Ancient Chinese Charms and Coins

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"><link rel="stylesheet" href="css/index.css"> <title>Ancient Chinese Charms and Coins</title> <meta name="description" content="Historical information and many images of old Chinese charms, coins, paper money, horse coins, chess pieces, and Korean coins"> <link rel="icon" href="favicon.ico"> </head> <body> <div class="container"> <header> <picture><source srcset="primaltreklogo3.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="primaltreklogo3.jpg" alt="Primal Trek logo" width="174" height="50"></picture> <input type="checkbox" id="nav-toggle" class="nav-toggle" aria-label="nav-toggle"> <nav> <ul> <li><a href="index.html">Home</a></li> <li><a href="coinarticles.html">Chinese Coins</a></li> <li><a href="charmarticles.html">Chinese Charms</a></li> <li><a href="chinesepapermoney.html">Chinese Paper Money</a></li> <li><a href="koreancoins.html">Korean Coins</a></li> <li><a href="horse.html">Horse Coins</a></li> <li><a href="xiangqi.html">Chinese Chess</a></li> <li><a href="blog">Chinese Coin and Charm Blog</a></li> <li><a href="sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li> <li><a href="aboutme.html">About Me</a></li> </ul> </nav> <label for="nav-toggle" class="nav-toggle-label"> </label> </header> <nav></nav> <main> <h1> Ancient Chinese Charms and Coins </h1> <h2> Introduction to Chinese Charms </h2> China was one of the first countries in the world to use metal coinage and its <a href="chinesecoins.html">ancient coin history</a> can be traced back well over two thousand years. In addition to official coinage, China also has a long history of producing "coin-like" charms, amulets and talismans. <figure> <picture><source srcset="index2.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="index2.jpg" width="200" height="201" alt="Old Chinese charm with Immortal, Tortoise and Crane"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese charm with Immortal, Tortoise and Crane </figcaption> </figure> Coins, as a form of money, represent power.  Coin-shaped charms are, therefore, a very compact form of power.  They are filled with symbolism and are believed by the multitude of Chinese to have vast powers. Cast throughout the centuries, these ancient charms, informally referred to by the Chinese as "ya sheng coins" (压胜钱), "flower coins" (huaqian 花钱) or "play coins" (wanqian 玩钱), were not used as money but rather to suppress evil spirits, bring "good luck", "good fortune" and to avert misfortune. The Chinese also produced other "coin-like" pieces such as "<a href="horse.html">horse coins</a>" (马钱), depicting famous historical horses, which were used for games and as gambling tokens.  Other metal coin-shaped pieces traditionally included by collectors in the category of charms are the chess pieces used in <a href="xiangqi.html">Chinese chess</a> also known as "xiangqi (象棋) or "elephant" chess. For the most part, all these old charms, horse coins and chess pieces were privately cast and their quantities and dates are almost impossible to determine. Nevertheless, they serve as important cultural artifacts from the life of the common Chinese throughout the centuries. <h2> Private Casting of Charms and Coins </h2> <figure> <picture><source srcset="huanqian.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="huanqian.jpg" width="200" height="198" alt="Warring States Round Coin"></picture> <figcaption> Zhou Dynasty Round Coin </figcaption> </figure> <a href="chinesecoins.html#qin_dynasty">Emperor Qin Shi Huang</a>, now world famous for his army of terracotta soldiers, was the first person to militarily conquer the various "warring states" and thereby unify China in 221 BC. He then undertook the task of creating a central government which included unifying scripts, weights and measures as well as standardizing the monetary system. At the time, each of the warring states had its own form of currency which included coins, such as the <a href="chinesecoins.html#zhou_dynasty_round_coin">example on the left</a>, as well as other distinctive forms of money such as <a href="chinesecoins.html#knife_money">knives</a> and spades. For examples of the spade or shovel money, please see <a href="spade.html">spade charms</a>. Central governments usually attempt to monopolize the issuing of currency in order to minimize financial chaos. In so doing, private minting is usually prohibited. <figure> <picture><source srcset="banliangqin1.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="banliangqin1.jpg" width="200" height="195" alt="Ancient Chinese ban liang coin"></picture> <figcaption> Qin Dynasty 'Ban Liang' Coin </figcaption> </figure> In order to standardize the monetary system, Qin Shi Huang abolished the existing forms of money and established a round bronze coin with a square hole in the middle with a value of a "half tael", better known as <a href="charmcoins.html#qin_ban_liang">banliang </a>(半两). Although this coin had a stipulated size and weight, the large number of pieces that have survived from that era show a wide variation in size and weight. This means that, despite a unified monetary system, the right to cast coins remained decentralized. China continued to have individuals casting private money as evidenced by the need for <a href="charmcoins.html#8_zhu">Empress Lu Hou</a> of the Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD) to issue an