Becoming the Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination, Five Sons Achieving Success; Winning the Three First Prizes in Succession

This is a Chinese amulet coin used to enhance one’s own wisdom, elevate the family’s social status, and improve the fortune in competitions and other aspects.

On the front of it are the words “Becoming the Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination, Five Sons Ascending to High Positions”, and on the back is the pattern of “Winning the Three First Prizes in Succession”.

“Becoming the Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination”: The imperial examination system was initiated in the Sui Dynasty. Addressing the first place in the palace examination as “the top scholar” began in the Tang Dynasty and became a fixed practice in the Song Dynasty. Among the people, it is said that “the unicorn child in the sky, the top scholar in the human world”. In the 1,500-year history of the imperial examination in China, only more than 700 “top scholars” were born. Therefore, “the top scholar” represents the peak of culture and intelligence. “Achieving the Rank of Jinshi” specifically refers to being allowed to use the architectural style of the nobility after passing the Jinshi examination and establishing a special facade in front of the house to show glory. It is a form of “bringing honor to the family”. This form of “achieving the rank” was only used for the top three in the palace examination (the top scholar, the second place, and the third place) during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In addition to “bringing honor to the family”, those who “become the top scholar in the imperial examination” can also wear safflower on their chests and ride on the imperial road, which is called “parading and boasting about one’s official position”.

The allusion of “Five Sons Achieving Success” comes from the “Three Character Classic”, “Dou Yanshan had proper ways of teaching. He taught his five sons, and their names all became renowned”. It means that in the Song Dynasty, a person named Dou Yanshan was good at educating his children. He taught his five sons, all of whom became famous, passed the Jinshi examination, and became officials, ultimately enabling the whole family to achieve class elevation. Its moral is to complete one’s own improvement through education and finally drive the family to improve together.

The combination of “Becoming the Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination and Five Sons Achieving Success” implies that through one’s own efforts, one can not only obtain wisdom, ability, power, and status, but also influence and teach others, making the family and descendants equally outstanding.

On the back of it are three children holding an inkstone, a writing brush, and an ink stick, symbolizing “Winning the Three First Prizes in Succession”. The ancient imperial examination in China was divided into three levels, namely the prefectural examination at the municipal level, and the first place was called Jieyuan; the metropolitan examination at the circuit level (similar to the “state” in the United States), and the first place was called Huiyuan; and the highest-level palace examination at the national level, and the first place was called the top scholar. Continuously winning the first place (Jieyuan, Huiyuan, and the top scholar) in the three-level imperial examination is called “Winning the Three First Prizes in Succession” – it is worth mentioning that in the 1500-year history of the imperial examination in China, only 33 people continuously won the first place. In addition, the word “egret” has the same pronunciation as “lu”, which represents the salary and annuity of officials and nobles, meaning stable and substantial income. Therefore, this pattern also has a unique effect in terms of wealth.

“Becoming the Top Scholar in the Imperial Examination and Five Sons Ascending to High Positions” are words representing the fundamental pursuit; “Winning the Three First Prizes in Succession” is a pattern used to visualize the belief. The combination of the two represents the elevation of wisdom, status, wealth, and class, and is particularly suitable for people who have many children in the family and aspire to improve their social class.