Can local coins be used

[Guest Anonymous]

Dear Mr. Lee,
Can we use coins from our own country instead of 6 chinese coins. Our coins do not have holes in the centre.The chinese coins that are available in Mumbai have all sorts of characters engraved on them . How do we know which is the rght one.
We also worship silver coins with the Goddess of Wealth engraved on it during our New Year.These coins cant be used as currency though. Besides they do not have any hole in the centre. Can we use these coins.?
Thankyou.

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,
1. Is there a sample of the coin that I can see. Perhaps, in an Indian website.
2. Please refer to the url pictures below:-
http://www.geomancy.net/mypictures/cgi-bin/mypictures.cgi?img=0&search=6+coins&cat=all&bool=and&x=4&y=8
2a. There are two pictures:
(apologies, I will replace the pictures soon with more clearer ones as it was accidentally taken with micro-lens).
File: 6coins1.jpg - this is where, 6 local coins are hung with a red paper in a series of 2 by 2 joined together. This 6 coins was hung at the curtain area.
File: coins1.jpg - the Singapore One Dollar coin has a Ba Gua shaped profile.
2b. Because of the Ba Gua shaped profile within the coin, it was felt that it can be used as a cure.
3. The rationale for the i-ching coins being round with a square hole is:-
3a. The external roundness of the coin represents the Metal element.
3b. The square hole represents the Earth element.
Where under the Five elements concept:
- Earth helps Metal to grow i.e. make it stronger.
- Fire or the string used to bind the 6 coins helps to control the Metal i.e. so that it can be used.
4. The Singapore coins is considered a `poorer' alternative as compared to the I-ching coins.
Therefore, it is felt that even if your coin(s) have the Ba Gua or trigram shape, it would not be as effective as " the three relationship combinations " as mentioned under Para 3. Where one can notice the mix of three components: Metal / Earth / Fire elements.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 2/22/2002 5:13:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Mr. Lee,
Can we use coins from our own
country instead of 6 chinese
coins. Our coins do not have
holes in the centre.The
chinese coins that are
available in Mumbai have all
sorts of characters engraved
on them . How do we know which
is the rght one.
We also worship silver coins
with the Goddess of Wealth
engraved on it during our New
Year.These coins cant be used
as currency though. Besides
they do not have any hole in
the centre. Can we use these
coins.?
Thankyou.

[Guest Anonymous]

Dear Cecil,
I finally found the silver coins on the following website:
indiagiftshop.com /silver coins
The illustration is not very clear, but from your reply it seems to me that these coins cant be used.
Thankyou.

[Cecil Lee]

Dear Anon,
It would be preferred or advisable to use the Chinese `i-ching coins' with square holes.
This is in my opinion the preferred choice.
Nowadays, there are lots of `imitation' or lots of such newly minted coins and are not that costly.
The rationale why the i-ching coins are preferred is because it has a square hole at the centre.
Under the Five elements concept: Earth produces metal and thus `make it stronger'. And this type of coins are proven.
The rationale why the Singapore $1 coin was used as a "poorer" alternative is that it has the Ba Gua or eight sides and thus was used.
Therefore, the silver coins you mentioned has so far not been proven: I am afraid, I have to say that one may have to use it "at one's own risk".
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Quote

On 3/13/2002 7:10:00 AM, Anonymous wrote:
Dear Cecil,
I finally found the silver
coins on the following
website:
indiagiftshop.com /silver
coins
The illustration is not very
clear, but from your reply it
seems to me that these coins
cant be used.
Thankyou.