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This page serves as the "editing history" for the "§ Implied and hidden meanings of Chinese numismatic charms" at Chinese numismatic charm, this page is purely preserved for historical purposes.

Implied and hidden meanings of Chinese numismatic charms

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See also: Homophonic puns in Mandarin Chinese, Chinese astrology, Chinese numerology, and Imperial examination in Chinese mythology

The implied and hidden meanings of Chinese numismatic charms and amulets (Traditional Chinese: 諧音寓意; Simplified Chinese: 谐音寓意; Pinyin: xié yīn yù yì) refer to the not so obvious meanings ascribed to them, these can take many forms which can involve hidden symbolism in their inscriptions as well as visual puns.[1]

One fundamental difference between cash coins and numismatic charms is that the majority of cash coins have 4 character inscriptions that (usually) bear the reign names indicating the period of production and their nominal value, comparably most Chinese numismatic charms also have 4 character inscriptions, though these do not serve for identification but contain wishes and desires such as auspicious inscriptions hoping that good fortune or health will arrive to the carrier, or that they’ll succeed in the business world or do well on the imperial examination.[2] Other inscriptions however wish for evil and dark spirits or ghosts to go away, or for misfortune to be averted. Unlike cash coins Chinese numismatic charms also depict a large range of images which are intended to enhance the rich symbolism of Chinese charms. Many Chinese numismatic charms and amulets also contain a lot of visual ad spoken puns, this is due to the nature of Chinese languages where they contain an enormous number of written Hanzi characters but only a minor number of spoken words which means that many Hanzi characters have the same pronounciation.[a] The Chinese charms and amulets produced under the reigns of the Ming and Manchu Qing dynasties often used visual and spoken puns. These implied or hidden meanings are referred in Mandarin Chinese as jí xiáng tú àn (吉祥圖案, "lucky pictures" or a rebus) as it is not uncommon for Chinese charms and amulets to depict animals, plants, and other things as a substitute for words due to their similarities in pronunciation despite there being no other relationship between them or what is expressed with the imagery.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

List of symbols that appear on Chinese numismatic charms and their implied meanings

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Symbol Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Pinyin Implied or hidden meaning Origin of the association Exemplary image(s)
Apple[9] 蘋果 苹果 píng guǒ Apples may be used to denote peace. The Mandarin Chinese word for "apple" (蘋果, píng guǒ) sounds similar to that for "peace" (平安, píng ān).
Apricot grove,
Field of apricots		 杏 杏 xìng Successful results in the imperial examination. The first celebration where those who were successful in the imperial examination system was allegedly held in an apricot grove.
Axe 斧 斧 fǔ Happiness, power, and punitive actions. The Mandarin Chinese word for "axe" (斧, fǔ) sounds similar to that for "happiness" (福, fú).
The head of an axe is considered to be one of the Twelve Ornaments imperial China.[10][11]
In the religion of Buddhism axes symbolise the destruction of evil.[12]
The axe is the symbol of the God of Carpenters, Lu Ban (鲁班).[13]
Bamboo (1)[14][15] 竹 竹 zhú Being upright, resilience, strength, gentleness, being refind, gracefulness. These are also the ideals of Confucian scholars.
Bamboo is also used to represent Taoist ideals as bamboo often bends during extreme weather conditions without breaking.
Bamboo (2) 竹 竹 zhú Wishes or congratulations.
Modesty.		 The Mandarin Chinese word for "bamboo" (竹, zhú) is a homophone of the word for "to congratulate" or "to wish" (祝, zhù).
Because bamboos have "hollow centers" (空虚, kōng xū) they are associated with "modesty" (謙虛, qiān xū) because the second character in Mandarin Chinese of both words are homophones.
Bat[16][17] 蝠 蝠 fú Good fortune.
When bats are placed upside-down this means that happiness bas arrived.
The five fortunes (A long life, being wealthy, being healthy and having composure, virtue, and the desire to die a natural death in old age).[18]		 The Mandarin Chinese word for "bat" (蝠, fú) sounds like "happiness" (福, fú).[19][20]
The Mandarin Chinese word for "upside-down" (倒, dǎo) sounds like "to have arrived" (到, dào), comparatively when a bat is seen descending from the sky (蝠子天来, fú zi tiān lái) this phrase sounds similar to "good fortune descends from the heaven skies" (福子天来, fú zi tiān lái).
Bear[b] 熊 熊 xióng Scare away evil spirits.
Heroism (when combined with an eagle).		 The Mandarin Chinese word for "Hero" (英雄, yīng xióng) sounds like a composite of "hawk" or "eagle" (鷹, yīng) and "bear" (熊, xióng).
Bran 麩子 麸子 fū zi Fertility. The Mandarin Chinese word for "wheat bran" (麩子, fū zi) is a homophone to the term for "wealthy son" (富子, fù zi).
Butterfly[21][22] 蝴蝶 蝴蝶 hú dié Longevity. The second Hanzi character in the Mandarin Chinese word for "butterfly" (蝴蝶, hú dié) sounds the same as the Mandarin Chinese word for "someone who is 70/80 years of age" (耋, dié).[23][24][25]

