CHINA: AE charm (68.58g), CCH-1990 var, 68mm, "Lao Tzu Talisman" (tài shàng fù shén) type charm, tài shàng zhòu yu // xuán wu zhen jun (Lao Tzu curse spell // Lord Xuanwu), a very lovely ghost charm with light porosity from burial, VF, RR. In the Catalog of Chinese Charms, it is a 3rd-class charm and rated "precious and rare". In the Catalog its diameter is 75.6mm, whereas this example is smaller and perhaps belongs to an earlier type. Considering the reverence the ancient people had for gods and spirits, I feel it is more appropriate to call this Xuán Wu Zhen Jun // Tài Shàng Zhòu Yü, as after all the ancient people would first revere the gods, and then chant the curse spell. Lao Tzu curses: the heaven is round and the earth is square, the six laws and nine rules (i.e. the legal code of the Han Dynasty), [place] this talisman everywhere, and all ghouls be gone. Execute this order at once, and let this talisman take effect. Likely cast from the Song through Yuan dynasties.
