Feng Shui.

Introduction to Chinese Charms

China was one of the first countries in the world to use metal coinage and its ancient
coin history 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.
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"
(), "flower coins" (huaqian ) or "play coins"
(wanqian ), 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 "horse coins" (), 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 Chinese chess also
known as xiangqi () 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.

Private Casting of Charms and Coins

Emperor Qin Shi Huang, 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 example on the left, as well as other distinctive forms of
money such as knives and spades. For examples of the spade or shovel money, please
see spade charms. Central governments usually attempt to monopolize the issuing of
currency in order to minimize financial chaos. In so doing, private minting is usually
prohibited.

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 banliang (). 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 Empress Lu Hou 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,
Emperor Wen abolished this prohibition and allowed the people to issue private
currency. One of his favorite officials, Deng Tong, 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 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.

Reasons for the Emergence of Chinese Charms

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 Han Dynasty, Confucianism and Taoism (Daoism) were already
prevalent and Buddhism 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.

Early Precursors of Chinese Charms

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 () meaning auspicious. The last years of the
Warring States period saw the production of a type of
round coin () that had the same character . This
character is generally believed to be derived from a
character on ancient oracle bones meaning to pray for luck.
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 ban liang (pan liang) coins of the following Western Han (206 BC 8 AD) have horizontal and vertical lines and raised dots which could be explained as
representing the stars, moon and sun.

In 188 BC, the Western Han replaced the banliang coin with another round coin with
a square hole in the middle called the wuzhu (). 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 stars and
star constellations, the moon, the sun, swords, auspicious animals such as the turtle
and snake, etc. One such example of this type of auspicious wuzhu coin has swastikas
both above and below the square hole as is shown here. Please see the emergence of
Chinese charms for more examples of these very old Chinese charms. Please also see
ancient Chinese charm symbols: star, moon, cloud and dragon for a theory relating
these symbols to the fundamental belief of the ancient Chinese in Yin Yang and the
Five Elements.
Many scholars now believe
charms and amulets
the Han Dynasty and
evidence seems to bear this
Some of these early charms

that the first true

appeared during
archaeological
out.
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 Chinese

Pendant Charms.

Evolution, Development and History of Chinese

Charms
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 Buddhist and Taoist
sayings also appeared as did charms for marriage. 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 "Taoist magic symbol" style.
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 da quan wu
shi (), wu xing da bu (), yong tong wan guo (), and
chang ping wu zhu ().

As an example, please see this wu xing da bu ( ) charm which, on the

reverse side, has the snake above, the tortoise below, the double-edged sword to the
right and the seven-star (Big Dipper) constellation to the left of the square hole.

There was a major shift to the casting of open-work charms 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 auspicious sayings on the obverse side,
such as chang ming fu gui (), 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.
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, representing the Twelve Earthly Branches
(), 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 ancient Chinese
Zodiac charms.
Charms with inscriptions such as fu de chang shou () and qian qiu wan sui
() 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.
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 ancient Chinese horse coins.

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, canons 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 ancient Chinese chess (xiangqi) pieces.

During the Liao Dynasty (916 - 1125 AD), the types of charms most commonly seen
were those with fortuitous inscriptions such as the previously mentioned qian qiu wan
sui ( ), shown at the left, as well as waist-worn charms 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 lions
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 auspicious inscriptions -- good fortune,
wealth, longevity, honor, sons and official rank.
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 () has exactly the same pronunciation as the character for
"happiness" (). On many charms, these bats are shown upside down. This is
because the Chinese word for "upside down" () is pronounced exactly the same as
"to have arrived" (). 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 the hidden meaning of Chinese charm symbols.
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 Peace Coins and
Charms.
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
Chinese Tokens. The bamboo tallies are discussed at Bamboo Tallies.

Chinese Charms of Different Shapes

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.
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 Ancient Chinese Lock Charms.

Gourds have a very long history of use in China and are a prominent symbol of
longevity.
For a more detailed discussion of old Chinese gourd charms please see Ancient
Chinese Gourd Charms.

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
Ancient Chinese Fish Charms.
The peach has a most interesting Chinese mythology and has come to stand for
longevity and immortality.
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 Ancient Chinese
Peach Charms.

Chinese spade charms are distantly related to the spade shaped money of the Zhou
Dynasty (11th Century BC - 221 BC).
For images of old Chinese spade charms and a brief history of their evolution from
ancient Chinese spade money please see Chinese Charms -- Spade Charms.

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 () 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 hung from a house rafter or other location.
To see examples of this type of charm please visit Ancient Chinese Pendant Charms.

Chinese families have traditionally favored sons over daughters.

