| Abstract |
Most previous studies on the Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei (467-499, r. 471-499) minting copper coins, a major economic event in the Northern Dynasty, focused on the currency ideas behind and the quality of the coins. This article, however, focuses on the source of copper. Compared with the previous debates on whether the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties had a natural economy or currency economy regarding its currency history, this article specifically outlines the background of currency economy development in Northern Wei. Compared with the previous discussions on the currency development in the Dynasties which focused on the perspective of modern China territory, this article expands the perspective to internal relations among Asian countries. When Northern Wei was founded, its territory was mainly in present-day northern China. When its capital was in today’s Pingcheng in Datong, Shanxi, it had a nomadic economy. Its neighboring areas included Liangzhou, which is now Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. Due to the expansion of exchanges between Han and the Western Regions, including present-day Xinjiang and parts of West Asia, Liangzhou used copper coins. The Western Regions themselves were also rich in copper. Moreover, during the discord times in the mainland, Liangzhou was relatively peaceful, and its copper coin economy was more developed than in the mainland. After Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei (408-452, r. 424-452), the communications between Northern Wei and Liangzhou and even the Western Regions was first blocked by Rouran in present-day Inner and Outer Mongolia and Tuyuhun in present-day Qinghai and Gansu, but they had learned about the coin economy from northern Liangzhou. After Emperor Taiwu defeated Rouran, he first obtained northern Liangzhou and then the entire Liangzhou. The plunder during the wars and the subsequent peaceful tribute and trading also enabled the Northern Wei to obtain more copper. From Emperor Taiwu to Emperor Xiaowen, Northern Wei’s corresponding southern dynasties were Song and Qi. The southern dynasties inherently produced more copper than the northern dynasties do, and they also obtained copper from Southeast Asia and even South Asia as tributes or traded goods. Northern Wei then obtained copper from the southern dynasties via wars or trading. During the reigns of Emperor Taiwu, Emperor Wencheng (440-465, r. 452-465) and Emperor Xianwen (454-476, r. 466-471), surplus copper was sufficient for them to cast Buddha statues in the capital. Copper coins were also used to make marriage alliances with Goguryeo. After Emperor Xiaowen moved the capital to Luoyang, he further expanded the territory, and therefore better quality and larger copper coins were minted. |
| Keyword |
Northern Wei, copper, tribute, “hu-shi” trading, wars and battles, history of international relations in Asia, currency history of Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties |
