A white jade 'Liu Hai and toad' group, 17th century 十七世紀 白玉劉海戲蟾

Originally a Tang dynasty Minister of State and alchemist, who was a proficient student of Daoist magic, Liu Hai is known as one of the Daoist immortals and a popular Chinese god of wealth, often seen with the three-legged toad and a string of Chinese coins. The mythical three-legged toad known in the present day as Jinchan, meaning “Money Toad” was derived from the toadfish species which are not native to China, but with their toad-like appearance like the traditional Jinchan, with its attendant tail fin resembles the curious third leg as seen in the present lot. See a related jade carving of ‘Liu Hai and Toad’ group, 18th century, sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 3rd June 2015, lot 3433.

劉海蟾，名操，字宗成，又字昭元、昭遠，道號海蟾子，道教祖師，三教合流人物，傳說為五代十國時期廣陽人，因郡望而被稱為廣陽先生、廣陽劉真人。民間則因「劉海戲金蟾」之傳說稱其為劉海。 俗有「劉海戲金蟾，一步一吐錢」之說，劉海蟾得道後，為解救金蟾，以一串金錢釣三足蟾出海，是為「劉海戲金蟾」，金蟾走一步，能吐一枚銅錢。劉海蟾走到哪便把錢撒到哪，以周濟窮人，因此劉海蟾也被視為財神。參看一例清十八世紀玉雕劉海戲蟾擺件，售於香港佳士得2015年6月3日，編號3433。