Twenty-four Forms of Blessing and Longevity

This is a Chinese amulet coin with the theme of Twenty-four Forms of Blessing and Longevity, originating from the Han Dynasty and being the most typical representative of Chinese amulets. It represents people’s beliefs in peace, health, and longevity. It can be given to newlyweds, used to congratulate the elderly on their birthdays, and can also be presented to younger generations during festivals. If you are still struggling to choose a Christmas gift, it is a good choice.

On the front and back, there are 24 characters of “Fu” (blessing) and “Shou” (longevity) in different fonts, demonstrating the evolution of Chinese fonts from seal script to regular script, and also symbolizing the 12 two-hour periods in a day (24 hours) and the 24 solar terms in a year. This kind of commemorative coin is not a circulating currency. It is mainly used for hanging to pray for blessings, congratulating on birthdays as a gift, or placing it in a trunk to protect the house. It carries the eternal pursuit of happiness and longevity among the people. Therefore, it carries the most gentle yet powerful meaning.

In traditional culture, “Fu” encompasses multiple auspicious connotations such as wealth, health, peace, and having many children. The evolution of its character form, from the oracle bone script meaning “holding wine in both hands to offer sacrifices to the gods” to the bronze inscriptions of “Shi” (sacrifice) and “Fu” (overflowing), all reflect the original belief of communicating with the gods and praying for abundance. In folk culture, “Fu” is often juxtaposed with “Lu” (emoluments of officials and nobles, representing stable and legal income) and “Shou” to form the three-element system of “Fu, Lu, Shou”, symbolizing a complete life.

The character “Shou” takes “longevity” as its core and has derived meanings such as health, respecting the elderly, and the continuation of the family. Its bronze inscription form is often combined with radicals like “Lao” (old) and “Zi” (son), reflecting the ancient emphasis on the continuation of life. In funerary culture, “Shou” is also used to decorate coffins, expressing the wish for the well-being of the deceased in the afterlife.