I. Introduction
The change of price rise and fall has a great impact on the economic life of the people. As far as consumers are concerned, prices are expensive, and they often complain bitterly, because their purchasing power has been greatly weakened since then, and many items that they could buy in the past could not afford to buy, so they had to lower the original living standards. On the contrary, when the price is cheap, they naturally have to smile and smile, because their purchasing power has increased from then on, and they can freely enjoy all kinds of goods and live a very comfortable life. Producers, as for them, feel the same impact of rising and falling prices, although they feel the exact opposite of consumers. When prices go up, they are elated because this is the opportunity for them to get rich. On the other hand, when prices fall, they are anxious, because they will not only not make money, but sometimes even lose a lot of money. Since price changes have such a profound impact on the economic life of the general people, it is of course a very noteworthy problem in the study of economic history.
During the Period of the Tang Dynasty, almost three hundred years, prices have undergone several obvious changes. If we draw a curve to represent how it changes, we can see that the curve is always one volt at a time, and the height of the undulations is not the same. In the order of time, I would like to describe the circumstances of these price changes and the reasons for the changes.
Second, the rise in prices in the early Tang Dynasty
Prices in the early Tang Dynasty continued to rise since the end of the Sui Dynasty. Prices rose at the end of the Sui Dynasty, on the one hand, due to the shortage of goods supply, and on the other hand, due to the depreciation of currency. The Sui Dynasty Emperor conquered Goryeo on a large scale three times before and after, not only to achieve no success, but also to cause domestic rebellions, resulting in the destruction of production institutions, resulting in insufficient supply of goods and high prices. The Article of the Zizhi Tongjian, Vol. 181, December of the Seventh Year of the Great Cause, says:
Since the last year, emperor (炀帝) plotted against Goryeo and set up a mansion in Shandong, ordering horses to be raised for military service; he also sent people to transport rice, which was stored in the towns of Luhe and Huaiyuan. None of the cattle and carts returned, and more than half of the soldiers died. When the crops are lost, the fields are deserted, and the grain prices are expensive. In the northeast, especially in the northeast, the rice bucket is straight for hundreds of dollars.
And the Taiping Guangji, vol. 267, "Zhu Cang" article says:
At the end of the Sui Dynasty, the mad thief Zhu Cang rose up in Xiangdeng. Hungry for years, rice is worth a million dollars, and there is no place to go, and the people cannibalize each other.
At the same time, as a result of political chaos, the private minting of copper coins increased greatly. The value of these privately minted money, because of its poor quality, fell, and the price of goods rose instead. Book 24 of the Book of Sui, Chronicle of Food And Goods, says:
After the great cause was over, Wang Gang was in a disorderly manner, a giant traitor, and a lot of private casting. Money turns thin and evil. At first, it weighed two pounds per thousand, and then gradually became lighter to one pound. Or cut iron flounder, cut skin, paste paper, think of money, mixed with it. Goods are so expensive that they die. (Tongdian vol. 9, Tongzhi vol. 62, and Shufu Yuangui vol. 500)
Quoted above in the Tongjian volume 181, it is said that in the seven years of the Sui Dynasty, the rice bucket was sold for hundreds of dollars. Subsequently, according to the Taiping Guangji, vol. 267, the rice was ten thousand dollars, that is, one thousand yuan per bucket. Later, in the first year of the Sui Gong Emperor Yining, the price of rice was even higher to three thousand wen and one bucket. The Tongjian Volume 184 Yining First Year December B Wei Article says:
Dongdu rice bucket three thousand, people starved to death twelve three.
Since prices rose so high at the end of the Sui Dynasty, by the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, of course, prices were not easy to calm down. At this time, because the quality of coins since the end of the Sui Dynasty was too inferior, most of them used cloth as a medium of exchange in trading (1)[1], and the reason for the devaluation of the currency was removed. However, the shortage of goods supply was still a very serious problem in the early Tang Dynasty. At that time, the area ruled by Tang Gaozu was still limited, and in order to sweep away the masses and complete his unification cause, it was necessary to use troops on a large scale. In this way, the production industry will inevitably be ignored, resulting in insufficient supply of goods and expensive prices. The Old Book of Tang, Volume 1, The Gao Zu Ji contains the first year of Wu De:
In November, with the capital Gu Gui, he ordered the four customs visitors to give rice to each of the carriages, horses, cattle and donkeys, which could be used as their own food.
