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CHINA: AE charm. F

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Chinese Coins - Charms Start Price:65.00 USD Estimated At:75.00 - 100.00 USD
CHINA: AE charm. F
SOLD
70.00USD+ (12.25) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2018 Sep 13 @ 19:07UTC-7 : PDT/MST
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CHINA: AE charm, CCH-2552, 40x55mm, hanging charm du zhan ao tou type, yi se xing hua hong shi li zhuang yuan gui qu ma ru fei // Kuixing standing on one leg on the head of a very large fish or a mythical turtle, Fine. The obverse legend can be interpreted to mean that a scholar who had just attained the honor of coming in first in the final Hanlin examination sees an expansive field of blossoming red apricot flowers which prompts him to make his horse gallop even faster on his way home. The blooming apricots are an allusion to the very first celebration honoring successful graduates of the final examination, which was allegedly held in an apricot grove. Kuixing is known as the God of Examinations or the Star of Literature. He was believed to have been influential in assisting candidates to pass the imperial civil service examination. He is frequently depicted as an ugly man with short horns. In his right hand he holds a writing brush. The short horns on his head represent "success" by alluding to the analogy of the carp fish jumping over the mythical Dragon Gate and becoming a dragon. As is the case here, Kuixing is usually shown standing on one leg on the head of a very large fish or a mythical turtle. The ancient Chinese believed that the earth was supported by this very large sea turtle.