Ming dynasty coinage
Chinese coinage in the Ming dynasty saw the production of many types of coins. During the Ming dynasty of China, the national economy was developed and its techniques of producing coinage were advanced.
The Ming dynasty cast comparatively few coins when compared with earlier
Background
Zhu Yuanzhang, better known as the
Coinage in the Ming era
After the Chinese became independent following the
The amount of
The term "Zhiqian" (制錢) was used to discern full-valued cash coins produced by the imperial government from older ones from the Song dynasty period, which were known as jiuqian (舊錢), and privately produced forgeries of non-standard weights and alloys that were referred to as siqian (私錢) or sizhuqian (私鑄錢).[11] Other terms used during the Ming dynasty for various types of cash coins include yangqian (样錢, "Model coin"), also known as Beiqian (北錢, "Northern coin"), which referred to full weight (1 qián) and fine quality cash coins had were delivered to Beijing as seigniorage revenue.[8] Fengqian (俸錢, "Stipend coin") which referred to second rate cash coins that had a weight of 0.9 qián and were distributed through the salaries of government officials and emoluments.[8] and Shangqian (賞錢, "Tip money") which is a term used to refer to cash coins that were small, thin, and very fragile (comparable to Sizhuqian) that were used to pay the wages of employees of the imperial government (including the mint workers themselves) and was one of the most commonly circulating types of cash coins during the Ming dynasty among the general population.[8]
In the year 1393 there were a total of 325 furnaces in the mints all over the
Despite the government preferring
Despite reigning only for one month, cash coins were produced that bear the reign title of the Taichang Emperor.[12] These cash coins with the inscription Taichang Tongbao (泰昌通寶) were produced by his son, the Tianqi Emperor, in large quantities as a sign of filial piety.[12]
In the early 17th century an increase in the price of copper caused the government to reduce the amount of copper in the composition of the Zhiqian in favour of lead.[11] Cash coins with the inscriptions Tianqi Tongbao (天啟通寶) and Chongzhen Tongbao (崇禎通寶) were of poorer quality than those producing during preceding periods, these cash coins tended to be both thin and bristle, due to the lowered amount of copper in their compositions.[11] Chinese people at this point started to refrain from using copper-alloy cash coins and the markets preferred the usage of silver ingots instead.[11]
In the year 1621 Wang Xiangjian, the minister of war, had requested the government to cast Tianqi Tongbao cash coins n the denominations of 10 wén, 100 wén, and 1000 wén.[13] The government granted him permission to cast 10 wén cash coins leading to debasement, in 1622 their production had ceased.[13] Initially these cash coins weighed 1 tael but was reduced to 0.5 tael, because of their reduced weight they were only accepted for 6 to 8 standard cash coins.[13]
In 1644 the Manchus captured Beijing from the
A known variant of the Chongzhen Tongbao cash coins have only mint marks on the reverse side of the coin.[15] An example of these Chongzhen Tongbao cash coins with mint marks the Chinese character "Zhong" (忠) which translates as either "loyal" or "honest" located above the reverse side of the square centre hole.[15] During the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, there were a total of 156 different mint furnaces producing cash coins in operation.[15] It remains currently unclear if the Chinese character "Zhong" (忠) refers to a particular mint or if it doesn't.[15] Cash coins with this character typically have a diameter of 24.8 millimeters and a weight of 3 grams.[15]
