Period:Qing dynasty Production date:19thC
Materials:bronze, iron, textile,
Technique:
Dimensions:Length: 48 centimetres Weight: 620 grammes
Description:
Coin-sword. Iron rod with Chinese cash coins of the 19th century tied to it with red and green string in the shape of a sword with hanging ornaments.
IMG
![图片[1]-coin-sword BM-1973-1207.1-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/Qin dynasty/Miscellaneous objects/mid_00803939_001.jpg)
Comments:Register entry for this object: 1973,1207.1“Old Drury” shop (antiques) AE, FE, string, 48cm x 9 cm, 620 gChinese amuletic sword (image)Iron rod with Chinese 1 cash coins of 17th-20th century tied to it with red & green string in shape of sword with hanging ornamentsBlade 50 coinsGuard 20 coinsHandle 48 coinsPommel 4 coinsHanging in ball 12 coinsHanging loose 9 coinsTotal: 143 coins “What is commonly called a Cash-sword is considered very efficacious in keeping away evil spirits. It is often hung up on the front and the outside of the bridal bed-curtain, in a position parallel to the horizon. About the time of a woman’s confinement, a cash-sword is sometimes taken and hung inside of the curtain. This sword is usually about two feet long, and is constructed out of three kinds of things, each of which is regarded as a preventive of evil spirits: 1st. Two iron rods, about two feet long, constitute the foundation of the sword. 2d. About one hundred cash, either ancient or modern (if ancient, or if all of the same emperor’s reign, so much the better), are ingeniously fastened on these rods, concealing them from view. The rods are placed in the centre, and the coins are tied on the outside in two rows. 3d. Red cords or wires are used in tying on the cash. These three kinds, joined together in the shape of a sword, make a really formidable weapon, of which the maliciously-disposed spirits are exceedingly afraid!”Justus Doolittle (edited and revised by Paxton Hood), “Social Life of the Chinese. A Daguerrotype of Daily Life in China” (London: Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, 1868), p. 563, coin-sword illustrated on p.565.https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=gIfVAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en_GB
Materials:bronze, iron, textile,
Technique:
Dimensions:Length: 48 centimetres Weight: 620 grammes
Description:
Coin-sword. Iron rod with Chinese cash coins of the 19th century tied to it with red and green string in the shape of a sword with hanging ornaments.
IMG
Comments:Register entry for this object: 1973,1207.1“Old Drury” shop (antiques) AE, FE, string, 48cm x 9 cm, 620 gChinese amuletic sword (image)Iron rod with Chinese 1 cash coins of 17th-20th century tied to it with red & green string in shape of sword with hanging ornamentsBlade 50 coinsGuard 20 coinsHandle 48 coinsPommel 4 coinsHanging in ball 12 coinsHanging loose 9 coinsTotal: 143 coins “What is commonly called a Cash-sword is considered very efficacious in keeping away evil spirits. It is often hung up on the front and the outside of the bridal bed-curtain, in a position parallel to the horizon. About the time of a woman’s confinement, a cash-sword is sometimes taken and hung inside of the curtain. This sword is usually about two feet long, and is constructed out of three kinds of things, each of which is regarded as a preventive of evil spirits: 1st. Two iron rods, about two feet long, constitute the foundation of the sword. 2d. About one hundred cash, either ancient or modern (if ancient, or if all of the same emperor’s reign, so much the better), are ingeniously fastened on these rods, concealing them from view. The rods are placed in the centre, and the coins are tied on the outside in two rows. 3d. Red cords or wires are used in tying on the cash. These three kinds, joined together in the shape of a sword, make a really formidable weapon, of which the maliciously-disposed spirits are exceedingly afraid!”Justus Doolittle (edited and revised by Paxton Hood), “Social Life of the Chinese. A Daguerrotype of Daily Life in China” (London: Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, 1868), p. 563, coin-sword illustrated on p.565.https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=gIfVAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en_GB
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![[Qing Dynasty] British female painter—Elizabeth Keith, using woodblock prints to record China from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China—1915-China Archive](https://chinaarchive.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-191x300.png)
