Evolution Of The History Of The Qing Dynasty Money Parity

Qing Dynasty implemented both silver and copper standard monetary system. Price parity between silver and copper is the core of the currency problem and the focus of economic and social contradictions, which evolution was subject to various factors, and which influence was also related to various levels of society. We can see that parity between silver and copper was always the issue of monetary system in Qing Dynasty, which was an important clue to understand the evolution of Qing Dynasty'economic and society. Parity between silver and copper is rich in content and high on the research value. There are a lot specific researches about parity between silver and copper in every period of Qing Dynasty, however, there is lack of whole and system research to reveal relative historical development. In this dissertation, using the viewpoint and method of historical materialism, first elaborate the Qing Dynasty's basic monetary system and its evolution in the late Qing Dynasty, as good bedding for next research. Second, specific analyze the causes and effects of parity between silver and copper in former, middle and late Qing Dynasty. Finally, reached a formation mechanism of parity between silver and copper, and based on mechanism the dissertation deeply analyzes the law of monetary evolution and the relative relations to the evolution of society. This dissertation obtains some relevant conclusions, which are as follows:Firstly, the virtual currency is the basic law of world currency historical development. During the long process of economy and society development, many aspects indicated such a law of currency development, for example, noble metal money is changed to paper money, currency unit is measured from weight to symbol, bad money drives out good, credit system and commercial paper is popularize, and so on. From a long term of view, the government should hold virtual currency trend. However, the process of virtual currency was not dominated by the government in Qing Dynasty, which was advanced by infiltration of western money system and economic aggression. Losing the control of virtual currency brought great harm to the development of economy and society.Secondly, historical law Qing Dynasty must face is the capitalist economic globalization. Worldwide economic integration must lead the flow and fusion of culture and politics among the nations. The openness of Qing Dynasty started from the economic areas, and foreign trade and currency flows was main way of economic exchange. The contradiction, between the openness of economy which was represented by money and closed-door policy in superstructure, was contained in evolution of parity between silver and copper all the time. However, the economic factors are, after all, the ultimate determining factors, will surely promote the total collapse of the superstructure.