Auction Information

Description

The two Buddha statues cast on the money back of the Chunhua Yuanbao are both supported by a lotus throne and auspicious clouds. Lotus is a symbol of Buddhism, indicating a certain connection between this type of gold coin and Buddhist activities at that time. After Buddhism was introduced to China during the Eastern Han Dynasty, it developed into a prosperous stage during the Tang Dynasty. However, due to local separatism during the Five Dynasties period, Buddhism was devastated. In the early years of the Song Dynasty, the Song government provided appropriate protection to Buddhism, stopped the destruction of temples, and sent people to India to seek enlightenment, which restored Buddhism. The money unearthed from the Mount Wutai Buddha statues was specially made by Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty when he visited Mount Wutai in Chunhua, which fully shows the importance of the Song regime to Buddhism.