“eight ”in Tianjin Diaect
天津人的“八”
In classical Chinese, numerical terms often don't refer to specific quantities but rather imply a general amount or carry cultural significance. For example, "three" and "nine" can imply many or few, as in "三人行必有我师焉" (Among three people, one will surely be my teacher) or "九霄云外" (beyond the clouds). "Ten" signifies completeness or perfection, as seen in "十全十美" (perfect in every way). In Cantonese regions, "eight" is considered auspicious due to its phonetic similarity to "发 (wealth)." Similarly, Tianjin people also favor the number "eight," using it to convey a sense of grandeur, completeness, or perfection, akin to the classical Chinese use of "ten." Historical and colloquial references from Tianjin illustrate this preference.
In the "Tianjin Geographical Dictionary of Trade," it is recorded that the prominent families in Tianjin were referred to as the "Eight Great Families" (八大家). These included: Bian, Han, Mu, Huang, Wang, Zhang (with Yi Zhao Lin referring to the late Qing salt merchant Zhang Jinwen), Hua, and Li. During the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty, the "Eight Great Families" were listed as Gao, Han, Shi, Liu, Mu, Huang, Yang, and Yi Zhao Lin (Zhang).
In the thriving commercial landscape of Tianjin, there were the "Eight Major Streets" (八大巷): Bamboo Pole Street 竹竿巷(on the west side of the North Gate Road), Xiaoju Street 箫居巷 (on the west side of Hebei Street), Dahu Street大伙巷(at the northwest corner outside the city), Xiaohuo Street 小伙巷(also at the northwest corner outside the city), Mao Jia Huo Street毛贾伙巷 (at the north end of Palace North Street), Dafeng Street大丰巷 (on the south diagonal street outside the East Gate), Taiping Street太平巷 (north of the South Gate), and Yongle Street永乐巷 (on Taiping Street outside the West Gate).
Within the "Eight Major Streets," various businesses thrived, such as the silk and satin industry, represented by the "Eight Major Xiang" (八大祥) merchants: Rui Fu Xiang, Qian Xiang Yi, Rui Lin Xiang, Rui Zeng Xiang, Rui Sheng Xiang, Yi He Xiang, Long Xiang, and Qing Xiang.
The prestigious restaurants known as the "Eight Great Cheng" (津门八大成) in Tianjin were: Ju Qing Cheng, Ju He Cheng, Ju Le Cheng, Ju Sheng Cheng, Ju Yuan Cheng, Yi He Cheng, Yi Sheng Cheng, and Fu Ju Cheng. These establishments played a foundational role in the development of Tianjin cuisine.
After the commercial center of Tianjin shifted south, the original "Eight Great Cheng" ceased operations. In response, Tianjin locals established a new "Eight Great Cheng" (新八大成): Ju Qing Cheng, Ju He Cheng, Ming Li Cheng, Ju Xing Cheng, Qing Le Cheng, Ju De Cheng, Yu Hua Cheng, and De Hua Cheng. There is a saying that goes, "The Eight Great Cheng showcase the elegance of Tianjin, with the Four Pahuan being the most famous."
At the Quanye Market, there were eight entertainment venues known as the "Eight Great Heavens" (八大天) within the premises: Tianhua Jing Theater, Tiangong Cinema, Tianle Theater, Tianhui Xuan Theater, Tianwei Billiard Club, Tianwei Billiard Club, Tianlu Tea House, and Tianwaitian Rooftop Night Garden. Completed in 1928, the Quanye Market is now a key national cultural heritage site.
In Tianjin cuisine, there is the renowned "Eight Great Bowls" (八大碗), where eight different dishes are served in large bowls during banquets. These dishes include: sautéed fish slices, braised shrimp, a family-style dish, osmanthus-flavored fish bones, braised fish, unique gluten dishes, boiled meatballs, roast meat, and pine meat, among others. They are categorized into coarse, fine, meat, vegetable, and halal varieties.
During the New Year, the significance of "eight" is particularly emphasized, symbolizing completeness. The "Eight Great Reds" (八大红) include: door gods, Spring Festival couplets, Spring Festival strips (traditional strips of couplets with auspicious phrases like "bumper harvest"), "doufang" (a character for "luck"), hanging money, window decorations, New Year pictures, and crafts made from silk threads (such as peanut strings and ingot strings).