List of Ming dynasty cash coins by inscription
Historically, Chinese coins were round with a square hole in the center. On the obverse side, there are usually words indicating the emperor's reign name or era name. On the reverse side, there are words or graphic patterns often indicating denomination or a mint mark. It is also possible that there is nothing on the reverse side. In the early period of the Ming dynasty, though, there were many different types of coin. Examples include:[16]
- "Da Zhong Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 大中通寶; simplified Chinese: 大中通宝)
- ": 洪武通宝)
- "Hong Xi Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 洪熙通寶; simplified Chinese: 洪熙通宝)
- "Yong Le Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 永樂通寶; simplified Chinese: 永乐通宝)
- ": 正德通宝)
- "Hong Zhi Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 弘治通寶; simplified Chinese: 弘治通宝)
- "Jia Jing Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 嘉靖通寶; simplified Chinese: 嘉靖通宝)
- "Jia Jing An Bao" (traditional Chinese: 嘉靖安寶; simplified Chinese: 嘉靖安宝)
- "Wan Li Nian Zao" (traditional Chinese: 萬曆年造; simplified Chinese: 万历年造)
- "Wan Li Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 萬曆通寶; simplified Chinese: 万历通宝)
- "Tian Qi Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 天啟通寶; simplified Chinese: 天启通宝)
- "Chong Zhen Tong Bao" (traditional Chinese: 崇禎通寶; simplified Chinese: 崇祯通宝)
Most of the coinage names are derived from the
Guizhou local issues
During the Hongzhi period from 1488 until 1505 some Tribal Commissioners in the province of Guizhou issued their own cash coins, rather than being bases on reign titles the inscriptions were based on place names.[17]
Inscription | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Emperor | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shuiguan Tongbao | 水官通寶 | 水官通宝 | Hongzhi Emperor | |
Taiguan Tongbao | 太官通寶 | 太官通宝 | Hongzhi Emperor | |
Huoguan Tongbao | 火官通寶 | 火官通宝 | Hongzhi Emperor | |
Dading Tongbao | 大定通寶 | 大定通宝 | Hongzhi Emperor | |
Taiding Tongbao | 太定通寶 | 太定通宝 | Hongzhi Emperor | |
Taizi Tongbao | 太子通寶 | 太子通宝 | Hongzhi Emperor |
Unused reign titles
No cash coins are known to have been cast and put into general circulation with the following seven Ming dynasty period reign titles:[15] Jianwen (建文), Hongxi (洪熙), Zhengtong (正统), Jingtai (景泰), Tianshun (天顺), Chenghua (成化), and Zhengde (正德).[15]
Words on the coinage during the transitional period
During
Chinese characters on the Coinage in Pinyin | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Producer |
---|---|---|---|
Yong Chang Tong Bao[20] | Chinese: 永昌通寶 | Chinese: 永昌通宝 | Li Zicheng |
Da Shun Tong Bao[21] | Chinese: 大順通寶 | Chinese: 大顺通宝 | Zhang Xianzhong |
Xi Wang Shang Gong[22] | Chinese: 西王賞功 | Chinese: 西王赏功 | Zhang Xianzhong |
Xing Chao Tong Bao[23] | Chinese: 興朝通寶 | Chinese: 兴朝通宝 | Sun Kewang[24] |
Da Ming Tong Bao[25] | Chinese: 大明通寶 | Chinese: 大明通宝 | Southern Ming |
Hong Guang Tong Bao[26] | Chinese: 弘光通寶 | Chinese: 弘光通宝 | Southern Ming |
Long Wu Tong Bao[27] | Chinese: 隆武通寶 | Chinese: 隆武通宝 | Southern Ming |
Yong Li Tong Bao[28] | Chinese: 永曆通寶 | Chinese: 永历通宝 | Southern Ming |
Zhao Wu Tong Bao[29] | Chinese: 昭武通寶 | Chinese: 昭武通宝 | Wu Sangui |
Li Yong Tong Bao[30] | Chinese: 利用通寶 | Chinese: 利用通宝 | Wu Sangui |
Hong Hua Tong Bao[31] | Chinese: 洪化通寶 | Chinese: 洪化通宝 | Wu Shifan |
Yu Min Tong Bao[32] | Chinese: 裕民通寶 | Chinese: 裕民通宝 | Geng Jingzhong |
Hong Xi Tong Bao
"Hong Xi Tong Bao" (洪|熙通寶) was produced in 1425, during
Yong Le Tong Bao
"Yǒng-Lè Tōng-Bǎo" (永|樂通寶) was produced by
Originally the "Yǒng-Lè Bǎo-Tōng" was not intended to circulate within China itself as cash coins had gradually been replaced by silver sycees and paper money, and the coin was intended for trade with countries like Japan, and the Ryukyu Kingdom.[34]
