Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Qing Dynasty
Chinese Thunder Decree Charm
(Bagua)
清
雷令山鬼花錢
(背八卦)
Item number: A107
Year: Qing Dynasty, AD 1636-1911
Material: Copper
Size: 45.92 x 45.74 mm
Weight: 27.95 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This coin, known as “Thunder Decree of the Mountain Ghost Charm,” was minted either officially or by the populace during the Qing Dynasty.
The coin features a central round perforation. On the obverse side, inscribed in vertical Chinese characters, are the phrases: “雷令山鬼、雷霆雷霆、殺鬼降精、斬妖辟邪、永保神清。奉太上老君急急如律令敕 ,” which means that thunder can subdue demons and eradicate evil spirits, maintaining mental clarity and peace, while invoking the swift protection and assistance of the Supreme Venerable Sovereign (Tai Shang Lao Jun). This inscription constitutes a Daoist incantation. The reverse side of the coin is inscribed with the names and symbols of the Eight Trigrams of the Chinese Bagua.
The minting of Thunder Decree of the Mountain Ghost Charms began in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, reaching peak popularity during the Qing Dynasty. Daoist priests utilised these coins as instruments in rituals, and people wore them on their bodies or placed them in their homes to ward off evil, prevent misfortune, and dispel disasters.
Chinese numismatic charms, also known as Yansheng coins or flower coins, refer to an informal currency that was used in rituals aimed at seeking auspicious outcomes and warding off malevolent influences. In Daoism, charms serve as a Daoist talismanic currency that is employed to suppress malevolent forces and dispel calamities.
Mountain Ghost: The mountain ghost, synonymous with mountain god, is said to be called a “mountain ghost” because, according to legend, it did not receive formal enfeoffment from the Heavenly Emperor and thus is not considered a proper deity. People believe that nature is filled with spirits, and this concept of mountain spirits has existed since the Warring States period.
Bagua: The Bagua, originating from the “Book of Changes” (Yijing), is an ancient philosophical concept that describes the operation of the world. Later, people began to apply the Bagua to other areas, such as divination and Feng Shui. The Bagua consists of eight basic symbols, namely “Qian, Kun, Kan, Li, Zhen, Xun, Gen, Dui.” Each symbol represents a natural element or concept, such as water, fire, wind, and earth, forming sixty-four different combinations, each representing the laws of the universe and the changes of things.