Han State During Warring States Period Of Coins Search

Currency is the epitome and witness of a country’s political,economic and cultural evolution.China is one of the first countries in the world to use,record and research currency.From the Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period,the unique Chinese monetary system and monetary culture have been formed.At the end of the Spring and Autumn Period,aroyal family--Hanwho were former ministers in the state of Jin that had slowly gained power from the Jin royal family until they were able to divide Jin into the three new states of Han,Wei and Zhao with the assistance of two other ministerial families.Han Zhaojun(The king of Han)appointed Shen Buhai,a Chancellor and"Legalist",to reform its governance,which improved state administration and strengthened the military ability and laid a realistic foundation for it to become one of the seven warring states.With the development of productivity and the economy prosperity,cowrie shells贝币,metal weighing currency and spade-shaped coins constitute the unique currency system of Han state.This paper focuses on the currency of Han state during the Warring States period,to have a glimpse of the coinage,administrative territory,economy,social history and try to further explore the Xia and Shang culture.This paper is divided into five parts:The first part is the introduction,which mainly defines the research scope of Han state currency,reviews the current situation of academic research,explains the main purpose and research methods of this paper,and then illustrates the significance and innovation of this paper.The second part is the compilation of data,collecting as much information about Han state coins and mold materials as possible.In terms of coin materials,the unearthed currency and the handed down currency are introduced,what’s more the details of unearthed coins,such as the location,quantity and preservation,are indicated respectively.The material of the coin molds,taking the copper coins excavated from the site of the Zheng and Han states capital for example,are classified according to the shapes of the coins.This compilation of data is listed in detail for reference.The third part is the classification of Han state coins,which is summarized as natural currency and cast currency.From the current material,we can see coinage is the main currency in circulation in Han state.Which makes the classification of cast coins the major content of this part.The third part discusses the cast coins and their circulation in Han state.On the basis of the second and third parts,the essay further discusses the casting process,authority,age and circulation scope of the Han state coins.Different types of coins and their circulation scopes reflected the commercial situation,social and economic level of various political territories,and even the trade between Han state and its neighboring states.The fourth part focuses on the place names seen in the inscriptions on Han coins,and classifies the place names according to different types of coins.With the help of historical geography,ancient characters and other results of related disciplines,such place names are examined and revised.Generally speaking,the place names in the inscriptions on Han states coin are mainly pointed to three regions--Shangdang Prefecture(Commandery),Sanchuan Prefecture and Yingchuan Prefecture.From this information we can speculate the geographical situation of the Han state.In addition,this essay agrees that among the currency unit of spade-shaped coins—Bo Bai Ying亳百浧,Bo was referred to a place name,which can be a powerful circumstantial evidence for the theory that Zhengzhou was once the capital of Shang Dynasty.On the basis of this case,the essay emphasizes the enlightening significance of exploring Xia and Shang culture by studying the places names in inscriptions on Han state coins.The fifth part explores the economic and historical status of Han state coins.The advanced coinage technology and its unique coin system played an indispensable role in the history of pre-Qin coins,which played an indelible role in the economic development of Han state.Based on the systematic and comprehensive collection of Han state coins and the materials of molds,this paper divides the coins of Han state into five categories:flat shoulder and arched foot spades,sloping shoulder and arched foot spades,sharp cornered spades,square foot spades and round coins.The circulation area of different types of coins is not the same,and place names in inscriptions commonly appeared on the coins are Lushi卢氏,Sanchuan,三川Wusui武遂,etc.,reflecting a lot of information about the political and economic situation of Han state.This paper advocates using the place names in the inscriptions of coins in Warring States Period as a research method to explore Xia and Shang culture,which is of great benefit to the academic research of Xia and Shang culture.