In the Southern tradition, when a couple is engaged, the bride's family receives eight pieces of jewelry as a dowry. These items include earrings, rings, bracelets, hairpins, necklaces, chicken-heart-shaped pendants, hairpins, and trouser hooks. Gold jewelry is referred to as "Eight Great Golds" (八大金), while silver jewelry is called "Eight Great Silvers" (八大银).
During the New Year in Tianjin, it is traditional to eat "Eight Pieces" (八件儿), which are various pastries made with eight different fillings: hawthorn, rose, green plum, white sugar, red bean paste, jujube paste, pepper salt, and raisins. These pastries come in "Big Eight Pieces" (大八件儿) and "Small Eight Pieces" (小八件儿). The Big Eight Pieces include items like jujube flowers, characters for luck, wealth, longevity, happiness, rolled puff pastries, walnut pastries, and wax cakes. The Small Eight Pieces include jujube squares, almond pastries, small peaches, small apricots, small pomegranates, small apples, small walnuts, and small persimmons.
In the world of traditional Chinese comedic performance known as "crosstalk" (相声), there is a renowned group called the "Eight Virtues of Crosstalk" (相声八德). These eight prominent crosstalk performers, active in the Beijing-Tianjin area during the 1920s and 1930s, are: Ma Delu, Zhou Deshan, Yu Delong, Jiao Dehai, Liu Dezhi, Li Dexiang, Li Dexiang, and Zhang Dequan.
In the 1920s, there were eight charitable organizations in Tianjin: Nanshan Hall (南善堂), Beishan Hall (北善堂), Gongshan She (公善社), Yinshan She (引善社), Chongshan East She (崇善东社), Jisheng She (济生社), Beiji She (备济社), and Tiren Guangsheng She (体仁广生社).
During the late Qing Dynasty, eight academies were established in Tianjin for the imperial examination system: Sanqu Academy (三取书院), Wenjin Academy (问津书院), Furun Academy (辅仁书院), Huiwen Academy (会文书院), Jixian Academy (集贤书院), Jindong Academy (津东书院), Chongwen Academy (崇文书院), and Jigu Academy (稽古书院).
The Eight Great Scenic Spots of Old Tianjin (老津门八大景) were established in the fifth year of the Qianlong era (1740) during the Qing Dynasty by the Tianjin county magistrate Zhang Zhiqi. The eight scenic spots are: SanShuiZhong Fen (Three Rivers Confluence), QiTaiHuanXiang (Seven Platforms Surrounding the City), MingBoYuRi (Sea Waves Bathing in the Sun), YangSaoPianJin (Foreign Ships Docking in Tianjin), FuLiangChiDu (Floating Bridges on the Hai River), GuangXia ZhouDun (Royal Shipyard), NanYuanQiaoYing (South Suburb Scenery), and XiDianYu Ge (West Suburb Scenery). These descriptions and poems were included in the Tianjin County Chronicle and are referred to as the "Eight Views of Qing Dynasty Tianjin."
Additionally, there were the "Eight Great Delicacies" (八大斋) from pastry shops, the "Eight Great Firefighting Societies" (八大水会), and the "Eight Great Funeral Services" (八大杠房). This shows the deep cultural appreciation for the number "eight" among the people of Tianjin.
