Wealth-Attracting Treasure Bowl

Product Description: The small tree is a Money Tree, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. According to legend, it is a tree that bears money, which can be shaken down and regenerated. Designed as a treasure-gathering flowerpot, it allows everyone to plant their favorite greenery, symbolizing the attraction of wealth and fortune. It is suitable for both gifting and personal use. Collection Description: This bronze artifact, dating from the late Eastern Han Dynasty, measures 102.2 cm in height and 35.7 x 27.8 cm in width. It is housed in the National Museum of History and is titled "Money Tree" (Collection No. 85-00011). The piece consists of several connected parts: a base, trunk, and canopy. The base is made of red pottery, while the trunk and canopy are cast in bronze. The canopy is divided into six layers; the top, third, and fifth layers form the main canopy sections. The top layer features five round-hole bronze coins with upward-facing leaves attached. Each leaf bears images of strongmen, and two bronze bells hang beneath the leaves. The third layer has three leaves extending outward, each with strongman motifs, and two bronze bells hanging beneath two of the leaves. The fifth layer includes four leaves extending outward, with bronze bells hanging below each leaf. The Money Tree refers to a type of funerary tree-shaped mingqi (spirit object) from tombs during the Eastern Han and Six Dynasties periods in China, primarily found in the southwestern region. It is also known as the Coin Tree, Immortal Ascension Tree, Cosmic Tree, Golden Flower Tree, or Zhu Shu Tree. It generally consists of two parts: the upper portion is a bronze tree-shaped casting with a main trunk and branches, often adorned with five-zhu coin ornaments, figures, and animal motifs, with some trunks cast with Buddha images; the lower portion is the tree base, which can be made of pottery, stone, or bronze. The base surface is decorated with mountain ranges, figures, and mythical beasts, often featuring coin patterns. The hollow top of the base is designed to hold the bronze trunk section. This "Money Tree" is a late Eastern Han work made by piece-mold casting and was donated to the National Museum of History in 1996.