According to legend, the stone weighed 4 tons and required up to 30 people to move. The rich man who owned him used the stone to pay for the dowry to win the hearts and minds of 20 brides.
Yap is a small island located in the Micronesian region of the Pacific Ocean. It is known for its special monetary system, which is special in that they use huge stones as currency.
These stones are called "rai" and they are usually huge stones made of limestone or granite that range in size from a few inches to several people tall. They are not moved or transported, but remain in place and are considered to belong to someone.
Despite their heavy weight, these stones are widely used and are considered extremely valuable possessions. When people trade, they do not move the stones, but use an oral tradition to record changes in their ownership in the local community.
As a result, the stones were never physically moved, but only changed ownership in people's consciousness.
This traditional monetary system has existed for centuries, and the people of the island still regard it as a precious property and cultural heritage.
Even now, local residents use modern currencies such as the US dollar for most transactions, but the rai is still considered an important currency and is used on certain occasions, such as paying for weddings and other celebrations.
This unique monetary system shows how different cultures view property and transactions. It highlights a different way of transacting than modern money, which emphasizes the value of community and tradition rather than the value of material wealth.
The inhabitants of the island usually use rai stone as part of their dowry or dowry when trading marriages. During this process, the elders of both families negotiate the number and size of stones to ensure that the transaction proceeds fairly and smoothly.
In this type of trading, stones of different sizes and values are often used to meet different needs. For example, some stones may be used to pay for the dowry, while others may be given to the bride's family as part of the dowry. In this case, the number and size of the stones usually reflect the importance and value of the marriage transaction.
This use of stones as a way of trading marriages is also an important part of Yap culture.
Yap's tradition of using stone as currency is a very important part of local cultural and social life, however, it did cause some buzz when this tradition was taken abroad.
In the mid-19th century, Yap became a destination for Western explorers and missionaries. These outsiders bring new technologies and beliefs, but also bring certain shocks and changes to the local community.
During World War II, Yap Island became occupied by Japan, and after the war, it became one of the trust territories of the United States.
In the second half of the 20th century, Yap gradually moved towards independence. In 1986, the Marshall Islands finally became an independent country from the United States Mandate, and Yap became one of its states.
Today, Yap's residents still retain many ancient traditions and culture, while also actively exploring and adapting to the changes of modern society.
In the early 20th century, some Germans and Americans became interested in Yap's stone currency and tried to introduce it into international trade. In some cases, they even tried to bring the stone back to Germany and the United States as souvenirs and collectibles.
These attempts caused some shock and curiosity at the time, but since stone currencies only had practical value on the island of Yap, they were not eventually universally adopted. However, stone currency on Yap Island still attracts attention and interest as a very unique cultural phenomenon.
Different stones have different values on Yap, and the size, shape, rarity, etc. of the stones all affect their value.
Some stones may be worth so little that they can only be used to buy some common daily necessities, while some larger, rarer stones may be of high value and can be used to pay for luxury goods and services.
While in modern society, money is usually issued and managed by the government or central bank, on Yap Island, stone money is determined by local communities and market demand, reflecting the trust and collaboration of local people.
Yap's stone currency has a deep cultural history and symbolism behind it.
The currency is regarded locally as a medium of exchange and store of value, while also representing the traditional and cultural values of the people of Yap.
Because stone is a very common resource in the local area and its use can lead to the prosperity of the local economy, the residents of Yap Island have always insisted on using stone currency.
While this form of money may seem a bit outlandish in modern society, it reflects the unique culture and economic system of the local community and helps the local people sustain their lives and the development of their communities to some extent.
