Money is the product of commodity exchange, and China is the first country in the world to use coinage, dating back to three thousand years ago, the tombs of the late Yin Shang dynasty unearthed many "unvetended copper shells", which are the most primitive metal currency. In addition to shell coins in the late Western Zhou Dynasty, some metal weighing currencies such as loose copper blocks and copper ingots without a certain shape were circulated, which were also excavated in archaeological excavations.
As we all know, today's society is an era of money, just as the so-called money is not omnipotent, but without money is absolutely impossible. In today's highly competitive society, money has penetrated all aspects of life, whether it is food, clothing or housing, whether it is human feelings or courtesy, and even the dignity of a person, depends on money.
This is the case today, but what about the ancients? In ancient times, what did the change of money symbolize?
Ancient people were very superstitious, so some unconventional practices were often "carried" by bad "sayings", even money. China's history of using coins is relatively early, the Zhou Dynasty had a "shovel coin", and each dynasty issued its own currency, each with its own name. For example: the "half two" of the Qing Dynasty, the "five baht money" of the Han Dynasty, the "Kaiyuan Tongbao" of the Tang Dynasty and so on.
However, as for the coinage of gold and silver, although it is not too late, it is still in modern times. In ancient times, the general minting material was copper, while the "Jiaozi" of the Song Dynasty and the "Bao Banknote" of the Ming Dynasty belonged to paper money. In ancient times, the issuance of money had to follow the laws of money. Take the only official paper money of the Ming Dynasty, the "Daming Treasure Banknote" was caused by inflation due to indiscriminate issuance, and after that, it had to be abolished.
Similarly, when "Chongzhen Tongbao" came to the market, everyone was in an uproar and felt that the world was going to be chaotic. So, why is this? It turned out that zhu Youjian began to mint his own year money shortly after he ascended to the throne, and creatively cast a horse figure on the back of the perforation under the copper coin. Now, this kind of money is called "Pegasus Money", and in the collection circle, it is called "Chongzhen Running Horse" and "Running Horse Chongzhen".
This can be said to be an "abnormal" move, and copper coins have always been plain. However, there was also a time in previous history, that is, during the Qianyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, the copper coin was cast with a bird figure, but this copper coin was only used for three years. As soon as this "Pegasus money" came out, the people immediately "boiled" and said that it was "a horse chaos in the world". Sure enough, the next year, Li Zicheng rebelled and called himself "King of Chuang". Doesn't this "intruder" word have a "horse"?
If this is a coincidence, then what happened later made everyone believe in this "prophecy" even more. It is said that when Dorgon led the army to attack Nanjing, Ma Shiying, the first assistant of the cabinet of the Nanming Hongguang regime, actually fled. There was also a "horse" character, after which the city of Nanjing fell. Moreover, this copper coin was still minted in Nanjing, and still retains the place name - Qianchang Bridge, which was not far west of yanggongjing in present-day Nanjing.
In fact, these can only be regarded as coincidences, and the people only use this statement to vent their dissatisfaction. However, this kind of copper coin, due to the complexity of its process, brings great differences in size and weight, so it may also cause "chaos" in the actual money and may lead to the loss of actual property. This situation is often the result of the loss of control of the country's financial system.
Money is the most important thing for the people, just as the ancients liked to call them "yuanbao". Once the financial order is disrupted, it is equivalent to disrupting the hearts of the people, and if the people's hearts are in turmoil, can the country be fine?
In the Qing Dynasty, similar prophecies appeared again, this time as the "Guangxu Yuanbao".
So, what changes have been made this time?
The shape of the ancient copper coin, in fact, has a deep meaning. The ancients said that "the Law is like heaven and earth", this small outer circle and inner square copper coin, it is really very good. Circle, that is, heaven, that is, dry, that is, jun, and fang is the meaning of earth, kun, and subject. Taken together, it means "the supremacy of imperial power, the king's landing". And the "Guangxu Yuanbao" blocked this "square hole" tightly.
This also pays off, Yingzheng designed such a copper coin shape in that year, is to reflect the idea of this imperial power, and all generations have been using it, and everyone understands this meaning, and it has been used for more than 2,000 years. As a result, during the Guangxu years, a change was made, but the country was changed. In fact, this is also far-fetched. At that time, the Qing Dynasty was already in chaos, and the reason for the emergence of this coin was the same as that of every chaotic period, that is, to use the exchange of new and old coins to depreciate the currency, but also to plunder the people's money in disguise.
And the people do not necessarily understand the principle of money, but they must know whether the money is worth it when they reach their hands? As for what "copper plate", because the hole is gone, it is not breathable, so the national fortune is blocked, and the country will suffer, which is just another way of expression that the money in the hands of everyone is not worth it. After ten years of talking, Guangxu died. Soon after that, the Manchu Qing dynasty perished.
Some people analyze that when you are used to something, suddenly change, it is certainly difficult for everyone to accept, especially money, so there will be such a statement.
Copper coins are indeed easy to carry when used, and they also reduce wear and tear and are easy to keep. The change in shape does bring temporary emotional resistance, and in the end, it is the money itself that brings emotional harm. Later, the minting of coins in various places completely ignored the decrees of the imperial court, and the coinage was unlimited, and in the end, the currency flooded, and as a result, the money was worthless, and of course there was resentment in the hearts of the common people.
Look at this revised copper coin, in fact, it has the style of a modern coin.
Its more significance is not to predict the decline and fall of a country, but to have more practical significance for modern coinage. In fact, when the country is peaceful, the resistance encountered by various "reforms" will not be too great, because at this time, the lives of the ordinary people have not been affected. However, when the country is facing troubles, in fact, the feelings at the bottom are the most profound, and a slight change will cause the wind and grass.
At this time, when the "money" to be used every day has changed, everyone will of course be frightened, this is a precursor to changing the sky, and naturally some mysterious assertions will be added to it.
Resources:
["History of Zhou Benji", "History of Song", "Ming History of Food Goods", "Chongzhen Tongbao" Two Kinds of Back "New"" ]