The New Book of Tang, Volume 1, The Chronicle of Gao Zu, contains the leap month of the second year of Wu De:
Yi Di, to Gu Gui, forbidden to slaughter within the guan.
Volume 192 of the Tongjian contains the following:
The edict was taken as Guanzhong Migui, and the people were initially divided into luozhou elections.
It can be seen from this that the Tang Dynasty went from the founding of the country to the early years of Emperor Taizong's Zhenguan
Tang soldiers besieged Luoyang, dug trenches and built fortifications to defend it. There was little food in the city, and there was three liters of silk straight corn and one liter of cloth straight salt.
Of course, this is a special phenomenon when Luoyang was besieged and the source of grain was cut off. However, in the early years of Zhenguan, a silk horse could only buy a bucket of rice. Volume 193 of the General Commentary says:
(Zhenguan) In the first year, Guanzhong was hungry, and the rice bucket was straight silk.
And the New Book of Tang, vol. 51, "Chronicle of Food And Goods", says:
Zhenguan Chu... One horse on silk, one bucket for easy rice.
Wu Jing's "Zhenguan Politicians" Volume 1 "Political System" says:
Since emperor Taizong ascended the throne, frost and drought have been plagued, and rice valleys have been expensive. ...... At that time, from the Capital Division and Hedong, Henan, and Longyou, hunger was particularly severe, and a horse of silk received a bucket of rice.
And with book VI, "Extravagance", it says:
In the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Shi Ma Zhou Shangshu Chen Shi Zheng said: "... At the beginning of the Zhenguan in the past, he was thrifty and thrifty, and a silk horse was able to get millet (both "rice" in the two Tang Dynasty books "Ma Zhou Biography") a bucket. ..."(Old Book of Tang, vol. 74, "Biography of Ma Zhou", "New Book of Tang" vol. 98 ,"Biography of Ma Zhou", "Tang Huijiao" vol. 83 and "General Commentary" vol. 915)
And Lu Zhen's "Lu Xuan Gong Han Yuan Collection" Volume 22 "Six Articles of Equal Taxation and Compassion for the People" says:
In the middle of the Wude year, the leather car moved repeatedly, followed by disaster apologies, and many people were displaced. At the beginning of Zhenguan, it was recommended to be frost and drought, and from the land of Guan Fumian and Three Rivers, the price of rice was expensive, and dou yi yi yi. Between the roads, there are each other. (Quan Tang Wen, vol. 465)
In short, the Tang Dynasty from the founding of the country to the early years of Zhenguan, a total of about ten years (618-627), because of the years of conquest, agricultural production lost, the price is very expensive, this can be asserted.
III. The Whereabouts of Emperor Taizong's High Sect's Prices
The period of rising prices in the early Tang Dynasty stopped in the early years of Zhenguan. And after three or four years of chastity, prices fell sharply. The period of this low price continued until the third year of Gaozong Linde, a total of about thirty-eight years (629-466).
Prices fell much during this period, mainly because of the increase in the supply of goods. There is a story in history that proves Tang Taizong's attention to production. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 37, Five Elements, says:
In June of the second year of Zhenguan, Gyeonggi drought locust. Emperor Taizong was in the garden, and he cursed the locusts: "People take the valley as their destiny, and if they harm us, they harm our people." The people have had it, and they have given it to one. Ru ruo is psychic, but when you eat me, it is harmless to my people! "Will swallow it. The attendant was afraid of causing illness, and he stopped it. Shang: "If you want to move the disaster, what disease should you avoid?" "Swallow it." It is the age of locusts that are not infested. (Tang Huijiao, vol. 44, and New Book of Tang, vol. 36, "Five Elements")
In this way, thanks to the attention and efforts of the government, the production industry can naturally be greatly developed. As a result, the harvest of agricultural products year after year is enough to promote the decline in prices.
Repeatedly, since the fourth year of Tang Gaozu Wude, the government has worked hard to reform the currency system, discarding the inferior money of the late Sui Dynasty and replacing it with the better quality Kaiyuan Tongbao money. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 48, Chronicles of Food and Goods, says:
When Gao Zu ascended the throne, he still used the five baht money of Sui. In July of the fourth year of Wu De, he abolished five baht money and opened the yuan tongbao money.
