Exhibition “ 回憶 “ at Porto Português Piano Café 8 September to 8 October
“Money Lyon”

• 
  外觀與形式 此雕塑描繪一隻臥姿之貔貅，形似雄獅之異獸，頭部微抬並側向一旁，猶如守護或吸引某物。雕塑遍佈數十枚圓形銅錢（中央具方孔，屬古代中國貨幣之典型特徵），賦予其獨特裝飾。
  
  

主要特徵 銅錢上之銘文清晰可辨，混合多個清代皇帝年號（詳述如下）。 雕塑身軀呈暗銅或帶有古銅綠之金屬質感，銅錢上帶有金色調之點綴，暗示年歲之痕跡（或有意製造之古舊效果）。 底座及底部飾以額外銅錢與圓形圖案（或許為象徵珍珠或元寶之風格化設計），進一步強化財富主題。 無明顯之製造者標記或簽名，然其工藝似為手工鑄造或組裝，表面見有古銅綠、塵埃或輕微腐蝕，顯示非全新之物件。 此非普通之「素貔貅」雕像，而為專屬之「錢貔貅」或「財獅」變體，透過以銅錢構築或嵌飾身軀，以增強其象徵力量。此類器物在風水實踐中頗為常見。

象徵意義與文化價值 貔貅傳說：貔貅乃中國文化中之吉祥異獸，常被形容為具龍形特徵之翼獅或猛虎。傳說中，其對黃金、白銀及珠寶有貪婪之食慾，卻因觸怒玉帝而封閉排洩之處，致使其「吞財不洩」，成為聚財與辟邪之象徵。在風水學中，貔貅雕像置於居家或辦公室，以吸納財氣（財氣）、驅除惡靈並防止財運流失。此處之臥姿暗示「守財」或「臥寶」之意象，屬繁榮象徵之常見主題。傳統上，貔貅成對出現（雄性天祿主吸財，雌性避邪主守護），惟此單體或兼具雙重角色。 銅錢整合：覆蓋身軀之銅錢象徵財富源源不斷流入主人之手。此設計呼應貔貅作為「寶藏守護者」之神話角色，銅錢代表其所吞之財富。在風水傳說中，使用來自盛世皇帝時代之銅錢（如強盛清代皇帝之貨幣），被認為能汲取彼時之正能量。張口或許意在「咬住」來財，整体構圖符合面向內部（非朝向門戶）之設計，以留住財富。 關聯性：此處之銅錢強化了皇室遺產與庇護之主題，或許「重建」和諧與繁榮之敘事，與先前討論之古箏及黑玉器物相呼應。

材質與工藝 主要材質：或為青銅或銅合金，帶有暗沉古銅綠以呈現古樸風貌。銅錢似為鑄造或嵌於金屬中，或許在製作過程中以焊接或模塑方式固定。部分銅錢呈現金箔或自然黃銅色調，另一些則帶有銹跡，顯示真偽舊幣與仿製品之混合。 銅錢分析：嵌飾之銅錢為清代（1644–1912）之制錢（文），以其圓形、方孔（象徵天地）及繁體中文銘文為識別特徵。根據照片中可見之銘文：

• 
  咸豐通寶（1851–1861）：出自咸豐皇帝，代表經濟艱難時期，然在風水中因「普世貨幣」之意常被使用。
  

• 道光通寶（1821–1850）：出自道光皇帝，常見於如寶泉（北京戶部）之鑄造廠。
  

• 嘉慶通寶（1796–1820）：出自嘉慶皇帝。
  

• 乾隆通寶（1736–1795）：出自乾隆皇帝，屬最繁榮之時代之一。
  

• 康熙通寶（1661–1722）：出自康熙皇帝，另一穩定時期。
  

• 其他可能：順治通寶（1644–1661）或較晚之光緒通寶（1875–1908），惟初觀不明顯。 此等涵蓋多位清帝，風水中特意選擇以祈求「皇帝之運」自強盛統治者。反面（鑄造地標記）未完全顯露，然或含滿文或地點指示（如「Boo-ciowan」代表北京）。若為真品，銅錢年代或在17至19世紀，惟此類雕塑常使用仿製品，以避免損壞真跡。 狀況：呈現古銅綠、輕微氧化及塵埃，顯示年歲（或許50–100年）或暴露之痕跡。無明顯損壞，惟銅錢之磨損暗示經手持或環境影響。
  
  

歷史與文化背景 起源：貔貅雕塑可追溯至漢代（公元前206年–220年），最初作為墓葬守護或戰爭象徵，於清代演變為較豐滿、專注財富之設計。此類嵌飾銅錢之版本在晚清或民初（20世紀初）作為風水器物流行，常用於南方（如廣東或福建）之出口或國內使用。相類器物見於現代複製品，惟混雜真假清代銅錢之特徵指向古董或舊物（或許1920s–1980s），與您之古箏估計相符。 類似文物：搜尋顯示類似「錢貔貅」雕像於古董市場及Reddit討論，常被描述為20世紀風水增益器或旅遊紀念品。非稀有博物館藏品，然因文化意義受珍視—類似招財蟾蜍（金蟾）或石獅。

Notes on the Translation:

• 
  Style: The language employs formal and literary expressions (e.g., "猶如" for "as if," "堪稱" for "serves as," "源源不斷" for "endless flow") to reflect high cultural taste in Taiwan.
  

• Cultural Nuance: Terms like "財氣," "辟邪," and "普世貨幣" are used with precision, aligning with feng shui and imperial heritage themes you value.
  

