China Uncertain period, “Ch’in” series, double dragon head type, odd shaped medium of exchange and also known as “bridge money”, Bronze Double-Dragon Head ‘Bridge Money’ 85x17mm (12.41 grams) Cast circa 1000-500 B.C. Reference: cf. Coole 6722 – 6736, Vol.5 p.478, 482, Not in Sch. or TFP
Provenance: From private collection in the United States of America. Ownership History: From private collection in the United States, bought in private sale in the United States of America.
Coole in “Coins in China’s History”, discusses these pieces under “Odd Shaped Mediums of Exchange”, and that these pieces were initially used in that transition period between the bartering age and the coin age. They were made in many shapes and resembled various valuable utensils and objects used at that time including fish, bells, lotus roots, shields etc. Thus these objects in copper described above look like the early jade musical instruments called ch’in and they were used in orchestras like the modern metallic triangles. Dragon head “ch’in” are rarely seen and seem to have some monetary exchange value.
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The Chinese dragon, also known as loong, long or lung, is a legendary creature in Chinese mythology, Chinese folklore, and Chinese culture at large. Chinese dragons have many animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, but are most commonly depicted as snake-like with four legs. Academicians have identified four reliable theories on the origin of the Chinese dragon: snakes, Chinese alligators, thunder and nature worship. They traditionally symbolize potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, typhoons, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck for people who are worthy of it in East Asian culture. ] During the days of Imperial China, the Emperor of China usually used the dragon as a symbol of his imperial strength and power. In Chinese culture, excellent and outstanding people are compared to a dragon, while incapable people with no achievements are compared to other, disesteemed creatures, such as a worm. A number of Chinese proverbs and idioms feature references to a dragon, such as “Hoping one’s child will become a dragon” (simplified Chinese: 望子成龙; traditional Chinese: 望子成龍; pinyin: wàng zǐ chéng lóng).
The impression of dragons in a large number of Asian countries has been influenced by Chinese culture, such as in Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Chinese tradition has always used the dragon totem as the national emblem, and the “Yellow Dragon flag” of the Qing Dynasty has influenced the impression that China is a dragon in many European countries. The white dragon of the flag of modern Bhutan is a classic Chinese-style dragon.
Affiliated Chinese surnames include 龐 / 庞 (Dragon God, House of Dragon) and 龍 / 龙 (Dragon).
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