天津过年糕点大八件
古汉语数字词并不专指具体数字，它们的意义有时候虚化成一个大概数字，有时候被赋予了一些文化意义。“三”、“九”表示数量多或数量少，比如，“三人行必有我师焉”、“狡兔三窟”、“九霄云外”、“九牛一毛”等;“十”表示完备、齐全、达到极点，如“十全十美”“神气十足”等。而“八”在粤语区等地方因为与“发(财)”音近，被视为吉祥数字。天津人也喜欢“八”，凡事喜欢凑够个“八”字，显得气派、齐整、十全十美，有点类似于古汉语的“十”。从天津的历史资料和口语中收集了一些，罗列如下：
在《天津地理买卖字典》里记载当时天津有财有权的名门望族“八大家”：“财势大家数卞家，东韩西穆也数他，振德黄、义德王，益照临家长源杨，高台阶华家门，冰窖胡同李善人”。这里记了“卞韩穆黄王张(益照临指清末当地盐商张锦文)华李”八家。在清咸丰年间的“八大家”是“高韩石刘穆，黄杨益照临(张)”也是以“八家”记。
天津商业兴旺发达，旧时有商街“八大巷”:竹竿巷(北门外路西)、箫居巷(河北大街西侧)、大伙巷(城外西北角)、小伙巷(城外西北角)、毛贾伙巷(宫北大街北口)、大丰巷(东门外南斜街)、太平巷(南门北)、永乐巷(西门外太平街)。
“八大巷里”张罗着各种买卖----
绸缎行业的“八大祥”：瑞蚨祥、谦祥益、瑞林祥、瑞增祥、瑞生祥、益和祥、隆祥、庆祥。
高级餐馆“津门八大成”：聚庆成、聚合成、聚乐成、聚升成、聚源成、义和成、义升成、福聚成。对天津菜系的形成起到了奠基作用。
商业中心南移以后，“八大成”停业，天津人又新开“新八大成”：聚庆成、聚合成、明利成、聚兴成、庆乐成、聚德成、裕华成、德华成。有“津门风光八大成，四趴馆亦最驰名”之说。
粮店街八大成：成发、成益、成兴、成庆、成通、成祥、成安、成利。
劝业场“八大天”，在场内设了八个娱乐场所：天华景戏院、天宫影院、天乐戏院、天会轩戏院、天纬台球社、天纬地球社、天露茶社、天外天屋顶夜花园。劝业场1928年落成，现在是国家重点文物保护单位。
天津餐饮有著名的“八大碗”，宴会时用大碗盛着八种组合菜肴：熘鱼片、烩虾仁、全家福、桂花鱼骨、烩溜鱼、独面筋、汆丸子、烧肉、松肉等等，分为粗、细、荤、素、清真等类别。
过年就更是讲究“八”的完完整整的意思，有“八大红”：门神、春联、春条(旧俗春节书写吉祥词句贴于门楹上的条形对联，如五谷丰登等)、斗方(福字)、吊钱、窗花、年画、用丝娟编的工艺品(花生串、元宝串儿等)。
男女定亲时南方给女方的彩礼要八件首饰作为聘礼：耳环、戒指、镯子、簪子、脖链、鸡心、头针、裤钩等，黄金的就叫“八大金”，白银的就叫“八大银”。
传统天津过年吃的也是“八件儿”：用山楂、玫瑰、青梅、白糖、豆沙、枣泥、椒盐、葡萄干等八种馅心做成各种各样的形状的点心，其中又有“大八件儿”和“小八件儿”之分。大八件儿大致有枣花、福字、禄字、寿字、喜字、卷酥、核桃酥、蜡饼;小八件儿有枣方子、杏仁酥、小桃、小杏、小石榴、小苹果、小核桃、小柿子。
讲相声的有著名“相声八德”：20世纪二三十年代活跃于京津一带的八位著名相声艺人，分别是：马德禄、周德山、裕德隆、焦德海、刘德智、李德饧、李德祥、张德泉。
上世纪二十年代，天津的慈善组织有八家：南善堂、北善堂、公善社、引善社、崇善东社、济生社、备济社、体仁广生社等。
清末科举在天津建立了八大书院：三取书院、问津书院、辅仁书院、会文书院、集贤书院、津东书院、崇文书院、稽古书院。
老津门八大景：清代乾隆五年(1740)，天津知县张志奇拟定"津门八景"，并为景观分别配撰七绝。其景依次为：三水中分(三岔河口)、七台环向(绕城炮台)、溟波浴日(大沽海口)、洋艘骈津(漕运海船)、浮梁驰渡(海河浮桥)、广厦舟屯(皇船坞)、南原樵影(南郊风景)、西淀渔歌(西郊物华)。这八景诗被收入《天津县志》，称为清代"天津八景"。
据记载，还有糕点铺的“八大斋”、救火的“八大水会”、料理丧事的“八大杠房”。天津人对“八”字的喜爱程度可见一斑。