Chong Zhen Tong Bao
"Chong Zhen Tong Bao" (崇|禎通寶) was the coin produced by the last Ming Emperor, the Chongzhen Emperor. It was issued in various denominations. On the reverse side, there are numerous characters and dots, whose meaning are still not clear. At the time, there were mints run by the Board of Revenue in Nanjing and Beijing.[35]
Xing Chao Tong Bao
"Xing Chao Tong Bao" (興|朝通寶) was produced by Sun Kewang, in 1649 (sixth year of
Xi Wang Shang Gong and Zhang Xianzhong
Zhang Xianzhong was a famous leader of the peasant rebel army in the late Ming dynasty.[37] In 1630, he joined the peasant rebel army. In 1643, he was entitled "Da Xing Wang". In 1644, he dominated Sichuan and became the king of Chengdu, named the reigning dynasty as "Da Xi" and his reign as "Da Shun". Zhang produced his money "Da Shun Tong Bao" (大|順通寶) as the official currency.[38] In order to honor those who made contribution to Da Xi dynasty, he produced another money called "Xi Wang Shang Gong" (西|王賞功) as an award to them. There are four kinds of "Xi Wang Shang Gong", which are made of gold, gilding, silver and copper. At that time, the peasant rebel army won people's great admiration and support. "Da Shun Tong Bao" was often sewn onto clothing as a sort of celebration to the peasant rebel army. Since it was very difficult to get "Xi Wang Shang Gong", it was very rare and precious. It was nearly an impossible condition that ordinary people could get it. As a result, there are very few remaining today.[39]
See also
- History of Chinese currency
- Ancient Chinese coinage
- Zhou dynasty coinage
- Liao dynasty coinage
- Southern Song dynasty coinage
- Western Xia coinage
- Jin dynasty coinage (1115-1234)
- Yuan dynasty coinage
- Qing dynasty coinage
- Economy of the Ming dynasty
Notes
- ^ 1 dìng (錠) is equal to 5,000 cash coins (文).
References
- ^ a b c Peng, Xinwei: A Monetary History of China. vol I. and II. (Translated from the Chinese original Zhongguo Huobi Shi 1965 by Kaplan, Edward H.) 1994 (Western Washington University). Pages: 553.
- ^ Ebrey 1999, p. 191.
- ISBN 0-520-21091-3
- ISBN 978-0-307-59672-7
- Aeon. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- The History Channel. September 30, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "China's Biggest Ancient Coin". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). November 3, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hartill 2005, p. 237.
- ^ Google Arts & Culture – Chinese Ming Banknote from the collection of the British Museum. Retrieved: September 14, 2018.
- ^ The British Museum – Ming dynasty paper money: scientific analysis -The inclusion of a fourteenth-century Ming note in “A History of the World in 100 Objects” has brought unprecedented attention to these objects by Dr. Helen Wang. Retrieved: September 14, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ulrich Theobald (May 25, 2016). "zhiqian 制錢, standard cash". Chinaknowledge.de. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ a b Hartill 2005, p. 251.
- ^ a b c Hartill 2005, p. 255.
- ^ Wakeman Frederic (1981). "The Shun Interregnum of 1644", in Jonathan Spence, et al. eds. From Ming to Ch'ing: Conquest, Region, and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century China. Yale University Press.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Chinese coins – 中國錢幣". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). November 16, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ Numista A reference list of 5000 years of Chinese coinage. Date: December 9, 2012. Updated: June 13, 2013, Retrieved: June 14, 2017.
- ^ Hartill 2005, p. 247.
