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Jiaozi/Huizi Paper Money

Type Object Region China Time 1023

In 1023 CE the court established the Yizhou Jiaozi Office, bringing Sichuan's private jiaozi under government operation as one of the earliest state-…

Timeline

  1. c. 995–1023Yizhou (Chengdu) · Sichuan ProvinceIron coins in Sichuan were cumbersome, so merchants used paper notes called 'jiaozi' in place of iron coins; sixteen wealthy merchants jointly issued them, and later, due to credit disputes, the court intervened in management.
  2. 1023–1127Bianjing and the transport commissioners of various circuits · Henan ProvinceThe court established the Yizhou Jiaozi Office for unified printing and issuance, later gradually promoting it in Shaanxi and elsewhere; by the Chongning era of Emperor Huizong, 'qianyin' notes were issued, with paper money circulating alongside copper coins as an important fiscal tool of the Northern Song.
  3. c. 1121–1127Bianjing, the Northern Song capital · Henan ProvinceIn the late Northern Song, paper money was widely used in taxation, military pay, and maritime trade, with qianyin and jiaozi notes coexisting; after the court moved south, huizi became the Southern Song's main paper money, continuing the framework of the Song paper money system.

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