• Clarity: The structure conserves athe content of the first analysis, ensuring simplicity while elevating the tone for an educated audience.
  

• Accuracy: Coin reign titles and historical contexts are translated directly, maintaining fidelity to your input.
  
  

(English)

• 
  Appearance and Form: The sculpture portrays a reclining Pixiu, a lion-like beast.Head slightly raised and turned to the side, as if guarding or attracting something. Adorned with dozens of round cash coins (with square central holes, typical of ancient Chinese currency).
  

• Key Features
  

  • 
    Coins' inscriptions clearly, with a mix of Qing dynasty reign titles (detailed below).
    

  • The body has a dark bronze or patinated metal finish, with gold-toned highlights on the coins, suggesting age (or intentional antiquing).
    

  • The base and underside feature additional coins and circular motifs (possibly stylized pearls or ingots), enhancing the wealth theme.
    

  • No visible maker's marks or signatures are apparent, but the craftsmanship looks hand-cast or assembled, with some wear (patina, dust, or minor corrosion) indicating it's not brand new.
    

This is not a standard "plain" Pixiu statue but a specialized "coin Pixiu" or "money lion" variant, where the body is constructed from or embedded with coins to amplify its symbolic power. Such pieces are common in feng shui practices.

Symbolism and Cultural Significance

• 
  Pixiu Mythology: Pixiu is a auspicious creature in Chinese culture, often described as a winged lion or tiger with dragon-like elements. According to legend, it has a voracious appetite for gold, silver, and jewels but no anus (sealed by the Jade Emperor as punishment for misconduct), so it "consumes" wealth without letting it escape—making it a symbol of accumulating fortune and warding off misfortune. In feng shui, Pixiu statues are placed in homes or offices to attract cai qi (wealth energy), protect against evil spirits, and prevent financial loss. The reclining pose here suggests a "guarding" or "resting on treasure" motif, common for prosperity symbols. Pairs of Pixiu (male Tiānlù for wealth attraction, female Bìxié for evil-warding) are traditional, but this single figure likely serves both roles.
  

• Coin Integration: The coins covering the body symbolize endless wealth "flowing" to the owner. This design evokes the Pixiu's mythical role as a "treasure guardian," with the coins representing ingested riches. In feng shui lore, using coins from prosperous imperial eras (like those of strong Qing emperors) is believed to harness positive energy from those times. The open mouth may be intended to "bite" incoming wealth, and the overall composition aligns with items meant to face inward (not toward doors) to retain money.
  

• Connection. The coins here, reinforce themes of imperial heritage and protection, potentially "reconstructing" a narrative of harmony and prosperity.
  
  

Materials and Craftsmanship

• 
  Primary Material: Likely bronze or a copper alloy, with a dark patina for an antique look. The coins appear cast or embedded into the metal, possibly soldered or molded in place during creation. Some coins show gold gilding or natural brass tones, while others are tarnished, suggesting a mix of authentic old coins and replicas.
  

• Coins Analysis: The embedded coins are Chinese cash coins (wen) from the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), identifiable by their round shape, square hole (symbolizing heaven and earth), and inscriptions in Traditional Chinese. Based on visible inscriptions in the photos:
  

  • 
    Xianfeng Tongbao (咸豐通寶): From the Xianfeng Emperor (1851–1861), Represents a period of economic strain but is common in feng shui for its "universal currency" meaning.
    

  • Daoguang Tongbao (道光通寶): Daoguang Emperor (1821–1850). Often from mints like Bao Quan (Beijing Board of Revenue).
    

  • Jiaqing Tongbao (嘉慶通寶): Jiaqing Emperor (1796–1820).
    

  • Qianlong Tongbao (乾隆通寶): Qianlong Emperor (1736–1795), one of the most prosperous reigns.
    

  • Kangxi Tongbao (康熙通寶): Kangxi Emperor (1661–1722), another era of stability.
    

  • Other possible: Shunzhi Tongbao (順治通寶, 1644–1661) or later ones like Guangxu Tongbao (光緒通寶, 1875–1908), though less clear in a first look.
    

• 
  These span multiple Qing emperors, a deliberate choice in feng shui to invoke "emperor luck" from strong rulers. The reverse sides (mint marks) aren't fully visible, but they might include Manchu script or location indicators (e.g., "Boo-ciowan" for Beijing). If authentic, the coins could date to the 17th–19th centuries, but in sculptures like this, they are often replicas to avoid damaging real antiques.
  

• Condition: Shows patina, minor oxidation, and dust, indicating age (possibly 50–100 years) or exposure. No major damage visible, but the coins' wear suggests handling or environmental aging.
  
  

Historical and Cultural Context

• 
  Origins: Pixiu sculptures date back to the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), initially as tomb guardians or battle symbols, evolving in the Qing era to fatter, wealth-focused designs. Coin-adorned versions like this became popular in the late Qing or Republican era (early 20th century) as feng shui items, often produced in southern China (e.g., Guangdong or Fujian) for export or domestic use. Similar pieces appear in modern reproductions, but the mix of genuine-looking Qing coins points to an antique or vintage item (perhaps 1920s–1980s), aligning with your Guzheng estimates.
  

• Similar Artifacts: Searches reveal comparable "coin pixiu" statues on antique markets and Reddit discussions, often described as 20th-century feng shui enhancers or tourist souvenirs. They are not rare museum pieces but valued for cultural significance—similar to money toads (Jin Chan) or foo dogs.