User:Donald Trung/Implied meanings of Chinese numismatic charms/The Letter S

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Symbol Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Pinyin Implied or hidden meaning Origin of the association Exemplary image
Sanxing 三星 / 福祿壽 三星 / 福禄寿 Sān xīng / Fú Lù Shòu Prosperity, high rank, and longevity. The "three stars" are the Gods of Prosperity (Fu), Status (Lu), and Longevity (Shou) in Chinese religion.[1][2]
Sheep[a] 羊 羊 Yáng Yang energy (from Yin and Yang).
The sun.
Filial piety.
The sheep is one the twelve animals represented as a Chinese zodiac.		 The Mandarin Chinese word for "sheep", "ram", and "goat" (羊, yáng) sounds like the Mandarin Chinese word for "Yang energy" (陽, yáng) which could also mean "the sun".
Because lambs kneel when they receive breastfeeding from their mothers this is seen as "filial piety" in Confucianism because it displays submissiveness towards their mother which is one of the principles of the religion (孝, xiào).[3]
Shoes 鞋 鞋 Xié Wealth and economic prosperity.
Harmony (when they are paired with other items or objects).
Fertility and a wish to produce offspring (if lotus shoes are used).		 Shoes ae associated with wealth because they are shaped similar to sycees.
Shoes are associated with harmony because the Mandarin Chinese word for "shoes" (鞋, xié) sounds like the Mandarin Chinese words for "together with" (諧, xié) and "in harmony with" (諧, xié).
The reason why lotus shoes are associated with fertility (other than their supposed ability to enhance a woman's gait, make her vagina more narrow, and let her appear more feminine) is because the Mandarin Chinese word for "lotus flower" (蓮, lián) sounds like the Mandarin Chinese word for "continuous" (連, lián).
Six (6) 六 / 陸 六 / 陆 Liù For things to go smoothly.
Good fortune, good luck, and prosperity.		 The reason why the number six is used to make things go smoothly is because the Mandarin Chinese word for the number "six" (六, liù) sounds like the Mandarin Chinese word for "to flow" (流, liú),[4][5] based on this association things like Chinese businesses opening and Chinese weddings are usually planned for the sixth of the month, and there exist a saying "Everything goes smoothly with six" (六六大顺, liù liù dà shùn) based on this.[6][7]
The Mandarin Chinese word for "six" also sounds like the Mandarin Chinese word for "prosperity" (祿, lù).
Snake 蛇 蛇 Shé The Chinese zodiac "snake".[8]
Protection from poison (if combined with the other five poisons).[9]		 The snake is a member of the twelve animals represented as a Chinese zodiac.
The snake is a member of the Chinese Five Poisons which are a group of animals associated with the ancient Chinese belief that one can only fight poison with poison.
Further reading: Snakes in Chinese mythology.
Spider 蜘蛛 / 蟲喜子 蜘蛛 / 虫喜子 Zhī zhū / Chóng xǐ zǐ Protection from poison (if combined with the other five poisons).
Happiness and/or happy sons.
If a spider is depicted falling from the sky this means "happiness dropping from the sky".		 The spider is a member of the Chinese Five Poisons which are a group of animals associated with the ancient Chinese belief that one can only fight poison with poison.
Spiders are associated with happiness because the first Hanzi character one of the Mandarin Chinese terms for "spider" (喜子, xǐ zǐ) means "happiness", the second Hanzi character can also mean "son".[10][11]
Star
(dots)		 星 星 Xīng Unknown, although it is argued by Gary Ashkenazy that they might represent the fact that "cash coins were widespread, numerous in quantity, and were distributed throughout the world". Dots or "stars" first started to appear on Chinese cash coins during the Han dynasty, they appeared both on the obverse and reverse side of coins and some cash coins only had a single dot while others had many, these symbols started to become the first Chinese numismatic charms and their usage is continued on subsequent Chinese numismatic charms.
Stork 鸛 鹳 Guàn Longevity.
Promotion and high rank.		 Storks are associated with longevity because the ancient Chinese believed that storks lived a millennium.
Chinese numismatic charms and amulets often depict storks next to pine trees which are another longevity symbol in Chinese art.
Both the Queen Mother of the West and Shouxing, the God of Longevity in Chinese folk religion use storks are their main mode of transportation.
The Mandarin Chinese word for "stork" (鸛, guàn) is a homophonic pun with the Mandarin Chinese words for "government official" (官, guān), "first place" (冠, guàn), and "hat" (冠, guàn) which is why it's associated with high rank and a promotion in government and administrative jobs.
Swallow[12][13] 燕 燕 Yàn Good fortune, the spring, and bringing prosperous change. Swallows were seen as bringing "new" to "old" by the ancient Chinese people because they arguably "renovate" areas by constructing their mud nests in the cracks of walls and graves.
Swastika 卐 / 卍 卐 / 卍 Wàn "The myriad of things" or "everything". The swastika Hanzi character is pronounced as wàn (卐 / 卍) which is similar in pronunciation to the Mandarin Chinese word for "ten-thousand" (萬, wàn).[14][15]
Sword 刀 刀 Dāo Victory over evil (if the sword is used as a symbol for Lu Dongbin).
Protection against evil spirits and bogies (if the sword is a symbol for Zhong Kui).		 See Chinese numismatic charm#Chinese charms and amulets with sword symbolism for more information.
Sycee[b] 細絲 / 元寶 细丝 / 元宝 Xì sī / Yuán bǎo Wealth.
High rank.
Brightness and purity.
Sycees are a member of the Chinese eight treasures.		 During the Mongol Yuan dynasty silver became an official measurement of wealth which is why sycees have become associated with wealth.
The first Hanzi character in the Mandarin Chinese word for sycees "yuanbao" (元寶, yuánbǎo) also means "first" which could be interpreted as being "first place in the imperial exams" which means that you will attain a high rank.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Could also be represented as as a goat or ram.
  2. ^ Sycees are alternatively known as "saddle sycees", "silver sycees", and "drum-shaped sycees".

