The Price Issue In Ejin Of Yuan Dynasty Based On Documents Excavated From Khara-khoto

There are many account books, contracts, salaries and other documents of Yuan dynasty excavated from Khara-Khoto(黑城), which contains a wealth of information on prices in Ejin of Yuan dynasty(亦集乃路).By researching, we get some conclusions about Khara-Khoto prices. Firstly, price patterns and species of recording in documents. There are two kinds of price patterns: rating price and trading price. Rating price refers to the official record of monthly price, which used in payment that commodity convert into the bill. Trading price is real-time payment, which produced in circulation. There are multiple bills in market trading, but official balance of payment and people trading use Zhongtongchao(中统é'ž)as a valuation standard. Secondly, price management. Hufang(户房), a department responsible for managing economic affairs, manage market prices. Specific procedures is that guild representative reckon the price beginning of each month, make into a table and send it to Hufang, Hufang record the price of commodity and report it to Hubu(户部)—equivalent of the central Ministry of Finance. Brokers(牙人)play an important role in market; and they take charge of the price which is the basic of taxing. Thirdly, price and features. Documents recorded more than 40 kinds of prices, covering some aspects, such as clothing, food, housing, use, transportation, etc. Khara-Khoto market is comprehensive, raw materials and finished products can be bought in here. In general, the price of level is higher, but locally produced goods are cheaper, and external goods are expensive. The price of salt is consistent with state regulations, and the monopoly system is effective in here. Fourthly, price fluctuation and factors which casused its fluctuation. On the whole, price rised year by year, however, it is fluctuated in the short term. The failed policy of bill is the main factor leading to the price fluctuation; there are other factors contributed for the price fluctuation, such as the complex military environment, migration and natural disasters, etc. Fifthly, changes in market equivalent. There are three stages for equivalent:banknotes, wheat, sliver; we can know their circulated time by analyzing.