And the New Book of Tang, vol. 54, "Chronicle of Food and Goods", says:
Wu De for four years, casting Kaiyuan Tongbao. Eight points in diameter, weighing two baht and four ginseng, accumulating ten dollars and weighing one or two, and getting light and heavy.
The color of money increases, the value naturally rises, and the price of goods falls instead.
For the above reasons, prices were very low during the Zhenguan period. As far as the price of rice is concerned, each bucket only sells for four or five yuan, or even two or three yuan. The Zhenguan Politicians, Volume 1, "The Form of Government" says:
To the third year of Zhenguan, Guanzhong is ripe. ...... And frequently caused abundance, rice bucket three or four dollars. The brigade traveled from the Beijing Division to the Ridge Table, from Shandong to the Canghai, and did not take grain, but gave it to the road. Entering the villages of Shandong, those who pass by will be generously offered or given away. This is unprecedented.
And the General Commentary, vol. 193, says:
It is the age (four years of Zhenguan) in the world, the scattered people return to the countryside, and the rice bucket is not more than three or four dollars.
To the fourth year of (Zhenguan), four or five dollars of rice buckets, those who do not close their homes for months, horses and cattle are wild, people travel thousands of miles without grain, and people's goods are resting.
And with the book 79 "Biography of Wei Zheng";
Emperor Taizong reigned for four years... Rice bucket three coins.
And the "Lu Xuan Gong Han Yuan Collection" Volume 22 "Six Articles of Equal Taxation and Compassion for the People" says:
Emperor Taizong practiced frugality and raised the poor. ...... It is based on a sense of sincerity, purification of the lower dress, four square Yamato, and a hundred grains. Eight years after Zhenguan, the rice bucket reached four or five dollars. The common people know righteousness, travel thousands of miles, or do not take grain.
Book VII of the General Code says:
Since the Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong has made sense. By the eighth and ninth years, the years were frequent and abundant, the rice bucket was four or five dollars, the horses and cattle were wild, and the foreign household movement was not closed for several months. By fifteen years, rice was worth two dollars per bucket.
The above is the situation of low rice prices during the Zhenguan period. Repeatedly, other agricultural products, such as the opium poppy, are also very low in price. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 78, "Gao Ji Fu Biography", says:
Emperor Taizong summoned several close ministers and ordered Chen Shizheng to gain or lose. Ji Fu on the five seals... "... Present-day Kiuchi Prefecture... Although the poppy is cheap, it does not have much savings. ......”
Among them, regarding the price of millet, the Zhenguan Politician, volume VI, "Luxury and Indulgence", says:
In the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Shi Ma Zhou Shangshu Chen Shi Zheng said: "... Since five or six years, the years have been abundant, and a horse of silk has obtained more than ten stone millets. ..."(Old Book of Tang, vol. 74, "The Biography of Ma Zhou", "The New Book of Tang" vol. 98 ,"The Biography of Ma Zhou", "Tang Huijiao" vol. 83 and "Tongjian" vol. 195 are the same)
Volume 169 of the Tongjian contains the august of the fifteenth year of Zhenguan:
Otomi, who is said to be a servant: "There are three joys and one fear." ...... This year is rich, Chang'an Dousu straight three or four dollars, a joy also. ......”
From this, it can be seen that the rule of chastity praised by historians is indeed a golden age worthy of praise in the minds of consumers.
The above is the situation of price decline during the Zhenguan year. Subsequently, Emperor Gaozong of Tang ascended the throne, and prices were equally low. Volume 199 of the General Commentary says:
It is the year (Yonghui five years) Da Minoru, Luozhou corn bucket two and a half dollars, Hangmi bucket eleven dollars.
This situation of low prices was still the same during the LinDe period (664-666). The Old Book of Tang, Book IV, Gaozong Ji, says:
It is the year (Lin De's second year) Da Yu, the rice is five dollars, and the < Mai Mu > Mai Bu Li City.
Also "General Commentary" vol. 20. Yi Lin De 2 November Bing Yin Said:
When the years are more abundant, the rice bucket is five dollars, and the wheat beans are not listed in the city.
Lin De for three years, the rice is folded five times per bucket.
