Item number: A125

Year: Qing Dynasty, AD 1636-1911

Material: Copper

Size: 33.0 x 32.8 mm

Weight: 10.58 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 Han Zhongli, one of the Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology.

On the obverse of the coin is the inscription in regular script, honouring the immortal as “Han Zhongli Xian.” The reverse side depicts the immortal’s image and his attribute: on the right side of the coin, Han Zhongli is shown vividly, while on the left side, his feather fan, 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, Han Zhongli, whose real name is Zhongli Quan, bears the compound surname Zhongli. Due to his historical prototype being a military general from the late Eastern Han Dynasty, he is also referred to as Han Zhongli. His appearance is often depicted as a robust elderly man holding a palm-leaf fan. He represents the “wealthy” among the eight statuses and positions.

Han Zhongli’s father was also a general, and Han Zhongli himself became a general as he grew up. Therefore, he was raised in a wealthy environment and held a certain social status. However, he was eager to use his wealth to help the poor. It is said that Han Zhongli could use his palm-leaf fan to drive away demons, turn stones into gold, and even summon wind and rain. In Taoist stories, he also assisted Lü Dongbin in attaining immortality and taught Lü Dongbin the art of turning stones into gold.

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.

物件編號: A125

年代: 清代, 公元 1636-1911 年

材料: 銅

尺寸: 33.0 x 32.8 mm

重量: 10.58 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漢鍾離仙花錢。

錢幣的正面以楷書寫有神仙的尊稱「漢鍾離仙」，背面則刻有該神仙的形象和屬於自己的法器: 錢幣的右側為漢鍾離仙的人像，左側刻著漢鍾離的法器蒲扇。

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。而漢鍾離本名鍾離權，鍾離為複姓，因其原型為東漢末年的軍事將領，故又被稱作漢鍾離。他的外型常被描繪為一位身材魁梧，手持蒲扇的老者，是八種身分地位中「富」的代表。

漢鍾離的父親也是一位將領，長大後漢鍾離也成為一名將軍，因此他生長在富裕的環境中，也有一定的社會地位，但他樂於以自己的財富去幫助貧困者，相傳漢鍾離能利用蒲扇驅妖除魔、點石成金、甚至呼風喚雨，在道教故事中，他也是協助呂洞賓度化成仙、教授呂洞賓點石成金的法術的人。

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。