Notes

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  1. ^ Depending on the local Chinese variety as the pronunciation of Hanzi characters can differ substantially between them.
  2. ^ Note that bears are very uncommonly used for Chinese numismatic amulets and charms.

References

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  1. ^ China Sage Symbols index. Retrieved: 03 July 2018.
  2. ^ Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (Chinese) Examinations – A unique experiment (“This is an article taken from our China in Focus magazine (2002) written by Justin Crozier.”) Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  3. ^ "The Hidden or Implied Meaning of Chinese Charm Symbols - 諧音寓意 - Differences between Chinese Coins and Chinese Charms". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  4. ^ Scribd Chinese Symbols & Puns. Description: culture. Uploaded by doubleyoue. Copyright: © All Rights Reserved. Retrieved: 22 May 2018.
  5. ^ SFO Museum (Art Museum – San Francisco) Hidden Meanings: Symbolism in Chinese Art from the collections of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. Exhibition: May 2010 - January 2011. Retrieved: 22 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Chinese Charm Inscriptions". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). 16 November 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  7. ^ Nippon.com Puns, Poetry, and Superstition: Japanese Homophones by Richard Medhurst (Profile). Published: 15 July 2017. Retrieved: 22 May 2018.
  8. ^ China Buddhist Encyclopedia The Hidden or Implied Meaning of Chinese Charm Symbols copied from Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). Retrieved: 01 July 2018.
  9. ^ Flavors & Fortune (Dedicated To The Art And Science Of Chinese Cuisine) Chinese Food Symbolism: Fruits (Part I) by Jacqueline M. Newman. Foods and Symbolism. Spring Volume: 1996 Issue: 3(1) page(s): 16. Retrieved: 22 May 2018.
  10. ^ The Masonic Trowel (... to spread the cement of brotherly love and affection, that cement which unites us into one sacred band or society of brothers, among whom no contention should ever exist, but that noble emulation of who can best work or best agree ...) The Symbolism of the Axe by Harold Meij. Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  11. ^ Nations Online Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty - The Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty (十二章紋) representing Chinese imperial authority appeared on the five-clawed dragon robes (Traditional Chinese: 龍袍 Chinese: 龙袍 lóng páo) of the emperor since the Western Zhou Dynasty (1050-771 B.C.). Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  12. ^ On Mark Productions – Japanese Buddhist Statuary (A to Z photo dictionary – Online since 1995) Objects, Symbols, and Weapons - Held by 1000-Armed Kannon & Other Buddhist Deities. Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Chinese Idiom Short Story - Showing Off One's Axe Before Lu Ban (班门弄斧 - Hanyu Pinyin: bān mén nòng fǔ)". Walt Guan (for Trip China Guide). December 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  14. ^ Living Art Originals (Enrich Your Life with Symbols) – Bamboo Meanings - Introduction to Bamboo Symbolism. Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  15. ^ Chinese Bamboo and the Construction of Moral High Ground by Song Literati by Dong Yue Su Supervised by Professor Graham Sanders. - A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements For the degree of Master of Art - Graduate Department of East Asian Studies University of Toronto. - Copyright by Dong Yue Su (2013). Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  16. ^ Living Chinese Symbols (Chinese Language & Lifestyle Guide)- Bat Symbol -- this noctunal creature brings you luck!. Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  17. ^ Vision Times 5 Surprising Auspicious Chinese Symbols—Bats and Spiders are Good Luck? (Category: Fengshui). Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  18. ^ The British Museum - Chinese symbols - § Bat (蝠, fú). Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  19. ^ Christie’s - How to read symbols in Chinese art - Specialist Ivy Chan on the significance of traditional motifs, from clever monkeys to dignified peacocks. (Ivy Chan). Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  20. ^ The Spruce - Feng Shui Use of the Bat Symbol - In classical feng shui applications the bat is considered a symbol of prosperity By Rodika Tchi. Updated: 02/12/18. Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  21. ^ The Beauty (Finest Jade) - Chinese Cultural Symbol: Butterfly. Retrieved: 26 May 2018.
  22. ^ [http:// ezinearticles.com/?Butterfly-Symbol-Meaning-in-Feng-Shui-and-Chinese-Culture&id=5822903 "Butterfly Symbol Meaning in Feng Shui and Chinese Culture"]. Susan Wong (for Ezine @rticles). 30 January 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2018. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  23. ^ Clausen, Lucy W. 1954. Insect Fact and Folklore. The Macmillan Co., New York. XIV + 194 pp.
  24. ^ Covarrubias, Miguel. 1954. Mexico South. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. XXVII + 435 +VIII pp.
  25. ^ Eberhard, Wolfram. 1970. Studies in Chinese Folklore and Related Essays. (Publ. by Indiana Univ. Res. Center for the Lang. Sciences, Bloomington) Mouton & Co., The Hague. IX + 329 pp.