The "ideal" Chinese family was considered to have 5 sons and 2 daughters.
A charm with a boy on top reflecting the Chinese desire for many sons can be seen at
Chinese Boy Charms.

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 Chinese
Money Trees.

12 Lucky Symbols to Boost Your Chances

of Winning
Use These Lucky Symbols to Have More Fun
Entering Sweepstakes

Lucky symbols: some people swear by them, and others

think that they're silly. But whether it's possible to
influence Lady Luck with a rabbit's foot or a cuddly pig,
lucky symbols can be a lot of fun. And anything that
makes sweepstakes more fun and you more likely to enter
will boost your odds! So if you don't have one already,
here are some popular lucky symbols to inspire you. (If
you do have one, be sure to tell us about your favorite
lucky symbol!)
1. Four Leaf Clovers

Four leaf clovers are an ancient Irish symbol of luck. According to our Landscaping Guide's
article, Four Leaf Clovers as Celtic Charms, the four leaves stand for "faith, hope, love, and
luck." True four-leaf clovers are rare, but luckily there are lots of ways to use them as lucky
symbols.
For example, you can candlewick a shamrock bookmark or needlepoint pillow, or even get a four
leaf clover tattoo, so you can bring your luck with you wherever you go.
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2. Lucky Horseshoes

Horseshoes are one of the best-known lucky symbols, although the reason for their lucky
properties varies.
Some people say that horseshoes are lucky because they were traditionally made of iron, which
kept away mischievous fairies. Another legend says that Saint Dunstan, a blacksmith, nailed a
horseshoe to the devil's foot, and received a guarantee that the devil would stay away from any
house with a horseshoe on the door.
Whatever the reason for the legend, horseshoes make a fun lucky symbol to hang on the door of
your computer room (just make sure that the points go upward, so that it can fill with luck). Or
use horseshoe stickers to decorate your computer (making sure you don't cover the ventilation
holes) or your monitor.
3. Lucky Dice (Fuzzy or Otherwise)

Considering how many games of chance are played with dice, it's no surprise that they have
become a symbol of luck. So why not show how much you love to roll the dice and come up
with big wins by using fuzzy dice as your lucky talisman.
Some ideas: you could sew yourself a pair of fuzzy dice, or line the edge of your monitor stand
with brightly-colored dice for a cheery look.
4. Ladybugs are Bearers of Luck

Ladybugs are popular insects worldwide, and many cultures believe that they bring luck. In
Austria, they are actually called "Glueckskaefer" - "lucky bugs."
There are various rumors about how luck actually manifests with ladybugs. Some cultures say
that if a ladybug lands on you and you don't brush it off, you will be lucky. Others say that if a
man and a woman see a ladybug at the same time, they'll fall in love. And still others say that
some ladybugs are luckier than others -- the deeper red their color and the more spots they have,
the luckier you'll be!

Ladybugs are cute, and they can make excellent lucky symbols. Read about how to make
ladybug clip art, create a cute clay pot ladybug for your computer desk, or other ladybug crafts.
5. Lucky Number Seven

Growing up, I heard that seven was the luckiest number, but I never knew why. But it does seem
that the number seven has been connected with luck, with perfection, and with attainment of
knowledge in many cultures throughout history.
My best guess is that the focus on the number seven began due to its many interesting
mathematical properties. The ancient Greeks called 7 "the perfect number," the sum of 3
(triangle) and 4 (square), which are perfect forms. Seven also crops up in a number of prominent
places:

There are 7 days of the week.

There are 7 colors in the rainbow.

There are 7 planets visible to the naked eye.

The 7th son of a 7th son is supposed to be especially gifted and lucky.

7 is a winning roll in many games of chance.

6. ... and the Lucky Number Eight

Now, if I'd have grown up in China, I would probably be saying that the number 8 is the luckiest
number, and the reason is much more clear than with the number 7. In Chinese, the word for the
number 8 sounds a lot like the word for prosperity.
The number 8, with its two graceful curves, is also a balanced number. Balance and harmony are
vital ingredients for a lucky life.

If the number 7 doesn't catch your fancy as a lucky symbol, then perhaps the number 8 would
better fit your style.
7. Lucky Rabbit Foot

Lucky rabbit foot keychains, whether real or faux, are popular symbols of luck. But did you
know that the tradition actually comes from hoodoo magic?
The original legend says that the left-hind foot of a rabbit that is captured in a cemetery at night,
can ward off evil magic.
Yikes. Personally, I think I prefer rabbits' feet when they're attached to the rabbit. But there are
still lots of ways that you can use rabbits as your own personal symbol of luck. Try this cute
rabbit pattern from our Guide to Crochet, pick out an adorable stuffed bunny to sit on your
computer table, or learn to draw your own lucky bunnies.
8. More Lucky Animals

Rabbits aren't the only animals to be used as lucky symbols. For example:

In feng shui, goldfish are said to attract luck and prosperity. Dragons and
horses are also considered lucky.

