Chinese Hong Tze Mouse With Fortunate Story

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Request for Question Clarification by netcrazy-ga on 15 Jun 2002 17:46 PDT

Hi,
What exactly you are looking for in this question. Could you please
clarify your question a little more to help you better.

Thanks
netcrazy

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Request for Question Clarification by tan-ga on 15 Jun 2002 20:55 PDT

If you are wanting to buy one, it is available at this site for $17.95 US...

http://www.specialtydreams.com/product.htm?item=31451

Searched on Hong Tze Mouse

Hope this helps.
Tan-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by chromedome-ga on 16 Jun 2002 08:02 PDT

Are you asking for the underlying story/cultural significance of this item?

Greetings!

I am going to cover both the Hong Tze part of the question, and also
the source of origin for the fable.

First let's start with the Hong Tze part of the question.  Hong Tze is
a highly prized stone found only in the Sou mountains of China.  It is
known for it's deep red color.  I have listed a number of links to
merchants offering Hong Tze pieces, including the Mouse of Good
Fortune.

Let's move on to the story of the Mouse with Fortune.  It is a very
interesting story indeed, and it all starts with the tiny shrew.

Supposedly, the noise that a shrew makes sounds like the Chinese
pronunciation of money.

The Mandarin name for shrews is "Chien Shu", while the Taiwanese refer
to them as 'Chin Chih".  Both words, "Chien Shu" and "Chin Chih", mean
"money' and "mouse or rat".

In Taiwan, it is believed that the presence of a shrew in one's house,
means money is coming.  If you kill the shrew that is in your house,
you will be destroying the source of the money or the "fortune"

I hope that this information has been helpful.  This was a vary
interesting project and it has been a pleasure assisting you with your
question.



Links of interest

Shrew Legends, Folklore, Superstition &Myths 
Info by: Luis M. Chong L., Lab. of Entomology Dept. of Biology
http://members.vienna.at/shrew/cult-myths.html

Hong Tze Products:
Hong Tze Mouse W/Fortune Bag
http://www.shopforvalues.com
http://www.shopforvalues.com/catalog/35/1/6/product/31451/
http://www.crystal-reflections.com
http://www.crystal-reflections.com/sma/ccr_hong_tze_collection.htm



Search terms

"Hong Tze"
"Hong Tze"+china
folklore+mouse with fortune
Chinese folklore+mouse with fortune