Summarizing the above, we can see that most of The reign of Emperor Taizong, as well as the first half of Emperor Gaozong's reign, for a total of more than thirty years, due to the soundness of coins and the harvest of agricultural products, prices have fallen for a long time.
Fourth, the rise in prices before and after the Wu Zhou
In the gaozong era, the price can be divided into the first half and the second half, and the three years of Linde, that is, the first year of Qianfeng (666), are divided. Regarding the low price of Gaozong in the first half of the period, it has already been said above. In the second half of the period (666-483), prices gradually rose. At this time, prices rise for two reasons: (1) the depreciation and expansion of the currency; (2) the insufficient supply of goods. In the first year of Qianfeng, the government minted new money, known as Qianfeng Quanbao, whose size and weight were not much greater than those of Kaiyuan Tongbao, but stipulated that it should be used as old money for ten texts [2]. In this way, the value of money falls because the quality and par value are too far apart, which affects the rise in prices. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 48, Chronicles of Food and Goods, says:
In the first year of Qianfeng, after sealing Yue, he transformed new money, and Wen Yue Qianfeng Quanbao. One inch in diameter, weighs two baht and six minutes. Still parallel to the old money, the new money article, when the old money is ten. ...... And because of the recasting, the merchants did not understand, the price of rice was increased, but the old money was used. (Tongzhi vol. 62 and Tang Huijiao vol. 89 are roughly the same)
In the first year of Qianfeng, qianfeng quanbao was recast. ...... Next year, with the merchants not passing, the rice is expensive, and the resumption of the New Century Tongbao money.
And the "General Commentary" volume 201 Qianfeng 2nd year of the first month of the first month of the first month of the first month of the article said:
Seal the spring treasure money by yourself, the valley is expensive, and the merchant is not good.
Although the influence of Qianfeng Quanbao on the rise in prices later ended due to the cessation of use, some time later, in the fourth year of Yifeng (679), the coins were too much circulated due to a large number of minting, which affected the rise in prices. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 48, Chronicles of Food and Goods, says:
When (Yi Feng was four years old) rice millet became more and more expensive, the speakers thought that the money was getting more and more, so the money was cheap and the goods were expensive. Therefore, quan stopped the shaofu to supervise the minting of money. Seek the old. (Tongdian, vol. 9)
It was time (Yi Feng's four years) to cast more money and more money, and rice millet was expensive, but it was cast in less houses and looked for the old. (Tongzhi, vol. 62)
Repeatedly, at that time, the government and the public were busy using troops against Goryeo, Tibet, and turks, and they neglected production, and as a result, agricultural products were harvested, and prices rose. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 88, "Biography of Wei Siqian" with "Biography of Wei Chengqing" says:
In May of the fourth year of Yi Feng, Crown Prince Xian oversaw the country. The prince was quite close to the voice, and the household slaves and other sly horses. Chengqing wrote to him: "... Since the beginning of the year, there have been frequent water and droughts, the millet cannot be abundant, and Li Shu has caused himself to be poor. This summer, the price of rice is soaring. The poor room, unable to self-finance, day and night, only worried. ...... Outside of this Guanlong, the fierce Kou Ling. The western soil is weaving and dying. Gango daily use, Beacon recommended Xing. Thousands of miles are labored to feed grain, and the three farmers are not to be spared from crops. ......”
Regarding the rise in prices in the second half of Emperor Gaozong's reign, in addition to the various records cited above, the New Book of Tang, Volume III, "Gaozong Ji", contains the first year of Xianheng:
August Gengjiao, to Gu Gui, forbidden alcohol.
And the Old Book of Tang, volume 5, Gaozongji, says:
(Yonglong 2nd year leap July) Bingyin, Yongzhou wind damage crops, rice prices soaring.
(April of the first year of Yongchun) Bing Yin, Xing Dongdu. Crown Prince Jingshi stayed behind and ordered Liu Renluo, Pei Yan, Xue Yuanchao, and others to supplement him. On the valley of the valley, reduce the number of subordinates. Those who are followers of the warriors are more than dead on the road.