Status of the expansion

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  • Ongoing, I will be working on it while traveling and during queus, I will invest my actual free time in importing the images. --Donald Trung (talk) 21:22, 22 May 2018 (UTC)
  •  On hold, as this page is literally the only page of Gary Ashkenazy's Primaltrek / Primal Trek that I haven't yet ghisimported to a Wikimedia project, and as this concerns the symbolism more rather than the charms, amulets, and talismans I will be temporarily suspending this project to focus more on importing images of Chinese numismatic charms, amulets, and talismans to Wikimedia Commons. As I don't collect Chinese numismatic charms myself in real life I will have to primarily look for online sources to import from. --Donald Trung (talk) 22:00, 25 May 2018 (UTC)
  • Temporarily resumed, as I found the time to finish some more "mystical associations" as I was traveling, will put it back on hold the moment I'm done integrating them into here. --Donald Trung (talk) 18:51, 26 May 2018 (UTC)
  • Sporadically ongoing, as I'm both busy in real life and on Wikimedia Commons. --Donald Trung (talk) 11:19, 3 June 2018 (UTC)
  •  On hold, deliberately postponed to finish importing literally every other page of the website (one left), write about "Rosette holes" in Chinese cash coins, and import all images of Chinese numismatic charms from www.Sportstune.com to Wikimedia Commons to use in this list. --Donald Trung (talk) 20:48, 28 June 2018 (UTC)
  • Half-ongoing, due to some issues with not being able to sign into Wikimedia Commons I can spend time online working on this, will stop the moment that issue is resolved. --Donald Trung (talk) 06:43, 1 July 2018 (UTC)
  •  On hold to import all the images of Chinese charms, Chinese amulets, and Chibese talismans from the John Ferguson Collection to Wikimedia Commons to use in this list. --Donald Trung (talk) 21:22, 24 July 2018 (UTC)
  • Ongoing, finally finished the import from John Ferguson's Sportstune.com website, all images are now on Wikimedia Commons and several images of Chinese coin charms, Chinede coin amulets, and Chibese coin talismans are added to these lists. --Donald Trung (talk) 19:50, 28 July 2018 (UTC)

Standard source

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August 2018.

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July 2018.

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June 2018.

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May 2018.

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Sub-divisions

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Due to various issues with editing Wikipedia on my Microsoft Lumia 950 XL phablet I can't load pages which are "too long" in the editor, E.G. Vietnamese cash#List of Vietnamese cash coins which either crashes Microsoft Edge or I need to manually type in the inscription of the cash coin using the "Find on page function" and even then sometimes the editor still brings me back to the top of the page. For that reason and the eventual length of this list I'm going to split this draft into many "mini-drafts" which I will then merge into a larger list.

Other.
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