Small embossed silver bell decorated on one side with a lion mask and a Swastika (Infinity). The lion mask may have served to chase away evil spirits. On the other side of the bell is a depiction of the ‘Pa Kua’ or ‘Ba Gua’ (Eight Trigrams, see Quick Find 4139) and the centre is shaped as two fishes which symbolize Abundance. At the same time they form a ‘Ying Yang’ symbol which represents opposite forces that are actually complementary. Inside the Pa Kua they represent a balance in ‘Feng shui’ which is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment. The bell dates from the late Qing (1644 – 1912) to the early Republic period (1912 – 1947). Diameter 1.8 cm. Depth 1.1 cm.