It can be seen that the price of rice grains at that time was quite expensive. As for its true price, in the first year of Yongchun (682), each bucket ranged from about two hundred and twenty to four hundred yuan. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 37, Five Elements, says:
On June 12 of the first year of Yongchun, it rained heavily for several days, and on the twenty-third day, Luoshui rose sharply... The water depth of xijing flat land is four feet, and the wheat bundle stops one or two liters, and the rice bucket is two hundred and twenty liters. ...... There was a great famine in the middle of the country, and pu and other states did not migrate their families and grain. Hunger and famine remained, and the disease spread from Shaanxi to Luo, and the number of dead was innumerable. Xijing Midou three hundred have been down.
Volume 203 of the General Commentary says:
On the Guanzhong famine, rice bucket three hundred, will be lucky Toto. (Yong Chun First Year April Propyl Yin Article)
Guanzhong first water, then drought locusts, followed by disease, rice bucket four hundred. Between the two capitals, the dead sleep on the road, and people cannibalize each other. (Yongchun first year of the first month of the first month of the second day)
In the first year of Yongchun, the Beijing division was starved by heavy rain, and the rice bucket was four hundred dollars per bucket. With the plague, many people died.
The above is the situation of price increases in the second half of Gaozong. After Emperor Gaozong's death, Empress Wu ascended to the throne. Regarding the price of goods in the Post-Wu Dynasty, because there are deficiencies in the records of the documents, the author does not make false claims in the sense of doubt. Now and then we will discuss the price changes after the Wu Zhou.
In the first year of the Shenlong Dynasty (705), Emperor Zhongzong was restored. From this time until the second year of Emperor Ruizong's reign (that is, the first year of Emperor Xuanzong's first century, 713), the price was also quite expensive. Regarding the rise in prices in the Zhongzong era, volume 208 of the Tongjian Jinglong First Year Peng Shu:
Shang Yi was old and Wadi Gui, and summoned the Secretary of the Taifu Prefecture to deal with it. (Old Book of Tang, vol. 92, "Biography of Xiao Zhizhong" with "Biography of Ji Shu Ne" is slightly the same)
And the New Book of Tang, volume 109, "The Biography of Zong Chuke", with the "Biography of Ji Chu Ne", says:
In the summer of the first year of the Divine Dragon, there was a great drought and the price of grain was soaring.
And the Old Book of Tang, volume 93, "The Biography of Zhang Renyuan", says:
At that time (the second year of the Divine Dragon), the capital city of Gugui was expensive, and there were many thieves. (New Book of Tang, vol. 111, "The Biography of Zhang Renyuan"
It is also said in the same book 88 "The Biography of Su Ou":
For three years, Jing Long turned to Shangshu Right Servant Shooting, Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin, and entered the title of Duke of Xu. ...... "... This grain is expensive, and the people are insufficient. The subject saw the guards who did not eat for three days. (New Book of Tang, vol. 125, "Biography of Su Ou")
As for the rise in prices in the era of Emperor Ruizong, volume V of the Book of The Yuangui. One says:
In September of the first year of the first year of the first heaven, Yang Xuan, the counselor of the Imperial Household, was cursed by the use of money in Beijing, and the goods were expensive, and shangshu said: "Fushimi Ichijing uses money, and it is better to be evil than to be abusive." There is iron tin, that is, non-public casting. ...... Japan and China are the city, gathering the goods of the world, and the money is not accurate, the price is soaring, the dry is not multiplied, the surplus is lost, and it is not each of them who get what they want. ...","Tang Huijiao" vol. 89
And the Old Book of Tang, volume 99, "The Biography of Yan Ting", says:
In the first month of the second year of the first day, the Hu monks and women asked them to open the door at night and burn a hundred thousand lamps, and the Ruizong Emperor Yanxi Gate guan le, all four days. He also posthumously made the first year of the great vinegar, and the Ruizong Imperial Anfu Gate Lou Guan Baisi vinegar feast, night after day, through the rest of the month. "... Since going to Xia Xialin, after the drought now, the harvest is lacking, and the city has tenggui. ......”
According to the various records quoted above, it can be seen that the rise in prices during this period was also due to the insufficient supply of goods and the depreciation of currency. However, in fact, the price of goods was not very expensive during this period. For example, if Zhongzong Jinglong is three years old, the price of rice is only as expensive as one hundred yuan and one bucket. Volume 209 of the General Commentary says:
It is the age (Jinglong three years) Guanzhong hunger, rice bucket hundred dollars.