In Germany, Lucky Pigs ("Glcksschwein") are often given as tokens to wish

friends and family a happy and lucky New Year.

Turtles and tortoises are also considered lucky, due to their long life-spans.

Ancient Egyptians considered the scarab beetle to be lucky.

Given such a wide range of choices, it's pretty easy to find a favorite animal to
serve as a lucky symbol.

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9. Rainbows and Luck

Rainbows are considered lucky because of the legend that says that if you dig at the end of a
rainbow, you'll find a pot of gold.
Rainbows are great lucky symbols for sweepstakes fans. Not only do they have a great story
behind them, but they are also beautiful and cheery. If you need something to keep you
motivated to enter sweepstakes, what better than a bright and colorful rainbow?
Some ideas for rainbow lucky symbols include:

Rainbow Family Crafts

Rainbow-Themed Gifts

Pot of Gold Cross Stitch Pattern

How to Draw a Leprechaun with a Pot of Gold

10. Lucky Coins

I think we've all heard a famous saying about lucky coins:

Find a penny, pick it up, and all that day you'll have good luck!

Some people say that not just any penny lying on the ground is lucky, but that lucky pennies
have to be found face-up. Personally, I think any free money that I find lying around is lucky!

Did you know, however, that pennies aren't the only lucky coins? For example, Chinese I-Ching
coins are also considered lucky, and are often given as gifts of luck on Chinese New Year and for
weddings.
Pennies and I-Ching coins can make pretty decorations for your office, while bringing a little
extra luck to your sweepstakes entries.
11. Lucky Bamboo

Lucky bamboo is technically not bamboo at all, but a close relative called Dracaena. It's a hardy,
long-lived plant, which might account for its lucky properties.
The more stalks a lucky bamboo plant has, the more luck it's supposed to bring. A plant with
three stalks is said to bring happiness, wealth and longevity to the owners. But some plants have
even more stalks, which are said to impart more kinds of luck.

How to Grow Lucky Bamboo

Buy Your Own Lucky Bamboo (compare prices)

12. Dreamcatchers and Luck

Dreamcatchers come from Native American lore. Looking like a web or net stretched over a loop
and decorated with bright beads and feathers, they are said to catch bad dreams as they enter a
household. Read more about dreamcatcher legends from our Healing Guide.
By capturing the disturbing dreams, they make the owner happier, more balanced, and luckier.
Plus, they look pretty cool, too.

Hang a dreamcatcher inside your office window to keep bad luck away (compare prices). Or buy
a pair of dreamcatcher earrings or a dreamcatcher necklace (compare prices) to bring luck with
you wherever you go.

Amulets, Talismans and Good Luck Charms : To find out more about a wide variety of sacred
symbols, amulets, talismans and charms,please click on the images below to find out more from
Ka Jewelry about each sacred symbol. The images were used with kind permission from Ka
Jewelry and each piece is available to buy from their website. The table is a fascinating insight
into the world of sacred symbols and each symbol is beautifully illustrated and represented using
the unique jewelry designed by Ka Jewelry.

A to Z of Sacred Symbols, Amulets, Talismans and Good

Luck Charms
Above and Below

Alchemy Pendant

Ana Becoach

Ana Becoach Ring

Bulgakov Ring

Alchemy Pendant

Personal Creation

Dune Pendant

Dune Ring

Enneagram Pendant
Egg of Life

Emerald Tablets

Five Metal Ring

Flower of Life Pendant

Four Winds Ring

Genesa Crystal

Golden Spiral

Gordian Knot

Gordian Knot Dragon

Hamsal

Jerusalem Ring

Ka Bracelet

Key of Prophecy

Lotus Earrings

Lotus Ring

Magician Tarot Card

Melchizadek Key

Merkaba

Merkaba with Prana Sphere

Mobius Ring

Mobius Ring with Diamonds

Nautilus Pendant

Now (In the present) Ring

Priestly Blessing

Seed of Life Pendant

Shefa (Abundance Pendant)

Shefa (Abundance Ring)

Star of David

Sureness Key

This Will Also Change

(Happiness Ring)

Tibetan Hung

Tibetan Knot

Tibetan Knot Ring

Tibetan Om

Tree of Life Pendant

Vesica Pisces Pendant

Word Pendant (God's Word)