- Sycee
A sycee was a type of
silver orgold ingot currency used inChina until the 20th century. The name derives from the Cantonese words meaning "fine silk" [Morse, Hosea Ballou. Piry, A. Théophile. [1908] (1908). The Trade and Administration of the Chinese Empire. Longmans, Green, and co publishing. Page 148. [http://books.google.com/books?id=jiUKAAAAIAAJ Digitized text on Google Books] , no ISBN] (presumably, zh-cpcy|c=細絲|p=xìsī|cy=saisì). In North China, the word "yuanbao" (zh-spt|t=元寶|s=元宝|p=yuánbǎo), rendered by 19th-century English writers as "yamboo" or "yambu", was also used for similar ingots.Sycees were not denominated or made by a central mint and their value was determined by their weight intael s. They were made by individual silversmiths for local exchange, and as such the shape and amount of extra detail on each ingot were highly variable; square and oval shapes were common but "boat", flower, tortoise and others are known. Sycee can also refer to gold ingots minted in similar shapes.History
Sycees were first used as a medium for exchange as early as the
Qin Dynasty . During theTang Dynasty , a standard bi-metallic system of silver and copper coinage was codified with 10 silver coins equal to 1,000 copper cash coins. Paper money and bonds were introduced in the 9th century. However, due to monetary problems such as inflation, and political uncertainty with changing regimes, metal coins remained the currency of choice. The tael was still the basis of the silver currency and sycees remained in use until the end of theQing Dynasty . Common weights were 50 taels, 10 taels, and 5 down to 1 tael.When foreign silver coins began to circulate in China in the later 16th century, they were initially thought of as a type of "quasi-sycee" and imprinted with chops just as sycees were. [ [http://www.sycee-on-line.com/Foreign_silver_coins.htm Foreign Silver Coins and Chinese Sycee] at Sycee-on-line.com]
Contemporary uses
Today, imitation gold sycees are used a symbol of prosperity by Chinese and are frequently displayed at
Chinese New Year . Reproduction or commemorative gold sycees continue to be minted as collectibles.Another form of imitation yuanbao - made by folding gold- or silver-colored paper - can be burned at ancestors' graves during the
Ghost Festival , along with imitation paper money.References
External links
* [http://www.charm.ru/library/sycee2.htm Examples of Chinese silver sycee] (images)
* [http://www.sycee-on-line.com/ Sycee On Line]
** [http://www.sycee-on-line.com/Sycee_history.htm Chinese Sycee History] at Sycee-on-line.com
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