As people get ready to welcome 2023 with open arms, some Taiwanese people are also looking forward to the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese zodiac. The new year is an opportunity for growth, and people are certainly thinking of different ways to make their wallets grow exponentially.
VIDEO SCRIPT:
In preparation for the Lunar New Year, a famous temple in Nantou, Tzu Nan Kung (紫南宮), will be giving out their annual fortune coins to worshippers and visitors on January 1st. The tradition of fortune coins, or chien mu (錢母), can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. The name literally translates to "coin mother" because the idea is that the coin will give birth to more money in this upcoming year.
The fortune coin set comes with a ceramic rabbit-shaped frame and a gold and silver coin. One side of the coin depicts Tu Ti Gong, a deity that overlooks wealth, while the other side of the coin depicts a rabbit with a peony.
Some citizens say they are especially interested in the coins this year because their Chinese Zodiac is the rabbit. They say they are willing to travel and wait in line for these fortune coins in order to have a blessed year.
This year, the temple will also give out over 4,000 golden eggs. These eggs may contain golden rings, cash, necklaces, or other items that will bring good fortune. People then can carry these items with them for good luck as well.
The Temple representative says a rabbit jumps high in the sky, which means next year's fortune will be great. He says the economy and people's fortune will surely leap upwards.