edict in 186 BC prohibiting citizens from issuing private currency. However, in the year 175 BC, <a href="charmcoins.html#4_zhu">Emperor Wen</a> abolished this prohibition and allowed the people to issue private currency. One of his favorite officials, <a href="charmcoins.html#deng_tong_ban_liang">Deng Tong</a>, issued currency said to have "prevailed throughout the realm". Although subsequent dynasties time and again attempted to prohibit the private issuance of money, private coinage still took place. The primary purpose of the private coinage was, of course, to make a profit. But, a good part of the casting was because the Chinese believe that coin-like charms can avert misfortune, can be used to celebrate happy events, and can control evil. It is these types of "coins" we refer to as charms or amulets. <h2> Reasons for the Emergence of Chinese Charms </h2> <figure> <picture><source srcset="zodiacrev1a.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="zodiacrev1a.jpg" width="200" height="203" alt="Old Chinese zodiac charm"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese Zodiac Charm </figcaption> </figure> There are a multiple of reasons given for the emergence of amulets and charms. The ancient Chinese felt they were not able to resist natural disasters resulting from nature's elements of wind, rain, lightning, thunder, water and fire. They felt unable to understand disease, dreams and death. This led to religious belief and a reverence for spirits. This was also a time when there began a separation between manual labor and intellectual labor resulting in, for example, diviners who could divine the ominous, auspicious, calamity and happiness for the tribal chiefs, as well as shamans who could drive away the evil spirits and cure diseases. This was also the incipient period for the appearance of states with kings who received the "mandate from heaven" and ruled citizens. By the time of the <a href="chinesecoins.html#western_han_dynasty">Han Dynasty</a>, <a href="confucian.html">Confucianism</a> and <a href="daoist.html">Taoism (Daoism)</a> were already prevalent and <a href="buddhist.html">Buddhism</a> was arriving which caused the people to feel that the power of heavenly spirits was something that could not be violated. Only by following the intentions of heaven could one enjoy constant good luck and avoid calamity. For these reasons, people wished that their lives would be happy,long-lasting, and wealthy with many sons and grandsons. After death, they hoped to quickly ascend to the world of the immortals or reincarnate as a person. People began to worship heaven, the Buddha, and the immortals by means of memorials and ceremonies, prayers,sorcery, divination and eulogy. Because the people were accustomed to the forms of coinage in circulation at the time and because they were convenient to carry, charms and amulets began to appear in similar forms. <h2> Early Precursors of Chinese Charms </h2> While it is not known for sure when "good luck" charms first appeared in China, their precursors can be traced back to at least the 7th - 4th century BC. There are examples of "three character knives" of the State of Qi with the character ji (吉) meaning auspicious. The last years of the Warring States period saw the production of a type of <a href="charmcoins.html#zhou_round">round coin</a> (一刀) that had the same character 吉. This character 吉 is generally believed to be derived from a character on ancient oracle bones meaning to pray for luck. <figure> <picture><source srcset="banliangbigstar1.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="banliangbigstar1.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="135" alt="Ban liang coin with big star below square hole"></picture> <figcaption> 'Ban Liang' Coin with big star below square hole </figcaption> </figure> There are examples of the Qin Dynasty (221 - 207 BC) banliang, mentioned above, which appear to have raised dots on the surface which may have meant to represent stars. Some of the <a href="charmcoins.html#han_ban_liang_dots">ban liang (pan liang) coins</a> of the following Western Han (206 BC - 8 AD) have horizontal and vertical lines and raised dots which could be explained as representing the <a href="charmcoins.html#stars">stars</a>, <a href="charmcoins.html#moons">moon</a> and <a href="charmcoins.html#suns">sun</a>. A detailed discussion of these ancient Chinese banliang coins and their images can be found at <a href="chinesecoins.html">Chinese Coins</a> and <a href="charmcoins.html">Emergence of Chinese Charms</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="wuzhu.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="wuzhu.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="144" alt="Chinese wu zhu coin with swastika"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese 'Wu Zhu' coin with swastika </figcaption> </figure> In 188 BC, the Western Han replaced the banliang coin with another round coin with a square hole in the middle called the <a href="charmcoins.html#wu_zhu_coins">wuzhu</a> (五铢). This form of currency was actually then used for more than 700 years and became the longest circulated coin in China's history. Many of these coins have "auspicious symbols" including <a href="astronomy.html">stars and star constellations</a>, the moon, the sun, <a href="sword.html">swords</a>, auspicious animals such as the turtle and snake, etc. One such example of this type of auspicious wuzhu coin has <a href="charmcoins.html#swastika">swastikas</a> both above and below the square hole as is shown here. Please see the <a href="charmcoins.html">emergence of Chinese charms</a> for more examples of these very old Chinese charms. Please also see <a href="yinyangfiveelements.html">ancient Chinese charm symbols: star, moon, cloud and dragon</a> for a theory relating these symbols to the fundamental belief of the ancient Chinese in Yin Yang and the Five Elements. <figure> <picture><source srcset="riruqianjin3.