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China & Taiwan · c. 3500 BCE – today

Coin charms (yasheng qian)

Meaning

Chinese coin charms are coin-shaped but not money. They carry auspicious phrases ('long life, wealth and honour'), the Eight Trigrams, zodiac animals, Daoist spells commanding demons ('swift as the law demands'), swords, stars and deities, often in openwork.

Intent

Worn on the belt or neck, hung in homes, given to children and newlyweds, and tied onto coin-swords, they protect against evil spirits and illness and bring luck, wealth, children and long life.

Significance

They are a huge, diverse field of Chinese folk art, from the Han dynasty to the 20th century, and are important for understanding popular Daoism and folk belief. The same format spread to Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

History

Charms appear in the Western Han dynasty (2nd century BCE), flourished under the Song, and became especially varied in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911).

Making yours
2.5–6 cm cast brass or bronze with a square hole. Sand-cast from a master coin, as the originals were.
China & Taiwan: the tradition

China has one of the oldest continuous amulet traditions, from Neolithic jade (Hongshan and Liangzhu, c. 3500–2300 BCE) to Han dynasty exorcism batons (gangmao) and cicada tongue-amulets for the dead. Daoism developed fu talismans, writing in a celestial script that commands spirits and is issued like official documents. From the Han period coin-shaped charms (yasheng qian, 'suppressing coins') carried auspicious words and spells. Much Chinese protective imagery works through puns: bat (fu) sounds like fortune, fish (yu) like abundance, gourd (hulu) like protection.