References[edit]

  1. ^ (in Chinese) 福禄寿星 Archived 2006-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. British Taoist Association.
  2. ^ "10 Chinese Good Luck Symbols". Charles Custer (ThoughtCo.). 27 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  3. ^ China Sage - Animal symbolism in Chinese art 兽 shòu § Sheep 羊 yáng. Retrieved: 08 July 2018.
  4. ^ Free Astrology 123 (Where Astrology Meets Mind Body & Soul) – Chinese Lucky Number 6 - All about Chinese Lucky Number 6. Retrieved: 08 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Lucky and Unlucky Chinese Numbers". Chinesezodiac.org – Discover the secrets hidden in the Chinese Zodiac. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  6. ^ Travel China Guide - Lucky Number 6 § No. 6 in Chinese Culture. Retrieved: 08 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Lucky and Unlucky Chinese Numbers § 6 (六, LIÙ) – LUCKY". Judith Syau (TutorMing Ching Expats & Culture Blog). 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  8. ^ Travel China Guide Year of the Snake. Retrieved: 08 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Things Chinese - Scorpion, xiēzi, xie zi (蠍 子), one of the 5 poisons (wŭdú, wuu dur 五毒)". P. A De Voe. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2018. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |work= at position 5 (help)
  10. ^ China Sage Animal symbolism in Chinese art 兽 shòu § Spider 蜘蛛 zhī zhū. Retrieved: 08 July 2018.
  11. ^ "The symbolic spider that wove its way through history". Lizeafloor (Ancient Origins – Reconstructing the story of humanity’s past). 17 October 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
  12. ^ China Sage Bird symbolism in Chinese art 鸟 niǎo § Swallow 燕子 yàn zi. Retrieved: 07 July 2018.
  13. ^ | INKSPIRATION | Following the Black line. All things inky for death heads & leather lovers. – SYMBOLISM. Swallow. Published: 12 September 2013. Retrieved: 07 July 2018.
  14. ^ Light of Asia (Buddha Sakyamuni in Asian Art the Villa Del Prado Collection) - Buddhas-Online The Swastika in Asian Art. Quote: “Although the Swastika is often synonymous with the Nazi movement of the 20th century (actually a reverse swastika), it was widely used in ancient times as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. It originally represented the revolving sun, fire, or life. One of the oldest known Swastikas was painted on a paleolithic cave at least 10,000 years ago.” Retrieved: 07 July 2018.
  15. ^ Japanese Buddhism The Swastika in Japan. Retrieved: 07 July 2018.

Standard source[edit]

July 2018.

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June 2018.

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