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="riruqianjin3.jpg" loading="lazy" width="78" height="141" alt="One of first true charms of Han Dynasty"></picture> <figcaption> One of the first true charms of the Han Dynasty </figcaption> </figure> Many scholars now believe that the first true charms and amulets appeared during the Han Dynasty and archaeological evidence seems to bear this out. Some of these early charms were meant to be worn. The charm at the left, for example, is considered by many scholars to be among the very first true charms of the Han Dynasty and is discussed in detail at <a href="loopcharms.html#ri_ru_qian_jin">Chinese Pendant Charms</a>. <h2>Evolution, Development and History of Chinese Charms</h2> The major evolution and development of Chinese charms occurred during the period from the Six Dynasties (220 - 586 AD) to the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368 AD). During this time, wordings on charms to wish for "happiness" and "longevity" became more common and widespread. Charms with <a href="buddhist.html">Buddhist</a> and <a href="daoist.html">Taoist</a> sayings also appeared as did charms for <a href="marriage.html">marriage</a>. These charms were now being made from such various materials as gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin,lead, jade, porcelain and paper. The styles of calligraphy also evolved from the Han script to the regular style, grass style, seal style and <a href="daoist.html#daoist_magic_writing">"Taoist magic symbol" style</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="qianyuanrev1.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="qianyuanrev1.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="143" alt="Old Chinese coin with auspicious cloud and moon"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese coin with auspicious cloud and moon </figcaption> </figure> Most of the charms cast during the period from the beginning of the Han Dynasty (206 BCE) to the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (581 AD) were very similar to coins in circulation at that time or similar to coins of the not distant dynasties. What differentiated them was that simple symbols were added to the reverse side of the charms. These symbols included the sun, moon, stars, the tortoise, the snake, and the double-edged sword. Sometimes, depictions of people and the animals of the Chinese zodiac were placed on the back of the charm. The obverse side of these charms resembled the coins in circulation at the time such as <a href="coinlegend.html#wang_mang">da quan wu shi</a> (大泉五十), <a href="coinlegend.html#wu_xing_da_bu">wu xing da bu</a> (五行大布), yong tong wan guo (永通万国), and chang ping wu zhu (常平五铢). <figure> <picture><source srcset="wuxingdabuobv.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="wuxingdabuobv.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="142" alt="Ancient Chinese wu xing da bu charm (obverse side)"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese 'Wu Xing Da Bu' charm (obverse side) </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <picture><source srcset="wuxingdaburev.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="wuxingdaburev.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="143" alt="Ancient Chinese charm with snake, tortoise, Big Dipper and double-edged sword"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese charm with snake, tortoise, Big Dipper, and double-edged sword </figcaption> </figure> As an example, please see this <a href="coinlegend.html#wu_xing_da_bu_charm">wu xing da bu</a> (五行大布) charm which, on the reverse side, has the snake above, the tortoise below, the double-edged sword to the right and the seven-star (<a href="astronomy.html#chinese_astronomy_coin">Big Dipper</a>) constellation to the left of the square hole. <figure> <picture><source srcset="openwork4a.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="openwork4a.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="141" alt="Open work charm displaying two dragons"></picture> <figcaption> Open Work Charm displaying two dragons </figcaption> </figure> There was a major shift to the casting of <a href="openwork.html">open-work charms</a> during the Tang (618 - 907 AD) and Song (960 - 1279 AD) dynasties. The themes of these open-work charms included flowers and plants, insects, fish, dragons, the phoenix, Chinese unicorn or qilin (kirin in Japanese), deer, horse, and figures of persons. Most of the open-work charms of this period were used for ornamentation such as for dress and personal adornment, accessories for horses, etc. It was also during this time that charms with <a href="auspicious.html">auspicious sayings</a> on the obverse side, such as chang ming fu gui (长命富贵), were making their appearance. The reverse side of the charms showed various pictures reflecting the Taoist (Daoist) influences, the bagua, and the twelve animals of the zodiac. <figure> <picture><source srcset="shengxiaorev.