Concept
Taoist coin charm
Overview
Taoist coin charms (simplified Chinese: 道教品压生钱; traditional Chinese: 道教品壓生錢; pinyin: dào jiào pǐn yā shēng qián), or Daoist coin charms are a family of categories of Chinese and Vietnamese numismatic charms that incorporate elements of the Taoist religion. Taoist coin charms come in various shapes, sizes, and formats and can contain inscriptions or wholly pictorial designs. While a large number of Taoist coin charms have their inscriptions written in traditional Chinese characters, a subset of Taoist coin charms have inscriptions written in Taoist "magic" writing. In these countries similar numismatic charms existed for Buddhist and Confucianism, and at times Taoist coin charms would also incorporate symbolism from these other religions.
In the case of these coins, "charm" in this context is a catchall term for coin-shaped items which were not official (or counterfeit) money. However, these numismatic objects were not necessarily considered "magical" or "lucky", as some of these Chinese numismatic charms can be used as "mnemonic coins".
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
This is called the Form of the Formless, and the Semblance of the Invisible; this is called the Fleeting and Indeterminable. 3. We meet it and do not see its Front; we follow it, and do not see its Back. When we can lay hold of the Tao of old to direct the things of the present day, and are able to know it as it was of old in the beginning, this is called (unwinding) the clue of Tao. 15. 1. The skilful masters (of…
Laozi, The Tao Teh King
States what Taoist coin charm is; the author is tied to Taoist coin charm in the knowledge graph.
Closely connected with these original ancestors there is a third sort of totem or of totemic objects which we may briefly designate as _inanimate_. The objects are regarded as possessing magical powers and as having been bequeathed by the original ancestors, thus representing a legacy of the magical Alcheringa age. It is particularly stones and pieces of wood that are held to be the abode of these totemic spirits…
Wilhelm Max Wundt, Elements of Folk Psychology Outline of a Psychological History of the Development of Mankind
States what Taoist coin charm is.
A._ Esq; R. S. S. to the Publisher, with a Paper of Mr. _S. Flowers_, containing the Exact Draughts of several unknown Characters, taken from the Ruins at _Persepolis_._
Royal Society, Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 3
Close in meaning to Taoist coin charm; the term itself is not named.
Related ideas
- French language
- Ghost
- Yin and yang
- Chinese astrology
- Spring and Autumn period
- Beijing
- Feng shui
- Mandarin Chinese
- Yuan dynasty
- Vietnam
- Netherlands
- Western world
- Ge Hong
- Qi
- Qing dynasty
- Simplified Chinese characters
- Taoism
- United Kingdom
- Huainanzi
- Tang dynasty
- Sui dynasty
- Han dynasty
- Zhou dynasty
- Song dynasty
Opposing perspectives
Place in the tradition
Part of Taoism.