Pictorial Charm
Item number Edz4294 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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- Data
- Data Source
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
Round, round centre hole, inner and outer rims on both sides, eight characters and design on obverse, design and characters on reverse; eight trigrams and corresponding characters around obverse; twelve animals of the zodiac and their corresponding characters on reverse.
History Of Use
Standard Daoist paraphernalia with multiple functions. According to Prof. Qin Dashu of the Archaeology Dept. at Beijing University, some of these zodiac coins were placed in burials to replace the earlier practice of placing zodiac figurines, a popular practice after the Song Dynasty (personal communication with Li Min, 2001). Tsai Yangwe (1973: 442-443) argues that they were used in Daoist ritual context to represent the star constellation that corresponds to someone's fate. The Ming and Qing popular believes have it that personal misfortunes were the result of their fate zodiac being overshadowed by negative forces. To turn their fortune around , the individual would invite Daoist religious practitioners to intervene by performing a secret ritual, at night, on his behalf. The zodiac charm coin would be placed on the altar to represent the star constellation corresponding to the individual. After the ritual, the charm would be kept securely by the individual concerned as a protective amulet. Items of the same design are still being produced and distributed in contemporary China as tourist souvenirs but may be used in a private, religious context as well.
Item History
- Made in China between 1368 and 1911
- Collected between 1893 and 1911
- Owned by Colin Campbell Brown
- Owned by Hugh Campbell Brown before February 1, 1961
- Received from Hugh Campbell Brown (Donor) on February 1, 1961
What
- Name
- Pictorial Charm
- Identification Number
- Edz4294
- Type of Item
- charm
- Material
- brass metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- cast and filed
- Overall
- height 0.07 in, diameter 1.5 in, weight 0.383 oz
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- China
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Colin Campbell Brown and Hugh Campbell Brown
- Received from
- Hugh Campbell Brown (Donor)
When
- Creation Date
- between 1368 and 1911
- Collection Date
- between 1893 and 1911
- Ownership Date
- before February 1, 1961
- Acquisition Date
- on February 1, 1961
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- good
- Accession Number
- 0042/0067 d
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