Five is an important number to the Discordian Movement, with its Funfwissenschaft or Law of Fives.

Meanwhile, in China, five is the number of the Taoist elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood.

KANJI: GO itsu (five)

ASCII Art Representation:

 
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Character Etymology:

In ancient times, five was represented by five fingers-- horizontal lines placed one over the other (see also two and three which still use this ideographic technique). Later, the character that meant thread-and-reel was used as a substitute, both for its sound and the fact that it replaced the five fingers when yarn was wound.

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: GO
kun-yomi: itsu itsu(tsu)

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: i sa satsu chi fu mi me

English Definitions:

1. GO, itsu(tsu), itsu: five; five years old.

Character Index Numbers:

New Nelson: 77
Henshall: 19

Unicode Encoded Version:

五

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

五月 (gogatsu): May.
五人 (gonin): Five people.
五日 (itsuka): The fifth day (of the month).

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"Wait."

Wait for...

"Me."

For how long shall I wait for thee?

"Five..."

Initial shock passes, year one began, emotions amplified.
These things aren't mine: those soup recipee, a corduroy
     jacket... your dirtied blouse.
Year two berthed hobbies -- to keep the mind occupied,
to keep the mind from thoughts of an occupantless house.


The third year granted me reflection, and daydreamt
     thoughts evolved into dispair.
Noises last longer, in a house with noone there.
Year four was known best as a compromise of ends. 
"We don't know why you don't let go," they said
     while meeting for dinner -- drinks -- with friends. 
"Because from her words I have to hope been led."


The fifth year, now, is growing old.
I look to the west, as you had once to me foretold.
A cold wind stokes my faith's sudden slack;
the hollow breeze is chilling the stoop's welcome mat.
But I rock there: wishing, waiting. Wanting...

     When, when will, will you come back?

Five (?), a. [OE. fif, five, AS. fif, fife; akin to D. vijf, OS. fif, OHG. finf, funf, G. funf, Icel. fimm, Sw. & Sw. Dan. fem, Goth. fimf, Lith. penki, W. pump, OIr. coic, L. quinque, Gr. , Aeol. , Skr. pacan. 303. Cf. Fifth, Cinque, Pentagon, Punch the drink, Quinary.]

Four and one added; one more than four.

Five nations Ethnol., a confederacy of the Huron-Iroquois Indians, consisting of five tribes: Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas, and Senecas. They inhabited the region which is now the State of new York.

© Webster 1913.

Five (?), n.

1.

The number next greater than four, and less than six; five units or objects.

Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matt. xxv. 2.

2.

A symbol representing this number, as 5, or V.

© Webster 1913.