Korea Charm, Blessing & Dog - 1850 / 1910

This Korean amulet is dated between 1850 and 1910. The obverse features the representation of a dog. The reverse bears blessing inscriptions (? ? ?? ? ? ??), following an iconographic tradition characteristic of amulets from this period.

These objects, standing at the boundary between coin and talisman, were worn or kept as protection against evil spirits and to attract prosperity. The dog, in East Asian symbolism, is associated with loyalty and the protection of the home. It also holds a place in the Chinese zodiac cycle. These amulets circulated widely among the population, often produced by hand or in small runs by local workshops, outside of official monetary minting.

The period from 1850 to 1910 corresponds to a time of major political upheaval in Korea, marked by the end of the Joseon kingdom and the progressive annexation of the country by Japan in 1910. In this context of instability, these protective objects carried heightened symbolic importance among the civilian population.