9 Feng Shui Coins Meaning
Oliverio Gallman
The usage of cash coins in the Chinese pseudoscientific[1][2][3] practice of feng shui is commonplace influencing many superstitions involving them. Believers in feng shui believe in a primal life force called qi (or chi) and apply their beliefs to the design of residential houses, as well as to commercial and public buildings, sometimes incorporating cash coins into the flow of this supposed qi.[4]
Feng shui practitioners typically place cash coins that are strung together somewhere in their house or in a cash register to supposedly attract wealth, alternatively they may carry them around as an accessory or place them in their wallet for good luck. A common way cash coins are used in feng shui is as a set of 5 coins known as the "Five Emperor Coins" (see below), these are often used as counters to hanging beams or exposed pillars. When used for such purposes, the 5 coins are often tied together with a red string (as red is seen as an auspicious colour) so as to charge them with yang energy. When combined with Taoist beliefs cash coins could be strung in the shape of a sword to scare away evil spirits.
The application of cash coins in feng shui should not be confused with the use of cash coin and cash coin-like amulets as "lucky charms" outside of feng shui, their usage in traditional Chinese medicine, or their usage in traditional Chinese fortune telling.
Originally cast during the Warring States period, these coins continued to be used for the entirety of Imperial China.[8] The last Chinese cash coins were cast in the first year of the Republic of China. Generally most cash coins were made from copper or bronze alloys, with iron, lead, and zinc coins occasionally used less often throughout Chinese history. Rare silver and gold cash coins were also produced. During most of their production, cash coins were cast, but during the late Qing dynasty, machine-struck cash coins began to be made. As the cash coins produced over Chinese history were similar, thousand year old cash coins produced during the Northern Song dynasty continued to circulate as valid currency well into the early twentieth century.[9]
Chinese people in the past believed that "similar things come together" and in this principle they believed that objects and events of the same nature will gather together: flowers go with flowers, grass goes with grass, gold goes with gold, like-minded people gather together, Etc.[16] Therefore, they believed that hanging coins in the house will attract more money to their household or their village.[16]
Feng shui masters (traditional Chinese: 風水師; simplified Chinese: 风水师; pinyin: Fēngshuǐ shī) recommend the use of old Chinese cash coins to enhance the feng shui of a house (for the usage of old Chinese charms in the house, see "Chinese house charms").[17] In feng shui certain cash coins are thought to be able to provide protection and promote good fortune.[17] Generally speaking, Feng shui masters always have a large number of Chinese copper-alloy cash coins on hand.[17] This is because cash coins, as well as jade, are the basic tools used to adjust the yin and yang forces of a house.[17] The reasons why cash coins have an important role in feng shui are numerous and concerns the very nature of Chinese cash coins as they have always been a potent instrument in feng shui.[17]
Cash coins when used for feng shui purposes can be combined with other feng shui items to enhance their usage.[22] For example, if they are added to a Pixiu, it can strengthen the wealth effect of the Pixiu statuette, and if you add it to Qilin, it can also increase the power of eliminating evil spirits of the Qilin statuette.[22] Other examples include gourds, where they supposedly strengthen its healing functions and countering evil spirits (sha q), mystic knots for protection, and crystals for wealth.[19]
Some cash coins considered to be suitable and others unsuitable for feng shui to provide protection from evil and the promotion of good fortune, on this Chinese Feng shui masters note that the supposed "effectiveness" of a cash coin is dependent on the coin's alloy and quality, how many people have previously used it, and the time period when the cash coin was produced.[17]
Feng shui masters typically advise people to select cash coins for feng shui purposes that are approximately the same size and thickness as each other.[17] During the 60-year-long reign of the Qianlong Emperor a large quantity of Qianlong Tongbao cash coins were produced in varying sizes and qualities, this means that when selecting cash coins with this inscription special attention has to be given.[17]