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="shengxiaorev.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="141" alt="Chinese zodiac animal charm"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese Zodiac Animal Charm </figcaption> </figure> The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, representing the Twelve Earthly Branches (十二肖), were used to designate hours, days, months and years. These animals include the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Serpent, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Cock, Dog and Boar. An example of an ancient Chinese charm with the twelve zodiac animals is displayed here. You may see additional old charms of this type at <a href="zodiac.html">ancient Chinese Zodiac charms.</a> Charms with inscriptions such as fu de chang shou (福德长寿) and <a href="coinlegend.html#qian_qiu_wan_sui">qian qiu wan sui</a> (千秋万岁) were first cast at the end of the Northern Dynasties and then continued right through the Liao, Jin and Yuan Dynasties. Pieces used in table games such as the horse game, chess, and the drinker's wager game also made their appearance during this period. <figure> <picture><source srcset="dasongrev2.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="dasongrev2.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="138" alt="Ancient Chinese horse coin"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese Horse Coin </figcaption> </figure> The Song Dynasty (960 -1279 AD) saw a large number of charms cast. The quality of horse coins used as pieces in a board game and as gambling tokens reached its peak during this time. If you have an interest in these pieces, please see my page devoted to <a href="horse.html">ancient Chinese horse coins</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="zurev1.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="zurev1.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="143" alt="Old Chinese Chess (xiangqi) piece displaying soldier holding weapon"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese Chess (xiangqi) piece displaying soldier holding weapon </figcaption> </figure> Besides the board game played with horse coins, the Chinese also developed their own version of chess which we call "Chinese chess". The Chinese call it "elephant chess" (xiangqi) and the game includes elephants, cannons and even a river. To the left is an old Chinese chess piece. For more images and information on old Chinese chess pieces please see <a href="xiangqi.html">ancient Chinese chess (xiangqi) pieces</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="liaocharm.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="liaocharm.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="143" alt="Liao Dynasty charm (qian qiu wan sui)"></picture> <figcaption> Liao Dynasty Charm (Qian Qiu Wan Sui) </figcaption> </figure> During the Liao dynasty (916 - 1125 AD), the types of charms most commonly seen were those with fortuitous inscriptions such as the previously mentioned <a href="coinlegend.html#qian_qiu_wan_sui">qian qiu wan sui</a> (千 秋万岁), shown at the left, as well as <a href="loopcharms.html">waist-worn charms</a> in the shape of fish, and charms with the animals of the zodiac. The Jin Dynasty (1115 - 1234 AD) saw the emergence of charms with some special characteristics. This was the result of the merging of the cultural arts of a plateau nationality with the ceremonies and legal customs of the Han nationality, along with styles of charms that had developed since the Song Dynasty. The Chinese are very good in using symbolism, allusions, suggestions, and homonyms to describe their customs and, during this period, drew on the experiences of the national minority of the Jin Dynasty to do so. For example, they used the symbol of the dragon to represent the emperor and the phoenix to represent the empress. Tigers and <a href="openwork.html#lion">lions</a> represented the ministers of government. The pine tree and the crane symbolized longevity. The jujube fruit symbolized "morning or early" because of a shared pronunciation (zao). Similarly, a "chicken" represented "lucky" because both characters are pronounced ji. The Ming (1368 - 1644 AD) and Qing (Ch'ing) (1644 - 1911 AD) dynasties saw the production of a very large quantity of charms with inscriptions of good fortune and celebration. Most of the charms and amulets you will see on my website are from this period so please be sure to see my page on <a href="auspicious.html">auspicious inscriptions -- good fortune, wealth, longevity, honor, sons and official rank</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="zodiacobv1a.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="zodiacobv1a.