The Significance of Chinese Coins in Feng Shui

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice that uses meaningful symbols to bring positive and lucky energies into your home and life. One of these symbols is that of Chinese coins. If you’re interested in feng shui, you’ve probably seen these coins strung together with red cord and wondered about their significance. In feng shui, Chinese coins are powerful and meaningful amulets that can be used in your home to invite abundance, good fortune, and prosperity.

Meaning of Chinese Coins

Chinese coins were once currency in ancient China, so it makes sense that they represent wealth and abundance. They are considered one of the Eight Treasures along with the pearl, lozenge, stone chime, rhinoceros’s horn, mirror, book, and leaf, which are all symbols of good fortune and prosperity.

These old Chinese coins are circular in shape with a square punched out in the middle. The shapes of the coins are meaningful. The circle represents the influence of the heavens upon the earth, which is symbolized by the square.

Here are some common character combinations in Chinese lucky coins that are commonly used in Feng Shui applications, and their meaning:

Coins with four characters on one side, typically Bao, Chuen, Yong, Fu, symbolizes longevity and prosperity
Eight characters on the reverse side (Fu Zhai Yien Chien, Re Re Sheng Chai) meaning “good fortune ahead, wealth multiplies every day”
Coins featuring the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac and eight Bagua (Pa Kua) trigrams, symbolizes protection for loved ones. This type of Chinese lucky coin is often hung from an interior doorknob, believed to protect the house from evil forces.
Coins from the Ching Dynasty typically include the characters Tien Xia Tai Ping, meaning “peace on Earth”, so they generally symbolize peace, protection, and prosperity.

There are different coins that were created during varying historical periods of China. The most popular are the following:

Wuchu coin of the Han Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
Song Dynasty
Kang Xi coin

You will typically find Chinese coins strung together with a red or yellow ribbon or cord so they can be hung on the wall. The color red is auspicious in feng shui and symbolizes vitality, protection, and life force energy. The color yellow is connected to the imperial court and also auspicious.

Replicas vs. Antiques

Ideally, try to procure authentic antique Chinese coins made of copper. But if that’s not possible, it’s okay to use the best quality replicas you can find or afford. Your intention and effort counts and affects the power of feng shui adjustments. In fact, there are beautiful and artistic replicas made of jade, gold, or other precious materials that enhance the symbology of the coins.null

Tip

All objects absorb and retain the energies of their previous owners and surroundings. When you bring home second-hand and/or antique pieces, it’s helpful to clear them of any predecessor qi (life force energy). There are many ways to clear the energy: Some options include smudging with your botanical of choice or cleaning the object, like antique Chinese coins, with salt water.

Ways to Use Chinese Coins for Feng Shui

Active the Wealth Area

You can activate the wealth area of your home with Chinese coins. To find the wealth area of your home, stand in the front door looking in. The far left corner is the area of the home related to wealth. If you’re using the traditional compass methods, the wealth area would be the south-east direction.

Front Door

The front door of your home is super important in feng shui because it’s where the energy flows into your home. Placing a pair of Chinese coins threaded with red cord above or strategically near the front door can attract wealth and prosperity for the family.

Career Success

The area you work in, like your home office or desk, represents your career and prosperity. It makes a lot of sense to stimulate success in these endeavors by using Chinese coins and feng shui to draw in good energy and fortune. Try a set of ten coins strung on red or yellow cord hung behind your chair or near the entry of your office. The ten coins represent the ten emperors and invite in money from an honorable and legitimate source.

Together With Other Wealth Symbols

You can also combine Chinese coins with other feng shui symbols (like elephants, the mystic knot, wealth gods, and so on) to enhance and invite prosperity, abundance, and good luck. You can often find the feng shui money frog (which is a three-legged toad) perched on a bed of Chinese coins.

Your Wallet

Your wallet is where you hold your currency, credit cards, and identification and is related to your wealth. Try placing some Chinese coins in your wallet to attract abundance. While you’re at it, be sure your wallet is in good condition (or better yet, splurge on a new one!). Keep your currency and cards in order and well organized.

Carrying Chinese Coins

Chinese coins can be carried as powerful amulets for attracting wealth as well as protection. A set of nine coins (in total) is especially lucky. The coins are also amplified when hung on a gold chain or red cord.

Feng Shui Coins Configurations- Meaning and Symbolization

In Feng Shui applications, the configurations of the Chinese lucky coins are mainly determined by the number of coins in the configuration, each with its own unique meaning and symbolization, as you can see below:

3-coin configuration: three for the Chinese luck trinity: heaven luck, earth luck, and man luck. Believed to attract wealth fortune and promotes prosperity.
5-coin configuration: protection against harm and danger, while also attracting wealth for the owner. Five symbolizes the five Feng Shui elements (fire, water, earth, wood, and metal), and the inclusion of all five has the purpose of creating balance and harmony
6-coin configuration: six is considered a lucky number in the Chinese culture since it symbolizes heavenly luck. Believed to attract supports from others and your higher-ups in the workplace
8-coin configuration: 8 is considered the luckiest number in Feng Shui, representing abundance and prosperity luck.
9-coin configuration: 9 symbolizes the unity between heaven and earth, so the 9-coin tassel is believed to bring the owner protection from harm and great fortune
10-coin configuration: 10 coins strung together are believed to bring wealth, fortune, fame, and success in all aspects of life.