1 basic unit

There were many monetary units in ancient China, and each dynasty was different, especially before Qin and Han Dynasties. Only three basic units are discussed here:

A penny (that is, a standard square hole copper coin)

An ounce or two of silver.

An ounce or two of gold.

Although the above-mentioned units are different in different dynasties and generations, at least there is little difference after the Tang and Song Dynasties, so relatively stable and reliable data can be obtained.

commutation relation

The exchange ratio between copper coins, silver and gold, just like the current foreign exchange price, is constantly changing, unlike 1 yuan is equal to 100. According to the following description:

"The price of gold and silver rose from 1600 to 1: 8 in the middle and late 20th century, and doubled to 1: 20 by the end of 18."

It is known that 1 gold can be exchanged for about 8~ 1 1 silver. Once again:

"In the early years of Daoguang, one or two pieces of silver were exchanged for money, that is, one thousand articles; By the time of the Opium War in the 20th year of Daoguang, one or two pieces of silver could be exchanged for sixteen thousand seven hundred pieces of silver. Since Xianfeng, the price of silver has soared, and one or two pieces of silver can be exchanged for as much as 22,300 pieces of silver. "

It is known that under normal circumstances, 1 silver can be exchanged for about 1000~ 1500 copper. Ancient 1 penetration money or 1 hanging money was 1000 copper coins.

2 metal price

Because money made of gold, silver and copper has its own value, in theory, the value of money should be equal to the price of metal, so we can answer "how much is a silver?"

In the Tang Dynasty, each Kaiyuan Bao Tong copper coin was 8 cents in diameter, 10 pieces weighed 1 2 pieces, and 1,000 pieces weighed 6 Jin 4 liang. During the reign of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty, each copper coin weighed one yuan and twenty-five cents, and then increased to one yuan and four cents, so it weighed eight catties and twelve ounces per thousand articles. In ancient times, although the weight units of "two" were different, they were all about 40 grams, while "Jin" was about 700 grams. The average weight of each copper coin is 5g.

The current prices of gold, silver and copper (RMB) are as follows:

Gold: 100 yuan/gram

Silver: 2 yuan/gram

Brass: 0.02 yuan/gram

The calculation result is: 1 two gold: about 4000 yuan 1 two silver: about 1 copper coin 80 yuan (1 paper money): about 0. 1 yuan.

3 Grain price

Many historical monographs directly measure monetary relations through food prices. Although considering food prices alone is not accurate and objective, it should be an extremely important reference. Kobayashi found the following record on the Internet: "95 cents for meters (stones)? White rice (stone) is nine dollars and twenty-eight cents? Eight dollars and three cents for rice (stone)? White? According to the records of the Ministry of War of the Qing Dynasty, the grain prices of Shuntianfu, Daming and Xuanhua in Zhili in the first half of the fifteenth year of Guangxu were calculated based on millet, sorghum and corn, with an average of 124 cents and 60 cents per warehouse. According to 1 stone = 100 kg =70 kg, the grain price is calculated in 2 yuan RMB/kg, and the following average values can be obtained: 1 two silver: about 170 yuan 1 copper coin (1 paper money): about.

4 conclusion, according to the above calculation, consider again.

1 The price of gold is more stable than others, and it should be emphasized that silver has been used as an industrial product, so the reference value of silver price is low now.

Due to the rapid development of agricultural technology, the relative price of grain is much cheaper now than in ancient times.

4 Respect the ancient exchange ratio

5 Round the whole number to facilitate conversion and the establishment of perceptual knowledge. Therefore, the author suggests that it is convenient and wise to adopt the following conversion system when encountering ancient monetary units in the future:

1 two gold = 2000 yuan = 10 two silver.

1 two silver = RMB 200 yuan = 1000 = 1 customs (diao) money.

1 Qian Wen = RMB 0.2 yuan.

In addition: 1 stone rice = 1 two silver.

Disclaimer: The above conclusions are not academic opinions, but only used for the conversion of ordinary people watching costume TV dramas and martial arts novels.

5 verification, the following are some ancient materials to verify the conversion method given by Kobayashi to improve perceptual knowledge:

The monthly salary of the Tang Dynasty Jiupin official is 5 stone meters = the monthly salary of the junior civil servants in the Tang Dynasty 1 0,000 yuan; The annual salary of six officials in the Qing Dynasty is 45 taels of silver = the annual salary of bureau-level cadres in the Qing Dynasty is 9000 yuan; Three years to clear the magistrate, 100 thousand snowflakes silver = those officials, that family is not tens of millions? In the early years of Qianlong, I donated a Taiwanese flower 13 122 silver = 2.7 million yuan to buy a departmental level cadre, which was clearly marked.