Summarizing the above, it can be seen that around the time of wuzhou, prices rose relatively due to the loss of agricultural products and the depreciation and expansion of coins. However, the extent of the rise is, in fact, not very profitable. For example, in the later years of Emperor Gaozong, the maximum price of rice was only 400 yuan and 1 bucket; in the era of Emperor Zhongzong, it was only 100 yuan and 1 bucket. This is much cheaper than the price of rice in other periods of the Tang Dynasty.
Fifth, the whereabouts of the price of Kaiyuan Tianbaojian
Kaiyuan Tianbao was the era of the Tang Dynasty's political prosperity and social economy. In the Tang Dynasty, prices fell again at this time. At this time, prices fell mainly because of the abundance of supplies. For example, Du Fu's "Poems of Remembrance of the Past" says that the wealth of the property of the day was cloudy:
Recalling the heyday of the kaiyuan in the past, Xiaoyi still hides thousands of families. Rice is white, and public and private warehouses are abundant. There are no jackals on the roads of Kyushu, and there is no sunrise in Laoji. Qi Lu Lu car shift, male cultivator female Sang do not lose. <See Du Shaoling's Detailed Notes, vol. 13)
The Yuanjie "Cishan Anthology" Volume VII "Asking The Jinshi" says:
Among the Kaiyuan Tianbao, the cultivators are energetic. Within the four seas, the mountains are absolutely barren and full. People's grain reserves are all years old. Taicang is constituent, and stale cannot be contested.
Since the production of that day developed in this way, as a result of the oversupply of goods, prices naturally fell. The Old Book of Tang, volume 49, "Chronicle of Food Goods", says:
In September of the second year of the new century, the edict: "The states under the heavens, this year are slightly ripe, the grain price is all cheap, or worry about hurting the peasants." ..."(Book of the Imperial Household, vol. 502)
In October of the sixteenth year, the edict said: "Since this year's ripening, the price of grain will be low, and it will hurt the peasants." ..."(ibid.)
Volume 214 of the General Commentary contains the following:
Peng Zi, 敕, to the age of minoru valley to injure the peasants, the increase in the price of shi two or three and the east and west of the millet each millions of bushes.
And the Book of The Yuangui of the Book of The Book of The Tales of the Yuan, volume 502, says:
(Kaiyuan) In September of the sixteenth year, the edict said: "If you hear the states of the world, this year will be ripe." The price of grain is low, and it will hurt the peasants. ......”
In September 25, the edict read: "... This year's autumn seedlings are ripe for near and far, and the valley of time is lowly, which is very harmful to the peasants. ......”
In May of the fourth year of Tianbao, the edict said: "If you smell the harvest of wheat in this year, you will be better than the old age." A little bit of abundance, that is, to worry about hurting the farmer. ......”
In addition to the above, the decline in prices of Kaiyuan Tianbaojian, the tightening of currency circulation, and the excellent quality are also the reasons for this. The total number of money circulating on that day is not clearly recorded in the history books, so we do not need to speculate. However, we can assert that the amount of money in circulation on that day did not increase in proportion to socio-economic development, and even felt that there was a shortage of chips in trading. Seeing this, Zhongshu Shilang Pingzhangshi Zhang Jiuling proposed to liberate the money ban and allow private minting except for government minting, so that the amount of money could increase and meet commercial needs. Emperor Xuanzong ordered the hundred officials to discuss the matter in detail. Subsequently, due to the opposition of the Yellow Gate attendants Pei Yaoqing and Li Linfu, the Henan Shaoyin Xiaoling, the Zuo Jian men who joined the army Liu Zhi, the secretary Supervisor Cui Yuan, and other officials, the theory of dismissal began.[3] As a result of this, we can know that the amount of money in circulation for the day is too small to meet the needs of trading. As a result, prices fell due to monetary contraction. Book 501 of the Book of The Imperial Turtle says:
In August of the seventeenth year of the (Tongdian as "I"), the edict reads: "... Today, there are few goods in the spring, and the coins are quite light. ..."(Tongdian, vol. 9)
In March 22, the edict said: "Cloth can not be traded in size, and millet cannot be traded with spoons, so the ancients are used for money to pass through currency." What gaits do is not born in heaven. Those who cultivate and weave as funds are slightly cheap and hurt the book; the things that are ground and cast are used in small quantities ("Qujiang Anthology" as "expensive")..."(Zhang Jiuling's "Qujiang Anthology" Volume VII "Edict of Private Minting Money" the same)
Repeatedly, the currency of the day affects the whereabouts of prices, not only because the number of coins in circulation is too small, but also because of the excellent currency. In the sixth year of the new century, the government has worked hard to recover the evil money of the people and use it well. Book V of the Book of The Yuangui. One says:
(Kaiyuan) In the first month of the sixth year, it is forbidden to cut off evil money, two baht and four old money or more, and even more evil money in the world is melted down, and quasi-style money is recast. After the edict, the people were noisy, the prices were shaken, and the merchants did not dare to trade. Prime Ministers Song Jing and Su Yongsong asked for 50,000 yuan of taifu money, and bought the things sold among the people at a fair price in the two cities of the north and the south. From there.
