China - Early Imperial，LIAO: AE charm (30.6g), 41mm, "Mother of Nine Sons" (yi mu jiu zi) type, mother riding a dragon at top, three groups of three people around, believed to represent her nine children // twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, graded 75 by GBCA Grading Company, F-VF, ex Dr. Dirk Löer Collection. Chinese charm collectors have traditionally interpreted the figure above the square hole as being a mother riding a dragon. Some collectors believe that the "mother" is Xi Wangmu, the "Queen Mother of the West." An article published in the January 2002 issue of the journal of the Inner Mongolia Numismatic Society proposes that the charm’s theme is "Nine Sons become Officials" (jiu zi sheng guan). Another interpretation argues that the person riding the dragon is not a mother but rather a son-in-law of a high rank. Based on this legend, every traditional Chinese family with a daughter wished for a son-in-law who would be talented enough to pass the imperial exams which would guarantee a life of honor and wealth as a high government official. This is the meaning of a "dragon-riding son-in-law."A completely different interpretation of the charm is proposed by Mr. Pei Yuan Bo in an article published in the March 2004 issue of Inner Mongolia Financial Research in which Mr. Pei argues that to understand the true meaning of the charm one must first be familiar with a mythical story concerning Huangdi, the "Yellow Emperor," who returned to the Heavens by riding a dragon. Mr. Pei interprets the three groups of three persons as representing the "Nine Provinces" (jiuzhou, a poetic name for China, celebrating Huangdi’s ascension as the king of the heavens.
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