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This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

Knife money shaped charm with a Chinese coin-like circle at the top, characters on the blade, and inner and outer rims on both sides. On one side, there are four seal script characters on the round portion, and two seal script characters on the blade. On the reverse, there are four seal script characters on the round portion, and three seal script characters on the blade.

History Of Use

Design similar to a coin, but not for circulation; not from the period it purports to be from (Larson, David). The tradition of using commemorative coins for the beam installation ceremony of a construction project was often practiced for palaces and temples. The design of this coin was copied after an archaistic knife coin issued duringWang Mang's first currency reform in A.D. 7, which, in turn, was aimed at reintroducing the archaic monetary system of the Zhou Dynasty (11th to 3rd century B.C.), thought to be the "Golden Age" according to Confucian values. Therefore, the shape resembles the currency form that was attributed to be contemporary with the time of Confucius (during his historical period). These were probably used at the beam-installation ceremony for the construction of the watch tower above the south gate of Fuzhou walled city. A public event presumably took place in July, 1867 (Li, Min).

Iconographic Meaning

The coin's shape symbolizes Confucian values (Li, Min).

Item History

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