Martial Arts Gear
Beautiful Money Frog Bridge
The
Legend of the Three Legged Toad
The three legged toad is probably the most auspicious
symbol of money-making. There are a couple of myths
associated with the origins of this belief. In fact,
according to Chinese mythology, the three-legged toad is
said to exist only on the moon, which it succeeds in
swallowing during an eclipse. As a result, it is sometimes
said to signify the unattainable. An extension of this
myth is that the wife of one of the Eight Immortals stole
the elixir of immortality from the Queen of the West, Hsi
Wang Mu. She fled to the moon where she was turned into a
toad! But having tasted the elixir, she had attained
immortality and in the midst of being changed into a toad,
she had begged for mercy. The Gods, ever compassionate,
softened, so that only the upper half of the body took the
form of the ugly creature. Instead of the hind quarters,
the Gods allowed the retention of the tail of the tadpole.
Thus did she become the three-legged toad.
In a related legend, the mythical three legged toad is
being baited with gold coins by Lui Hai, one of the 8
Immortals, a Minister of State who lived during the tenth
century AD. Lui Hai was believed to be proficient in
Taoist magic and had knowledge of the toad's powers for
attracting wealth and prosperity. After much searching for
this mythical creature, Lui Hai found it hiding deep
inside a well. Aware of the toad's fondness for money, he
is said to have baited the creature to come up from a
well. As bait, he used a red line tied with gold coins.
This has resulted in the painting of a child baiting the
three legged frog with coins tied on a long red string to
become itself an emblem meaning that wealth is about to
come. The legend of the three legged toad as an auspicious
symbol of wealth thus originated from the popular
representation of Lui Hai, who is shown with one foot
resting on the toad and holding in his hand a red string
on which five gold coins are strung. This image was said
to be most auspicious and conducive to attracting great
good fortune. Since then, the three legged toad with a
coin in its mouth has become the symbol for attracting
wealth and prosperity. Over time, the legend grew and
today, decorative representations of the three-legged toad
show it sitting on a bed of coins and ingots and always
with a coin in its mouth. Lui Hai the Immortal has
mysteriously vanished from the image!
Where to place the toad?
There seem to be conflicting advice being given on the
best position, location and orientation of the toad for it
to be most beneficial. I myself place the three legged
toad near the vicinity of my main front door. They are
placed fairly low, but not on the ground. Coffee table
level is about right.
I do not recommend placing the toad directly in front of
the door. The best place would be one of the corners
diagonal to the door. And then the toad should be looking
at the door as though expecting to greet in the wealth
chi. There are those who say that the toad should face the
door during the daylight hours and be turned to face
inwards during the night time hours. I do not see the need
to do this.
Also, you can place as many three legged toads in your
house or office as you wish. I myself have them all over
my living room, dining room and also in my garden, hidden
between rocks near my small fish ponds and waterfall
garden. But the total number of toads in my house never
exceeds nine. If you are like me and wish to have these
toads all around your house, do be discreet in your
display of them and do keep them in the public areas of
your home. In other words, do not keep them in bedrooms
and kitchens.
A total of 8 money frogs adorn this beautiful bridge. Absolutely stunning~
Was $39.99
Special Price $19.99. Stock # 1667
