Qing Dynasty, Eight Immortals

Lan Caihe Charm

Item number: A126

Year: Qing Dynasty, AD 1636-1911

Material: Copper

Size: 33.36 x 33.48 mm

Weight: 8.7 g

Provenance:

1. Noonans 2022

2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection

This token is a part of the Eight Immortals charm series from the Qing Dynasty, featuring the depiction of Lan Caihe, one of the Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology.

On the obverse of the coin is the inscription in regular script, honouring the immortal as “Lan Caihe.” The reverse side depicts the immortal’s image and his magical tool: on the right side of the coin, Lan Caihe is shown, while on the left side, his basket full of botanicals, which is his magical tool.

These coins, also known as “charms” or “amulet coins,” were cast for folk, religious, and ritual purposes, rather than for official circulation as currency. Similar types of charms exist in various ancient cultures, produced both officially and privately, featuring diverse and intricate designs. They were used for wearing, collecting, or gifting purposes and were highly valued by people. The production of “charms” in ancient China dates back to the Han Dynasty, reaching its peak during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with almost every dynasty producing them.

The Eight Immortals are a group of eight legendary immortals in Taoism, each symbolising different social classes and age groups, encompassing “men and women, old and young, rich and poor.” Generally, they are recognised as He Xiangu, Han Xiangzi, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe, Zhang Guolao, Li Tieguai, Lü Dongbin, and Zhongli Quan. The origin of the Eight Immortals can be traced back to the Tang and Song Dynasties, but their legendary stories and religious significance were not firmly established until the Ming and Qing Dynasties when they were extensively documented in literature, gradually gaining popularity among the common people. Among them, Lan Caihe is the most enigmatic figure among the Eight Immortals, with both gender and age being uncertain. Lan is typically depicted as a youthful male with feminine features, holding a basket filled with various flowers and plants, encompassing a wide range of species. He represents the “poverty” archetype among the Eight Immortals, each of whom embodies a different status and identity.

According to legend, Lan Caihe was a street performer during the Tang Dynasty. He often begged on the streets, giving the money he collected to the poor or spending it on drinking and making merry in taverns. His eccentric personality sometimes led people to view him as a mad beggar. However, because of his kind heart and acts of helping others, it is said that one day, in front of a tavern, he was enlightened and ascended to immortality, departing on a crane.

These charms engraved with the images of the Eight Immortals are considered symbols of auspiciousness and warding off evil. It is believed that placing these coins in the home can change one’s luck and receive blessings. Depending on the placement direction, they are also believed to bring different Feng Shui effects.

清 八仙 藍采和仙花錢

物件編號: A126

年代: 清代, 公元 1636-1911 年

材料:

尺寸: 33.36 x 33.48 mm

重量: 8.7 g

來源:

1. 諾南斯 2022

2. 大衛.萊斯利.福布斯.西利舊藏

此枚錢幣為清代時期鑄造的八仙花錢系列中的藍采和仙花錢。

錢幣的正面以楷書寫有神仙的尊稱「藍采和仙」,背面則刻有該神仙的形象和屬於自己的法器: 錢幣的右側為藍采和仙的人像,左側刻著藍采和的花籃,花籃中滿是藥材。

花錢亦稱厭勝錢,為民俗、宗教信仰與儀式目的而製鑄造的,非屬官方流通作為消費交易的貨幣。在古代的中外各國都有類似此種的花錢,無論是官方鑄造或民間私鑄,其圖紋種類眾多且精緻不一,供佩戴、玩賞、饋贈的用途,都深得人們喜愛。古代中國的「厭勝錢」在兩漢時期就開始鑄造,到明清時期發展到巔峰,幾乎各朝代均有鑄造。

八仙為道教中的八名神仙,分別代表了「男女老少、富貧貴賤」八種不同身分地位的人群,一般而言指的是何仙姑、韓湘子、曹國舅、藍采和、鍾離權、李鐵拐、呂洞賓、張果老八位神仙。八仙的源起可追溯至唐宋時期,但他們的傳說故事和宗教地位一直到明清被作為文學書寫出來才確立,逐漸受民間百姓的喜愛。其中,藍采和是八仙中最富神祕色彩的仙人,其性別和年齡皆不詳,他的外型通常被描繪為貌似女性的男童,手上提著花籃,花籃中裝滿各式花草、包羅萬象,是八種身分地位中「」的代表。

相傳藍采和為唐代的一名街頭賣藝人,經常在街邊乞討,又將乞討得來的錢贈與窮人,或在酒樓飲酒作樂,性格古怪,也因此藍采和有時會被視為一個瘋癲的乞丐。根據傳說,由於他心地善良,濟世救人,某日在酒肆前得到度化,乘鶴離去。

這些刻有八仙形象的花錢被視為吉祥和避邪的象徵,民間相傳,將八仙的花錢放置於家中能改運並受到保佑。根據擺放的不同方位,也會帶來不同的風水效果

類似/相同物件 請看:

文化部典藏網 Ministry of Culture

https://collections.culture.tw/Object.aspx?RNO=ODMtMDE5MzI%3d&SYSUID=14

更多相關訊息請參考:

徐佐仁 主編,《中國花錢圖錄》(香港:天馬出版有限公司,2007)

https://www.timelessmyths.com/gods/chinese/eight-immortals/

https://chiculture.org.hk/tc/china-five-thousand-years/2867

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG114929

https://www.britnumsoc.org/images/BIOGRAPHIES/2022-02-08/2/P-T/Sealy-DLF-b1933-TBC-002.pdf

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