Money Toad
Overview
The figure most commonly placed near a cash register or doorway: a toad with a coin in its mouth and often only three legs. Its function is specific and commercial.
Meaning
The three-legged money toad is a specific popular wealth figure — distinct from the frog and from the moon toad of classical sources.
Traditional Interpretation
The popular account derives the figure from a story of a toad that was tamed and produced wealth, and the three legs are the conventional marker of the figure.
Related Concepts
FAQ
What does money toad symbolize in Chinese tradition?
The three-legged money toad is a specific popular wealth figure — distinct from the frog and from the moon toad of classical sources. The figure most commonly placed near a cash register or doorway: a toad with a coin in its mouth and often only three legs. Its function is specific and commercial.
Where does the money toad appear in Chinese art and custom?
Its use is documented across several registers at once. The three-legged money toad is a specific popular wealth figure — distinct from the frog and from the moon toad of classical sources. The coin in the mouth is the operative detail, and the traditional placement rules — facing inward rather than out — are the part most often reversed.
How is money toad read in Chinese tradition?
The popular account derives the figure from a story of a toad that was tamed and produced wealth, and the three legs are the conventional marker of the figure. It is grouped under Water (水) in the five-element system.
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