Title: Talisman coins and ghosts?
brianlkennedy - December 18, 2006 11:15 AM (GMT)
Hi Folks,
My wife and I are working on an article about Daoist talismans. We are using as an example of a Qing Dynasty talisman, this one (actually the one on the right hand side of the page):
I have done a rough translation of part of the "instructions" and I have a couple of questions, maybe somebody can help me out.
It says (in my very rough translation!)
“Day 15, the patient gets Fire and Water Gods from due south. Which makes ‘cold illness’ and ‘heavy heat’ with vomiting and mental unrest, no appetite. The ‘ghost’ sits on the head of the bed. Use five pieces of old money, towards due south walk 30 steps, this will send it away. One for swallowing, one to paste somewhere, one to carry with you.”
My questions are:
Why do they specify old money? I mean, why not new money?
The ghost they mention sitting on the head of the bed; what is the significance of that?
I am just getting started in my study of talismans, so any help will be much appreciated. By the way this is a great site, lots of great information.
Respect and greetings from Taiwan,
Brian
My wife and I are working on an article about Daoist talismans. We are using as an example of a Qing Dynasty talisman, this one (actually the one on the right hand side of the page):
I have done a rough translation of part of the "instructions" and I have a couple of questions, maybe somebody can help me out.
It says (in my very rough translation!)
“Day 15, the patient gets Fire and Water Gods from due south. Which makes ‘cold illness’ and ‘heavy heat’ with vomiting and mental unrest, no appetite. The ‘ghost’ sits on the head of the bed. Use five pieces of old money, towards due south walk 30 steps, this will send it away. One for swallowing, one to paste somewhere, one to carry with you.”
My questions are:
Why do they specify old money? I mean, why not new money?
The ghost they mention sitting on the head of the bed; what is the significance of that?
I am just getting started in my study of talismans, so any help will be much appreciated. By the way this is a great site, lots of great information.
Respect and greetings from Taiwan,
Brian
REBORN - December 19, 2006 12:43 PM (GMT)
Hello Brian!
A very BIG Welcome to Singapore. Hope to hear more from you.
In regards to your query, I'm awaiting an answer from my Shifu and will revert soonest.
Please do ask anything you want to know. Our fellow forumer will be most glad to assist as well.
Warmest Regards
A very BIG Welcome to Singapore. Hope to hear more from you.
In regards to your query, I'm awaiting an answer from my Shifu and will revert soonest.
Please do ask anything you want to know. Our fellow forumer will be most glad to assist as well.
Warmest Regards
brianlkennedy - December 20, 2006 12:46 AM (GMT)
Good Morning Reborn,
Thanks much for your help (and your teacher's help!). This is a great forum, an outstanding resource for people trying to learn a bit about Daoism. I look forward to working with folks here.
I am from California (USA) and have lived in Taiwan (San Chung City 三重市) for the past 14 years. My wife is Taiwanese, she works as a translator and I teach American law here in Taiwan.
Okay then, I had better get to work, I have two classes to teach today!
take care,
Brian
Thanks much for your help (and your teacher's help!). This is a great forum, an outstanding resource for people trying to learn a bit about Daoism. I look forward to working with folks here.
I am from California (USA) and have lived in Taiwan (San Chung City 三重市) for the past 14 years. My wife is Taiwanese, she works as a translator and I teach American law here in Taiwan.
Okay then, I had better get to work, I have two classes to teach today!
take care,
Brian
REBORN - December 20, 2006 03:38 PM (GMT)
Hi Brian,
This is from Shifu :
Why they specify old money in the talisman?
Frankly speaking, if i ask you to throw away either a $50 Singapore dollar or 5 pieces of old bananas money*, which one you throw? In ancient China, poverty problem existed for long. Many villagers had diffculties to find food. Not to mention that they were even couldn't afford to see 'doctor' when fall sick. Hence, many of them chose to collect talismans from the temple. They will either burn into the water and consume it or keep it hoping that the evils will go away eventually. On the other hand, you want them to throw away hard earned money very impossible. But, they can afford to throw away old money, meaning old dynasty money because it had no value.
