style：Necklace

Optional Choices：Master’s Blessing +$80

Specification

Size：Diameter: 40mm

Material：Alloy, Sandalwood

Wearing method: Necklace, Pendant

design：Inspired by the Daoist Mountain Spirit Coin, this piece features an agarwood-carved Mountain Spirit design set within the pendant, complemented by a rotatable talisman inscription on the reverse—blending contemporary style with timeless tradition.

Product Introduction

1. Name and Meaning: Who is the “Mountain Spirit”?

The term “Mountain Spirit” (山鬼) is most famously derived from the poem “Nine Songs: Mountain Spirit” by the ancient Chu poet Qu Yuan. In this work, the “Mountain Spirit” is depicted as a beautiful, sentimental, and slightly melancholic mountain goddess—not a literal ghost or monster.

In Daoist culture and folk beliefs, the “Mountain Spirit” gradually evolved into a **righteous deity guarding the mountains and forests**, believed to possess the power to ward off evil, dispel plagues, and ensure safety. Thus, the inscription “Mountain Spirit” on these coins essentially **invokes this powerful guardian** as the core of the talisman.

2. Key Features and Symbolism

A typical Mountain Spirit coin includes both text and imagery:

Obverse (Text):  

The most common inscriptions are:  

– **”Mountain Spirit” (山鬼)**: Invokes the deity.  

– **”Seal of Thunder Striking Down Ghosts” (雷霆杀鬼之印) or “Thunder’s Command to Kill Ghosts” (雷令杀鬼)**: Asserts the talisman’s authority, derived from the Daoist Thunder Department (雷霆), representing the ultimate masculine and purifying force.

Additional Daoist incantations like “Decree” (敕令) or “Slay Demons and Ward Off Evil” (斩妖辟邪) may also appear.

**Reverse (Imagery):**  

Features mystical Daoist symbols:  

– **The Big Dipper and Star Deity Script**: In Daoist belief, the Big Dipper Master governs life and death and dispels misfortune. The curved lines represent “Star Official Script,” symbolizing celestial power.  

– **Bagua (Eight Trigrams)**: Represents the cosmos, used for grounding and neutralizing negative energies.  

– **Ritual Swords, Taiji Symbols**: Common motifs representing exorcism and spiritual power.

3. Purpose and Function

These coins were traditionally used for:  

– **Warding Off Evil**: The primary function—to repel malevolent spirits, negative energy, and misfortunes.  

– **Prayers for Safety**: Carried during travel, military service, or risky endeavors for protection.  

– **Home Protection**: Placed on beams, doors, or in rooms to guard the household.  

– **Personal Talismans**: Worn on the body, attached to children’s hats, or hung over beds to ensure health and prevent fright.

4. Historical and Modern Significance

– **Popular Era**: These coins were widely cast and used during the **Ming and Qing dynasties**, with production continuing into the Republican era.  

– **Contemporary Value**:  

  – **Cultural Heritage**: Valued as artifacts reflecting ancient folklore, Daoist practices, and folk art.  

  – **Collectibility**: A sought-after category in antique coin collections, with value determined by age, craftsmanship, size, condition, and rarity.  

  – **Symbolic Adornment**: Many still wear or collect them today as elegant, meaningful jewelry—embodying wishes for peace and blessings.

**In Summary**  

The **Mountain Spirit coin** is a unique object blending **literature, Daoist belief, folk customs, and casting artistry**. Beyond being an ancient “talisman,” it serves as a cultural snapshot of an era—embodying humanity’s timeless yearning for safety, harmony, and spiritual solace.