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="144" alt="Old Chinese charm showing children"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese charm showing children </figcaption> </figure> Chinese have traditionally sought what is called the "three many", that is happiness, longevity and many children and grandchildren. They have also sought official position and wealth. Many of the charms from the Ming/Qing (Ch'ing) era reflect these desires. Many of these charms also rely on implied meanings using figures of persons and animals. Depictions of the tortoise, crane, pine tree, rocks and the peach were used to symbolize longevity. The crane symbolized the arrival of a happy event. Ming and Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty charms further expanded the repertoire of visual puns to convey a hidden meaning. For example, it may seen strange to the uninitiated to frequently find depictions of bats on the charms of this period until one is informed that the character for a bat (蝠) has exactly the same pronunciation as the character for "happiness" (福). On many charms, these bats are shown upside down. This is because the Chinese word for "upside down" (倒) is pronounced exactly the same as "to have arrived" (到). A person seeing a picture of an upside-down bat on a charm might say "the bat is upside-down" but anyone listening would just as easily hear this as "happiness has arrived" which, of course, is a good omen. For more detailed information on this topic please see <a href="impliedmeaning.html">the hidden meaning of Chinese charm symbols.</a> <figure> <picture><source srcset="tokenrev1b.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="tokenrev1b.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="130" alt="Old Chinese token with trigrams"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese token with trigrams </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <picture><source srcset="bambootally1brev.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="bambootally1brev.jpg" loading="lazy" width="24" height="130" alt="Bamboo Tallies"></picture> <figcaption> Bamboo Tallies </figcaption> </figure> During the late Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty, opposition to Manchu rule began to occur in parts of China. The Taiping Rebellion (1850 -1864 AD) was one such large-scale peasant uprising and an example of its rebel coinage can be seen at <a href="peace.html">Peace Coins and Charms</a>. Tokens, such as the ones at the left, also began to appear during this period, particularly in Jiangsu Province. For a discussion of the metal tokens please visit <a href="token.html">Chinese Tokens</a>. The bamboo tallies are discussed at <a href="bamboo.html">Bamboo Tallies</a>. <h2> Chinese Charms of Different Shapes</h2> Most Chinese charms are similar to old Chinese coins in that they are round with either a square or round hole in the center. However, old Chinese charms can take on different shapes according to their intended use. <figure> <picture><source srcset="suopianobv1a.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="suopianobv1a.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="103" alt="Old Chinese lock charm"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese Lock Charm </figcaption> </figure> For example, lock charms are meant to help "lock" children to life and therefore resemble traditional Chinese locks but with auspicious inscriptions on their front and back. For examples of old Chinese lock charms please see <a href="locks.html">Ancient Chinese Lock Charms</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="fishobva.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="fishobva.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="86" alt="Old Chinese fish charm"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese Fish Charm </figcaption> </figure> The fish symbolizes "more" as in the sense of more good luck, fortune, long life, children, etc. Fish charms symbolize perseverance in overcoming the barriers a person must pass through in life. Images and historical information concerning old Chinese fish charms can be seen at <a href="fish.html">Ancient Chinese Fish Charms</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="gourdobva.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="gourdobva.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="193" alt="Old Chinese gourd charm"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese Gourd Charm </figcaption> </figure> Gourds have a very long history of use in China and are a prominent symbol of longevity. The gourd is an important symbol in ancient Chinese myths. Hundun was a god of primordal substance and referred to as the Cosmic Gourd. In Daoism (Taoism), the gourd represented heaven and earth. The gourd also symboized self-containment and self-sufficiency, and played an important role in alchemy. The gourd was a symbol of one of the "Eight Immortals" and a "magic gourd" was described in the famous Ming dynasty novel "Journey to the West". For a very detailed discussion of old Chinese gourd charms please see <a href="gourd.html">Ancient Chinese Gourd Charms</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="peachobva.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="peachobva.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="165" alt="Old Chinese peach charm"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese Peach Charm </figcaption> </figure> The peach has a most interesting Chinese mythology and has come to stand for longevity and immortality. Charms and amulets, as well as swords and arrows, that were made of peach wood also provided protection from evil spirits. For a discussion of old Chinese peach charms and stories concerning the peach and the Queen Mother of the West and the Three Immortals, please see <a href="peach.html">Ancient Chinese Peach Charms</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="huobuobv2a.