In feng shui before being used Five Emperor Coins, like other feng shui items, have to be consecrated by a Feng shui master for them to have a feng shui effect.[25] Consecration of Five Emperor Coins usually takes place from 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning "when the dragon raises its head", after consecration, the Five Emperor Coins should not be touched by outsiders.[25] If the cash coins are dirty, they are either replaced or wiped with a little salt water, after drying, they are usually placed in the ground the next morning.[25] If the consecrated Five Emperor Coins need to be replaced they are usually wrapped in red cloth and put at the temple incense candle recycling place or at crossroads to supposedly let its aura dissipate.[25]
To attract wealth, Five Emperor Coins cash coins are usually placed placed in the area of the house where wealth is kept or generated such as the living room, work room (for those who work from home), altars, vaults or a safe, Etc. where they are usually strung together in a particular order.[25] Sometimes they are also placed inside of a car.[25]
Cash coins can also be worn for feng shui purposes as their square central holes conveniently allows them to be strung to a red cord, ribbon or a piece of clothing or to be worn as a necklace.[17] Cash coins are typically strung while using it in this manner using red cords due to red being considered an auspicious colour in Chinese culture.[17] According to the teaching of feng shui wearing cash coins can provide "personal protection from ghosts and other evils".[17] Alternative, cash coins do not necessarily have to be worn on the body of the person but could be placed in any number of accessoires for their supposed "effect" in feng shui as they could be placed in a purse, handbag or hung on the shoulder strap of a handbag.[25] Placing a set of Five Emperor Coins inside of a wallet is believed to attract wealth.[25]
According to Feng shui masters, cash coin necklaces should be worn in a slip knot, which is known in Mandarin as a Huji (活結), because slip knots can easily be released by only pulling on one cord meaning that a cash coin is able to automatically" fall off as they believe that in the presence of a nearby powerful evil force should "suddenly fall" meaning that the necklace functions as a "very good warning system" that can warn its wearer to leave immediately if such a fall occurs.[17]
According feng shui cash coins placed at inside of the home can ward off evil spirits, this is because it is believed that evil spirits typically attempt to enter a house through gates, doors, and windows and Feng shui masters claim that by placing feng shui coins close to where it is believed evil spirits will enter they will be unable to rush inside.[17] Furthermore, in feng shui cash coins fulfill the purpose of promoting harmony in the household, and attracting both wealth and good fortune.[17] Placing cash coins in an area associated with money such as a vault or a cash register is believed to attract more wealth (see also: Vault protector coin).[25]
When new houses are constructed five sets of Qing dynasty Five Emperor Coins are sometimes placed at specific locations to attract both wealth and prosperity.[25] These sets of Five Emperor Coins are placed at the four corners and the centre of the house in a specific sequence and because the interior area is usually relatively large, it is believed that Five Emperor Coins cannot be used in the interior because their supposed power is not enough for such a large area.[25] All five sets of Five Emperor Coins are placed facing the gate, with five Shunzhi Tongbao in the left corner, five Kangxi Tongbao in the right corner, five Yongzheng Tongbao are placed in the centre, five Qianlong Tongbao are placed in the rear left corner, and five Jiaqing Tongbao in the rear right corner.[25]
Traditionally, "protection" was usually achieved by burying feng shui coins under the threshold of the house,[25] but as many modern people live in apartment buildings "burying" cash coins has become less convenient it has now become more commonplace to hide them under a doormat or to hang the cash coins on a door handle.[17] When using Five Emperor Coins these are usually chronologically arranged.[17] Sometimes cash coins are also placed underneath rugs or floor mats to strengthen the presence of "earth" energy when the level below is empty space such as a vehicle parking lot.[19]
When placed on the right side of an entrance gate, Five Emperor Coins hung from a yellow cord are believed to help prevent female family members from being too argumentative or quarrelsome.[17][22] In Chinese culture, the colour yellow is associated with the legendary Yellow Emperor and in feng shui yellow is perceived a potent symbol of both imperial rule and general authority.[17]
When placed at the gate of the house, in feng shui Five Emperor Coins are to be placed chronologically from right-to-left.[25] At the same time, it is required that the feet of the ancient coins face inward and the obverse of the coin face upwards.[25] In feng shui it is believed that if the foot of the characters is turned outward that it would cause depression to the inhabitants of the household.[25]
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