The quality of money improves, the value naturally increases, and the price of goods expressed in good money falls in opposite directions. The New Book of Tang, vol. 54, "Chronicle of Food And Goods", says:
(Kaiyuan) Twenty-six years, Xuanrun and other prefectures initially set up money supervision. The two capitals are slightly better at using money, and the price of rice millet is lower.
And the Old Book of Tang, vol. 48, "Chronicle of Food Goods", says:
At the beginning of Tianbao, the two capitals used slightly better money, and the price of rice was abundant.
Due to the above reasons, the price of Kaiyuan Tianbaojian is very low. For example, Book VII of the General Code says that the price cloud of various necessities of daily life:
To (Kaiyuan) thirteen years, Feng Taishan, Mi Dou to thirteen wen, Qingqi Gu Dou to wu wen. Since then, there has been no precious thing in the world. Two jing rice buckets are not more than twenty texts, thirty-two faces, and two hundred and ten silk horses.
And the Old Book of Tang, volume VIII, "Xuanzong Ji" says:
When (kaiyuan thirteen years) tired years of abundance, Dongdu rice poured ten dollars, Qingqi rice < bean bucket > five dollars.
And the General Commentary, vol. 212, says:
It is the year (thirteen years of the Kaiyuan Dynasty) Dongdu Doumi fifteen dollars (different from the Old Book of Tang, to be examined), Qingqi five dollars, Su three dollars.
This is the situation of low prices in the thirteenth year of the new century and beyond. Later, in the twenty-eighth year of the new century, rice silk and other necessities of life were equally cheap. The Old Book of Tang, Book IX, Records of Emperor Xuanzong, says:
At that time (the twenty-eighth year of the new century), the years were frequent and prosperous, and the Kyoshi Mihu was less than two hundred.
And the General Commentary, vol. 214, says:
Is the age (kaiyuan twenty-eight years)... The West Jingdong Capital's rice straight money is less than two hundred, and the silk is the same.
Later, in the Tianbao years, the price was equally cheap. The New Book of Tang, vol. 51, "Chronicles of Food And Goods", says:
It was time (Tianbao Five Years) Hai Nei Fushi, the price of the rice bucket was thirteen, the Qingqi Dou was only three dollars, and the silk horse was two hundred.
Kaiyuan Tianbao room, things are so cheap, the average consumer naturally likes it. It is no wonder that many people express nostalgia for this era in poetry.
Sixth, the rise in prices after the Anshi chaos
In the Kaiyuan Tianbao room, since the price has fallen, the average consumer is living a very comfortable material life because of the increase in purchasing power. Such an era of ascension is indeed worth nostalgia. However, the good times are not ordinary, and as soon as the Yuyang karma drum sounds, the price of goods can change the low and cheap situation of the past forty years, and it will soar at an accelerated rate. An Lushan used Tianbao in the fourteenth year (755) to create Yuyang, cross the Yellow River in the south, and capture Luoyang, Tongguan and Chang'an in the west. In and around this route of advance, all production undertakings, such as industry, commerce, and agriculture, were greatly destroyed by the chaos of war. Tongjian Vol. 223 contains the first year of Yongtai:
March Tsutomu... To be made zuo to pick up the left luoyang lonely and shang shu yue: "... The current division is endless, ten years. The production of man ("Ten Thousand Surnames" in the Biling Collection) is empty of the shaft. ..."(Du Lonely and the Biling Collection, vol. 4, "Admonition Table", and the New Book of Tang, vol. 162, "Solitude and Biography")
And the Lu Xuan Gong Han Yuan Collection, Volume IV, "Edict on Reducing the Price of Salt", says:
It has been thirty years since it was difficult to recommend. Serve those who serve the bridge, and the farming is wasted. Curie Lu, the shaft of its emptiness. The leather car fang Yin, the military food has been adjusted repeatedly. Many people migrate, and the fields are polluted.