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="huobuobv2a.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="223" alt="Old Chinese spade charm"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese Spade Charm </figcaption> </figure> Chinese spade charms are distantly related to the <a href="chinesecoins.html#arched_foot_spade">spade (shovel) shaped money of the Zhou Dynasty</a> (11th Century BC - 221 BC). This shovel-shaped form of money was derived from the farming instrument used in farming. Spade money was abolished during the Qin dynasty (221 - 206 BC) but then briefly revived during the Xin dynasty (9 - 23 AD). For images of old Chinese spade charms and a brief history of their evolution from ancient Chinese spade money please see <a href="spade.html">Chinese Charms -- Spade Charms</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="eighttreasures3arev.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="eighttreasures3arev.jpg" loading="lazy" width="160" height="206" alt="Old Chinese charm meant to be worn"></picture> <figcaption> Old Chinese charm meant to be worn </figcaption> </figure> This type of Chinese charm has a canopy with three holes or loops on the top of its round body. It has the Chinese character gua (挂) at the top which means "to hang". It was meant to be a dress ornament worn on a person as a pendant on a necklace, a broach, hung from the waist, or it could be <a href="house.html#chang_ming_fu_gui">hung from a house rafter or other location</a>. Pendant charms are thought to be one of the first forms of charms and amulets to have appeared in China and can be currently dated back to the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). There are a large number of varieties which include many different symbols and inscriptions. To see many examples of this type of charm with detailed explanations of their meaning, please visit <a href="loopcharms.html">Ancient Chinese Pendant Charms</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="moneytree3.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="moneytree3.jpg" loading="lazy" width="193" height="250" alt="Chinese money tree"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese Money Tree </figcaption> </figure> In Chinese legend, there are trees known as "money trees". When a person shakes a money tree, coins will fall from its branches to the ground. Very ornate "money trees" have been discovered in ancient Chinese tombs dating back to the Han Dynasty. These trees that magically produce coins instead of leaves are believed to help guide the deceased to heaven and provide financial support. The Chinese also believe that a "money tree" can bring wealth and good fortune to the living. An interesting example of a Chinese "money tree" which "grows" ancient Chinese "coins", even predating its own creation, is discussed at <a href="moneytree.html">Chinese Money Trees</a>. <figure> <picture><source srcset="boycharm2.webp" type="image/webp"><img src="boycharm2.jpg" loading="lazy" width="141" height="260" alt="Chinese charm with boy on topic"></picture> <figcaption> Chinese charm with boy on top </figcaption> </figure> Chinese families have traditionally favored sons over daughters. The "ideal" Chinese family was considered to have <a href="auspicious.html#five_sons">5 sons and 2 daughters</a>. A charm with a boy on top reflecting the Chinese desire for many sons can be seen at <a href="boycharm.html">Chinese Boy Charms</a>. This website includes many articles on ancient Chinese coins and charms. You may find the "Chinese Coin Guides" and the "Chinese Charm Guides" listed below to be helpful. Also, clicking on the menu (three horizontal lines) at the top of this page will take you to various articles on old Chinese coins, charms, horse coins, chess pieces (xiangqi) and paper money, as well as extensive information on old Korean coins. </main> <side> <h3> Chinese Coin Guides </h3> <a href="guide.html">How to identify Chinese coins and charms</a> <a href="chinesecoins.html">Detailed history of Chinese Coins with images</a> <a href="coinarticles.html">List of Articles on Chinese Coins</a> <h3> Chinese Charm Guides </h3> <a href="types.html">How to identify types (shapes) of Chinese charms</a> <a href="impliedmeaning.html">Detailed Explanation of Chinese Charm Symbols</a> <a href="inscriptions.html">Translations of Chinese Charm Inscriptions</a> <a href="charmarticles.html">List of Articles on Chinese Charms</a> <h3> New Articles </h3> <a href="fengshui.html">Feng Shui Coins</a> <a href="bird-worm-script-charm.html">Chinese Charms and Bird-Worm Seal Script</a> <a href="blog/2021/02/04/coin-dragon/">Coin Dragon (new discovery)</a> <a href="blog/2021/03/19/coins-made-of-turtle-shell-discovered-at-famen-temple/">Coins Made of Turtle Shell Discovered at Famen Temple</a> <a href="blog/2021/02/21/daoist-talisman-and-the-five-great-mountains/">Daoist Talisman and the Five Great Mountains</a> <a href="blog/2021/01/08/unusual-variations-of-the-kai-yuan-tong-bao-coin/">Unusual Variations of the 'Kai Yuan Tong Bao' Coin</a> <a href="blog/2021/03/01/bodhidharma-holding-a-wu-zhu-coin/">Bodhidharma Holding a Wu Zhu Coin</a> </side> <footer> © 2008 - 2021 Primaltrek.com All rights reserved Website updated July 24, 2021 </footer> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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Ancient Chinese Charms and Coins