From the Four Corners of China, The Guardians Keep Watch
For more than 6,000 years, the mythic Guardians have stood watch over China. The White Tiger of the West, the Black Warrior/Tortoise of the North, the Azure Dragon of the East and the Vermilion Bird of the South represent not only the four directions of the compass, but also the four seasons. Now, in an exclusive series, each of the Guardians is being struck in China as a special Vault Protector Proof. This second release unleashes the Azure Dragon of the East!
The Azure Dragon of the East
In Chinese culture, the Dragon rules supreme among all mythical creatures. It is the guardian of the heavens as well as a symbol of luck, good fortune, power and divinity. It is for this reason that emperors have used the dragon as a symbol of their own divine power. For example, Emperor Ming of the Wei Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms Period referred to himself as the Azure Dragon.
What is a Vault Protector?
In East Asia, bronze “cash” coins were a centerpiece of local commerce. These classic round coins featured the iconic square hole in the center to allow specific amounts to be strung together and easily counted and transported.
On very special occasions, Chinese mints would cast larger, thicker, heavier coins that also bore the square hole. These coins were not made for circulation, but for ornamentation. At the treasury, these coins would be hung with red silk string through their holes, placed over the altar in the treasury’s spirit hall, where offerings could be made to gods of fortune, prosperity and wealth.
These “Vault Protector” coins were believed to protect their owners against disaster and ensure the favor of the gods. For this reason, those with the financial means would often secure one of these coins and leave it in their vaults to guard the rest of their fortune.