
* In [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' series, eight is a magical number<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Collins |first1=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LskbAQAAIAAJ&q=Terry+Pratchett's+Discworld+series,+eight+is+a+magical+number |title=Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review Annual |last2=Latham |first2=Robert |date=1988 |publisher=Meckler |pages=289 |isbn=978-0-88736-249-1 |language=en}}</ref> and is considered taboo. Eight is not safe to be said by wizards on the [[Discworld (world)|Discworld]] and is the number of Bel-Shamharoth. Also, there are eight days in a Disc week and eight colours in a Disc spectrum, the eighth one being [[octarine]].

=== In slang ===
* An "eighth" is a common measurement of [[cannabis (drug)|marijuana]], meaning an eighth of an [[ounce]]. It is also a common unit of sale for [[psilocybin mushrooms]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Franciosi |first=Anthony |date=2019-10-25 |title=Weed Measurements: The Marijuana Metric System |url=https://honestmarijuana.com/weed-measurements/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Honest Marijuana |language=en-US}}</ref>
* In [[Colombia]] and [[Venezuela]], "volverse un ocho" (meaning to tie oneself in a figure 8) refers to getting in trouble or contradicting oneself.
* In China, "8" is used in chat speak as a term for parting. This is due to the closeness in pronunciation of "8" (bā) and the English word "bye".

===Other uses===
* A figure 8 is the common name of a [[geometry|geometric]] [[shape]], often used in the context of sports, such as skating.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9v0Me0lNg48C&q=figure+8+skating.&pg=PA20 |title=Boys' Life |date=1931 |publisher=Boy Scouts of America, Inc. |pages=20 |language=en |quote=lunge forward upon this skate in a left outside forward circle, in just the reverse of your right outside forward circle, until you complete a figure 8.}}</ref> Figure-eight turns of a rope or cable around a cleat, pin, or bitt are used to belay something.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Day|first=Cyrus Lawrence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-F0sAAAAYAAJ&q=Figure-eight+turns+of+a+rope+or+cable+around+a+cleat,+pin,+or+bitt+are+used+to+belay+something |title=The Art of Knotting & Splicing |date=1986 |publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-0-87021-062-4|pages=231|language=en|quote=To make a line temporarily fast by winding it, figure – eight fashion, round a cleat, a belaying pin, or a pair of bitts.}}</ref>