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Coin charm, brass, openwork, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, brass, openwork, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900China Amuletes Poem coin New year chinese the year of rabbit Gross modul ND T213 - NumisvloraChina Amuletes Poem coin New year chinese the year of rabbit Gross modul ND T213 - NumisvloraBefore the 19th (nineteenth) century.amulet coinamulet coinPeople's Republic of ChinaStarr, Frederick (1917) Korean Coin Charms and AmuletsStarr, Frederick (1917) Korean Coin Charms and AmuletsJapanCoin charm, cast bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, cast bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Horse coin depicting horse armour used by the Mongols during the Yuan Dynasty - BBS.SSSC.CNHorse coin depicting horse armour used by the Mongols during the Yuan Dynasty - BBS.SSSC.CN13th (thirtienth) century.Starr, Frederick (1917) Korean Coin Charms and AmuletsStarr, Frederick (1917) Korean Coin Charms and AmuletsPeople's Republic of ChinaCoin charm, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Journey to the West charm - 无文花钱 (Zsbeike)Journey to the West charm - 无文花钱 (Zsbeike)19th (nineteenth) century or earlier.amulet coinamulet coinPeople's Republic of ChinaCoin charm, eight-lobed, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, eight-lobed, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Qianqiu Wansui (千秋万歲) - China ancient Eastern Wu Dynasty 222-280 Da Quan Wu Qian Copper Amuletes S272 - NumisvloraQianqiu Wansui (千秋万歲) - China ancient Eastern Wu Dynasty 222-280 Da Quan Wu Qian Copper Amuletes S272 - NumisvloraBefore the 19th (nineteenth) century.Coin charm, cast bronze, coloured red, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, cast bronze, coloured red, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Quest for Longevity Daoist charm - PrimaltrekQuest for Longevity Daoist charm - Primaltrek960-1279 AD.Coin charm, cast and pierced bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, cast and pierced bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Shunzhi Tongbao (順治通寶) charm - Republic of China - 大花钱 (G-07)Shunzhi Tongbao (順治通寶) charm - Republic of China - 大花钱 (G-07)Circa 1912-1949.Coin charm, cast bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, cast bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Yao à sapèques - Antonio, Joaquim (1857-1912)Yao à sapèques - Antonio, Joaquim (1857-1912)1902-1903Coin charm, eight-lobed, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, eight-lobed, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Zhengde Tongbao (正德通寶) Cashförmiges Bronzeguss-Amulett - Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbHZhengde Tongbao (正德通寶) Cashförmiges Bronzeguss-Amulett - Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbH1506-1521Coin charm, butterfly-shaped, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, butterfly-shaped, cast and pierced brass, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900仙佛花钱 (Zsbeike)仙佛花钱 (Zsbeike)Before the 19th (nineteenth) century.Coin charm, cast bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, cast bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900China Ancient coin Amuletes ND V595 - NumisvloraChina Ancient coin Amuletes ND V595 - NumisvloraLikely 13th (thirteenth) century.Coin charm, carp design, openwork bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Coin charm, carp design, openwork bronze, Korea, Late Joseon dynasty, 1850-1900Korea · 1850 - 1900Chinese Football Charm - China Numismatics (中國錢幣)Chinese Football Charm - China Numismatics (中國錢幣)Song Dynasty period (960-1279 AD).Guihe Qishou (龜鶴齊壽) bird-worm seal script coin charm - 吉语花钱 (Zsbeike)Guihe Qishou (龜鶴齊壽) bird-worm seal script coin charm - 吉语花钱 (Zsbeike)The Song Dynasty period (960–1279).Jiqing Ruyi (吉慶如意) - Jiqing Ruyi (戟磬如意) - ChcoinJiqing Ruyi (吉慶如意) - Jiqing Ruyi (戟磬如意) - Chcoin1644-1911Taiping Tongbao (太平通寶) - Quxie Qiansha (驅邪遣煞)Taiping Tongbao (太平通寶) - Quxie Qiansha (驅邪遣煞)1644-1912.Wuxing Dabu (五行大布) Tiger hour charmWuxing Dabu (五行大布) Tiger hour charmCirca 557-581 AD. These “tiger hour” charms offering protection and good luck are very old and can be dated back to abouYituan Heqi (一團和氣) Buddhist numismatic charm - NumisvloraYituan Heqi (一團和氣) Buddhist numismatic charm - NumisvloraBefore the 19th century.Baoquan Yongfu (寶泉永富) - Riri Shengcai (日日生財) - N518 - NumisvloraBaoquan Yongfu (寶泉永富) - Riri Shengcai (日日生財) - N518 - NumisvloraBefore the 19th (nineteenth) century.Fulu Shouxi (福祿壽喜) - Qing Dynasty period - Primal TrekFulu Shouxi (福祿壽喜) - Qing Dynasty period - Primal TrekManchu Qing Dynasty period (1644-1911).Huren playing musical instruments, dancing, and doing acrobatics (胡人乐舞杂伎) - ArtxunHuren playing musical instruments, dancing, and doing acrobatics (胡人乐舞杂伎) - ArtxunThe Khitan Liao (辽朝 907-1125) or Song (宋朝 960-1279) dynasties.Kangxi Tongbao (康熙通寶) Fu charm - NumisvloraKangxi Tongbao (康熙通寶) Fu charm - Numisvlora19th (nineteenth) century.부귀다남 - 수복강령 - 8 각 - Namchongcoin부귀다남 - 수복강령 - 8 각 - NamchongcoinBefore the 19th (nineteenth) century.Amulett, amulet (1935.50.3400) - Etnografiska MuseetAmulett, amulet (1935.50.3400) - Etnografiska MuseetAmulettsvärd av kinesiska mynt - Etnografiska MuseetAmulettsvärd av kinesiska mynt - Etnografiska MuseetBodhisattva charm - Scott SemansBodhisattva charm - Scott SemansBát Tràng Tết Vietnamese numismatic charms (2018)Bát Tràng Tết Vietnamese numismatic charms (2018)Changming Fugui (長命冨貴) Song Dynasty period pendant (plaque) charmChangming Fugui (長命冨貴) Song Dynasty period pendant (plaque) charmChina Empire Group of 8 Souvenir (?) Cash Coins and Charms or Amulets - Michaelp42China Empire Group of 8 Souvenir (?) Cash Coins and Charms or Amulets - Michaelp42Chinese money-bell good luck charmChinese money-bell good luck charmChinese new year in Binondo Santa Cruz ManilaChinese new year in Binondo Santa Cruz ManilaChinese numismatic "good luck" objects, Hong Kong International Airport (2018)Chinese numismatic "good luck" objects, Hong Kong International Airport (2018)Chinese numismatic charms - Scott SemansChinese numismatic charms - Scott SemansChinese numismatic charms in a Chinese bookstore, Amsterdam (2018)Chinese numismatic charms in a Chinese bookstore, Amsterdam (2018)Chinese numismatic charms with Auspicious Inscriptions - Sinaimg.cnChinese numismatic charms with Auspicious Inscriptions - Sinaimg.cnCrescent-shaped Chinese charm - Scott SemansCrescent-shaped Chinese charm - Scott SemansDeity pendant Chinese numismatic charm - Scott SemansDeity pendant Chinese numismatic charm - Scott SemansFive Poisons flower-shaped amulet - Scott SemansFive Poisons flower-shaped amulet - Scott SemansFour character obverse, plain reverse charm - Scott SemansFour character obverse, plain reverse charm - Scott SemansFulu charm - Scott SemansFulu charm - Scott SemansGia Bảo Sycee box, Ecopark (2018)Gia Bảo Sycee box, Ecopark (2018)Gishi Kuyō - Dr. Luke RobertsGishi Kuyō - Dr. Luke RobertsGold-eating dragon son statuette, Ecopark (2018)Gold-eating dragon son statuette, Ecopark (2018)Guangxu Zhongbao jewelry, Hillegersberg, Rotterdam (2020)Guangxu Zhongbao jewelry, Hillegersberg, Rotterdam (2020)Hoan Kiem District Tết Vietnamese numismatic charm, Hanoi (2018)Hoan Kiem District Tết Vietnamese numismatic charm, Hanoi (2018)Hongwu Tongbao charms with a young Zhu Yuanzhang playing the flute - Scott SemansHongwu Tongbao charms with a young Zhu Yuanzhang playing the flute - Scott SemansJapanese fox charm - Dr. Luke RobertsJapanese fox charm - Dr. Luke Roberts

More from China & Taiwan: Longevity locks · Jade & hardstone amulets · Taoist fu talismans · Bagua mirrors, coin swords & temple charms · Other & unsorted China
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made: any piece, any tradition, in its own material or yours, by hand from the documented original. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted before anything is made. I reply within one business day.