(*Note: When the Japanese occupied Singapore, they printed a lots of Japanese money with a banana tree on the front face. After the Japanese surrender, these Japanese paper money become worthless and is popularly known as 'banana money :D )
What is the significant of the ghost sitting on the head of the bed?
If you can see the 'ghost' sitting next to you, i don't think you can sleep. Generally, the common sickness for not sleeping well will cause flu, high tension, no appetite, very tire, or even fever. Hence, the moral of this section is to remind everybody that sleeping is important. According to our old grandparents saying that if you choose not to take medicine when sick, you must go to bed and drink more water. Nowaday, the doctor will also remind you to sleep after taking the medicine.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
How this answer your queries.
Please share and discuss any topic here. Hope to hear more from you.
Have a good day! Cheers!
This is from Shifu :
Why they specify old money in the talisman?
Frankly speaking, if i ask you to throw away either a $50 Singapore dollar or 5 pieces of old bananas money*, which one you throw? In ancient China, poverty problem existed for long. Many villagers had diffculties to find food. Not to mention that they were even couldn't afford to see 'doctor' when fall sick. Hence, many of them chose to collect talismans from the temple. They will either burn into the water and consume it or keep it hoping that the evils will go away eventually. On the other hand, you want them to throw away hard earned money very impossible. But, they can afford to throw away old money, meaning old dynasty money because it had no value.
(*Note: When the Japanese occupied Singapore, they printed a lots of Japanese money with a banana tree on the front face. After the Japanese surrender, these Japanese paper money become worthless and is popularly known as 'banana money :D )
What is the significant of the ghost sitting on the head of the bed?
If you can see the 'ghost' sitting next to you, i don't think you can sleep. Generally, the common sickness for not sleeping well will cause flu, high tension, no appetite, very tire, or even fever. Hence, the moral of this section is to remind everybody that sleeping is important. According to our old grandparents saying that if you choose not to take medicine when sick, you must go to bed and drink more water. Nowaday, the doctor will also remind you to sleep after taking the medicine.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
How this answer your queries.
Please share and discuss any topic here. Hope to hear more from you.
Have a good day! Cheers!
brianlkennedy - December 21, 2006 05:22 AM (GMT)
Hi Reborn
(I do not know if I should say this on a Taoism forum—but Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!)
As to using the old money, as soon as you (and your Shifu) said that about the poverty in Old China—it made perfect sense. Using old, valueless money (like the Banana Money—thanks for the Singapore history lesson, I did not know what that meant about the Banana money till you explained it) is far more reasonable than using real money.
The explanation about the ghost also makes sense; there is a strong connection between good quality of sleep and good health. And if you are having trouble sleeping, due to ghost, demons, spirits or other reasons; then that is going to have an effect on your health.
Okay then, let me close for now. Thanks so much to you and your teacher and the folks on the board.
Take care,
Brian
(I do not know if I should say this on a Taoism forum—but Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!)
As to using the old money, as soon as you (and your Shifu) said that about the poverty in Old China—it made perfect sense. Using old, valueless money (like the Banana Money—thanks for the Singapore history lesson, I did not know what that meant about the Banana money till you explained it) is far more reasonable than using real money.
The explanation about the ghost also makes sense; there is a strong connection between good quality of sleep and good health. And if you are having trouble sleeping, due to ghost, demons, spirits or other reasons; then that is going to have an effect on your health.
Okay then, let me close for now. Thanks so much to you and your teacher and the folks on the board.
Take care,
Brian
REBORN - December 21, 2006 05:33 AM (GMT)
Hi Brian,
'MERRY CHRISTMAS!" HO...HO...HO....
Don't worry about such greetings! After all, this is a multi-religion forum. Singapore is also a multi-religion society and you can find (only in Singapore) a Taoism temple, Buddhist temple, Hindu temple, Christian Church & a Muslim Mosque, all in one place, some in the same building!
There's a strong inter-religion movement here too!