Sycee

Sycee

A sycee was a type of silver or gold ingot currency used in China 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 in taels. 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 the Tang 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 the Qing 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


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sycee — Sy*cee , n. [Said to be from a Chinese word, se tze or se sze, meaning, fine silk, and to be so called because if pure it may be drawn out into fine threads.] Silver, pounded into ingots of the shape of a shoe, and used as currency. The most… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sycee — [sī sē′] n. [Cantonese < Mandarin hsi ssǔ, fine silk: so called because it may, when heated, be spun into fine threads] silver in the form of ingots, usually bearing the stamp of a banker or assayer, formerly used in China as money …   English World dictionary

  • Sycee — Le sycee est un lingot d argent, utilisé en Chine pour les paiements en liquide jusqu au XXe siècle. Son poids s exprime en taels. Le nom est probablement la transcription phonétique de la prononciation cantonaise d un mot qui signifie fine soie… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • sycee — /suy see /, n. fine uncoined silver in lumps of various sizes usually bearing a banker s or assayer s stamp or mark, formerly used in China as a medium of exchange. Also called sycee silver. [1705 15; < Chin dial. (Guangdong) sai sì, akin to Chin …   Universalium

  • sycee — /saɪˈsi/ (say suy see) noun fine uncoined silver in lumps of various sizes, usually bearing a banker s or assayer s stamp or mark; formerly used in China as a medium of exchange. Also, sycee silver. {Cantonese, equivalent to Mandarin xì sī fine… …  

  • sycee silver — sycee silver, = sycee. (Cf. ↑sycee) …   Useful english dictionary

  • sycee — noun Etymology: Chinese (Guangdong) sai sì, literally, fine silk Date: 1711 silver money made in the form of ingots and formerly used in China …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sycee — sy·cee …   English syllables

  • sycee — sy•cee [[t]saɪˈsi[/t]] n. num fine silver in stamped ingots, formerly used in China as money • Etymology: 1705–15; < Chin dial. (Guangdong) sai sì silk floss …   From formal English to slang

  • sycee — ˈsīˈsē noun ( s) Etymology: Chinese (Cant) saì sz, literally, fine threads, fine silk : silver money formerly used in China and made in the form of ingots measured by weight and usually stamped see shoe …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”