- ^ "Ming Rebels Coinage". Hauburn.tripod.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ Chinazeug.de Während des chaotischen Übergangs von der Ming zur Qing Dynastie versuchten verschiedene lokale Herrscher die Macht in China zu erobern. Einige ließen eigene Münzen produzieren. (in German) Coins of the rebels during the transition from the Ming>Qing period. Retrieved: June 13, 2017.
- ^ "永昌通宝-永昌通宝价格-永昌通宝图片,来自藏友宣丰北京-钱币-地摊交易-华夏收藏网". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "【腾越印象】◆古玩收藏◆古币◆明朝◆大顺通宝方孔铜钱(背工)-搜牛网". Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "西王赏功铜钱_西王赏功铜钱价格_西王赏功铜钱图片_来自藏友YHAOZHONG_杂项_地摊交易_华夏收藏网 cang.com". Mycollect.net. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "明晚期铜钱兴朝通宝行情报表分析_钱币邮品_新浪财经_新浪网". finance.sina.com.cn. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "404". Archived from the original on July 17, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "弘光通宝 – 中华古玩网 – 古董收藏、古玩收藏、古玩鉴定、古玩专场、古玩论坛、古玩交易、古玩鉴赏、鉴宝、古董鉴定、古董专场的平台、华夏收藏、盛世收藏". Archived from the original on April 26, 2012.
- ^ "隆武通宝 – 中华古玩网 – 古董收藏、古玩收藏、古玩鉴定、古玩专场、古玩论坛、古玩交易、古玩鉴赏、鉴宝、古董鉴定、古董专场的平台、华夏收藏、盛世收藏". Archived from the original on April 26, 2012.
- ^ "壁缝里发现四枚"永历通宝"(图)_网易新闻易". News.163.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "昭武通宝_昭武通宝价格_昭武通宝图片_来自藏友杉树排_钱币_地摊交易_华夏收藏网 cang.com". Mycollect.net. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "利用通宝_利用通宝价格_利用通宝图片_来自藏友杉树排_钱币_地摊交易_华夏收藏网 cang.com". Mycollect.net. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "洪化通宝利用通宝-洪化通宝利用通宝价格-洪化通宝利用通宝图片,来自藏友五一收藏338-钱币-地摊交易-华夏收藏网". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "裕民通宝背一两_裕民通宝背一两价格_裕民通宝背一两图片_来自藏友东方旭078_钱币_地摊交易_华夏收藏网 cang.com". Mycollect.net. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Ryuukyuuan coins". Luke Roberts at the Department of History – University of California at Santa Barbara. October 24, 2003. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ "Admiral Zheng He and the Yongle Tongbao Coin". Gary Ashkenazy / גארי אשכנזי (Primaltrek – a journey through Chinese culture). March 31, 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ISBN 978-1412054669.
- ^ ISBN 7101025129. (in Mandarin Chinese)
- ^ "中国近代史上最大的蒙冤者——张献忠--军事频道-中华网-中国最大职业人士门户". Archived from the original on August 23, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ Da Shun Tong Bao from the Shun Dynasty. Yale University Art Gallery. Retrieved: June 13, 2017.
- ^ "Coin Value: China Xi Wang Shang Gong 1644". Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
Sources
- Ebrey, Patricia Buckley (1999). The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-66991-7.
- Hartill, David (2005). Cast Chinese Coins: A Historical Catalogue. Trafford. ISBN 978-1-4120-5466-9.
- She, Ben. Liaoning Provincial Museum - take you into the museum. ISBN 9787501019915
- Zhong Guo Qian Bi Da Ci Dian Bian Zuan Wei Yuan H
- Chinese Coin Dictionary: Yuan and Ming Dynasties (ISBN 7101082424
External links
- An overview of Ming dynasty coinage.
- A reference guide for Ming dynasty (and other post-Song, pre-Qing dynasty) coins.
Preceded by: Red Turban Rebellion .
|
Currency of China 1368 – 1644 |
Succeeded by: Manchu conquest of China .Ratio: 1 Qing wén for 2 Ming wén. |