Posted 11 years ago
aghcollect
(2304 items)
This is a circa 1950's Asian (or Chinese) "Marriage Token" - 1 1/2" diameter
While sex education was not a topic freely discussed in ancient China, it was nevertheless important for newlyweds to have a basic understanding of what they should do on their wedding night in order to fulfill their obligation to family and society to have sons. There were several ways to accomplish this but one method was to provide the Chinese marriage charm displaying four sexual positions. The Chinese usually refer to these coins as "mixiqian" which means "secret play" or "secret fun" coins. They are also known as "bi huo qian" which means "hide (evade) the fire (of lust) coins". In English, they are variously referred to as Chinese marriage coins, Chinese love coins, Chinese spring money, Chinese erotic coins, Chinese wedding coins, etc. - These marriage coins or charms usually had an innocuous inscription (legend) such as "Wind, Flowers, Snow, Moon" on one side. This one does not - it is the same on both sides. - Very heavy, possibly silver although it is not marked as such.