Taoist coin charm

[2] Many early Han dynasty talismans were worn as pendants containing inscriptions requesting that people who were deified in the Taoist religion to lend them protection.

Many Taoist amulets and charms contain images of Liu Haichan, Zhenwu, the Bagua, yin-yang symbols, constellations, Laozi, swords, bats, and immortals.

In Mandarin Chinese, coin-sword are called bì xié jiàn (避邪劍) which literally translates into English to "evil-warding sword".

[12] A popular way sword symbolism in integrated in Chinese numismatic talismans is by stringing actual or replicas of cash coins into a sword-shape.

[11] As such, in feng shui the supposed power of the coin-swords will depend heavily on which Chinese emperor's inscription is written down on the cash coins.

Those most commonly depicted on older charms are the ceremonial ruyi (sceptre), coral, lozenge, rhinoceros horns, sycees, stone chimes, and flaming pearl.

Eight Treasures charms can alternatively display the eight precious organs of the Buddha's body, the eight auspicious signs, various emblems of the eight Immortals from Taoism, or eight normal Chinese character.

[22] In some cases these coin charms request that Leigong should act "with the speed of Lü Ling", a famous sprinter from the 10th century BCE around the time Mu Wang of the Zhou dynasty reigned over China.

As Hanzi characters were used on amulets magical powers were prescribed to them by the superstitious, during the Han dynasty Chinese numismatic charms started to be worn as pendants to protect its wearers from the influence of bogies and evil spirits.

[31] The ancient Chinese people believed that decrees and mandates issued by the government had absolutely authoritative power over them which expanded their belief that Hanzi characters somehow had magical properties.

Laozi is often referred to as "Tai Shang Lao Jun" (太上老君, tài shàng lǎo jūn) on Lei Ting curse charms, this title was posthumously given to him by the Emperor of the Song dynasty in the year 1013 AD.

The symbolism of these charms has regional differences, as in some varieties of Chinese the character "chan" has a pronunciation very similar to that of "coin" (錢 qián).

[39] Chinese Emperors would write the character for longevity (壽) to those of the lowest social class if they had reached high ages,[40][41] which was seen to be among the greatest gifts.

Peach charms also often depict the Queen Mother of the West or carry inscriptions such as "long life" (長命, cháng mìng).

[44] Some Taoist charms from the Qing dynasty contain images of Lü Dongbin with the inscription fú yòu dà dì (孚佑大帝, "Great Emperor of Trustworthy Protection").

[47] One side would usually have an inscription wishing for the holder of the charm to be granted a safe journey, while the other would have common talisman themes such as the Bagua, weapons, and stars.

[47] The kǎn trigram in this context is thus a symbol that a mass movement of Chinese peasants would be able to defeat the smaller but better equipped and modern standing army of Western "devils" that fought the boxers during their rebellion.

[47] The linking of the "Big Dipper" star constellation with Chinese swords established the belief that the blade weapons could be used not only in wars against human enemies but in battles against evil spirits as well.

[47] The images of the bladed weapons, the "Big Dipper" with zigzag lines and the kǎn (or "water") trigram, along with the association of Guan Yu, combined to supposedly provide powerful protection to a person whether he traveled either by land or by sea.

[52] Some Han dynasty era charms contained inscriptions such as ri ru qian jin (日入千金, "may you earn a 1,000 gold everyday"), chu xiong qu yang (除凶去央, "do away with evil and dispel calamity"), bi bing mo dang (辟兵莫當, "avoid hostilities and ward off sickness"), or chang wu xiang wang (長毋相忘, "do not forget your friends").

[52] Some Chinese pendant charms contain the Hanzi character guà (挂, "to hang"), though their form makes their purpose obvious.

[52] There is a Song dynasty period Taoist pendant (plaque) charm with the inscription Changming Fugui written as "長命冨貴" instead of "長命富貴".

[57] These types of charms were typically given to a newborn child or an infant having reached one-month of age, which in traditional Chinese culture is known as the mǎn yuè (满月).

[59][57] Due to its symbolism and association with the Star Official of Dominant Vitality, this Song dynasty period charm would have been especially appropriate for a young child that born in the Chinese year of the dragon.

[61] People from the plains and valleys feared the tigers and other "strange beasts" as well as the idea that these places were populated by local spirits and demons.

[63][61] According to ancient Taoist beliefs these sites surrounding mountains included forests and streams where one could find various types of medicinal plants and the ingredients for elixirs of life and pills of immortality.

[61] According to Ge Hong having a copy of the Wǔyuè zhēn xíng tú in your home enables you to deflect violent assault and repulse those who wish to do you harm, this is why charts based on this work appear on a number of Taoist plaque charms.

There will be not one but many prospects of death.” Plaque amulets with the inscription Wuyue Zhenxing (五嶽真形 / 五岳真形, "true form of the five peaks") were produced that were intended to be protective talismans that were carried by Taoist pilgrims through the sacred mountains.

Bagua charms commonly feature depictions of trigrams, the Yin Yang symbol, Neolithic jade congs (琮), the Ruyi sceptre, bats, and cash coins.

[78] Vietnamese Book of Changes and Bagua charms often include inscriptions that contain compound words meaning "longevity" and "immortality".