And in book V, "The Messenger Sent by Heaven to Proclaim the Edict of consolation to the Dao", it says:
The thieves flourished, and the soldiers refused to die. ...... Gu Zi Tian Domain, Bow for Mao Grass. ...... The peasants abandoned their livelihoods, and the merchants consulted on the roads. The barracks are getting bigger and bigger, and the wells are empty. Withering and poverty, servitude is even worse
Among them, Henan, southern Shanxi and guanzhong are particularly harmful. Volume VII of the Yuan Ci Shan Anthology,"Asking Jinshi" (Yongtai 2nd Year Daozhou Question) says:
Today's three rivers anointed soil, Huaisi fertile wilderness, all thorns are old, then ploughing can be known. Taicang is empty, and the finches are hungry. As for the people, the twilight is insufficient. And the various roads gather troops, and there are more than 100,000 troops. What will be the plot of the age?
And the Old Book of Tang, vol. 120, "The Biography of Guo Ziyi", says:
Guo Ziyi said: "... Today's road is cloudy, I don't know if I believe it? His Majesty has been appointed to the throne, and will be lucky to be in The Capital. The subject thought about it carefully, but did not see its benefits. In the land of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, where the thief was trapped for a long time, the palace was burned, and there was not one in ten. Hundred Cao was abandoned, and there was no rafter. In the middle of the ki, there are less than a thousand households. Wells are thorny, jackals are howling. There is a lack of military reserves and a shortage of manpower. East to Zheng Bian, up to Xu Fang, north from Qin Huai, through The Xiang Soil, the population is cut off, thousands of miles of depression, how will it be blessed with the cattle of the Ten Thousand Multipliers, for the second house of the hundred officials? ......”
And the New Book of Tang, vol. 155, "The Biography of Ma Fu" says:
Conquest of Huaizhou. After the division of Shi (Daizong Shi), the years were in a drought, and Tian Fu could not cultivate.
As for Guanzhong, in addition to the military turmoil in his own country, and the robbery of the Tibetan army, the production cause was even more destructive. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 153, The Biography of Yuan Gao says:
After Guanfu Lushan, the people were poor and the fields were desolate. (New Book of Tang, vol. 120, "Biography of Yuan Gao")
And the Tongjian Volume 223 Yongtai First Year September JiaChen Article said:
Yes, Tubo 100,000 people to Fengtian, the capital city is terrified. ...... Ding Wei, Tubo plundered tens of thousands of men and women. The houses that passed through were burned down, and the crops were destroyed.
Also the Lu Xuan Gong Han Yuan Collection, Volume IV, "Giving Seeds to the Poor people in Gyeonggi and Tonghua and Other Prefectures" says:
The people of Imazio... Forced to be desolate, sorrowful. There are those who have left the well and are engaged in mediocrity. There are beggars on their way, trapped in death. The countryside is still there, and the fireworks are cut off. There is a lack of money for planting, and farming is not prosperous.
At the same time, because of the frequent wars and chaos, canal traffic was blocked, and although some of the goods in Jianghuai and other production areas could be transported north by the Han River, because transportation was far less convenient than the canal, the products in the Jianghuai area could not be transported to Guanzhong in large quantities as before[4] to supply local consumption. The Tongjian Volume 223 Guangde 2nd March of the Second Year of the Self-Unitary Article says:
Since the mourning, the water has been abandoned. The transporters arrived in Liangyang from Jianghan and were eligible for dangerous labor expenses.
And the Old Book of Tang, volume 49, "Food And Goods", says:
It was the time (Baoying's first year) that the Huai River blocked the troops, and the flying road was cut off. Salt and iron rents, all traced back to the Han Dynasty. (Tang Huijiao, vol. 87)
And the New Book of Tang, vol. 53, "Chronicle of Food Goods", says:
In the last year of Emperor Suzong's reign, the righteous soldiers of the Shi Dynasty separated from Song Prefecture, and Huaiyun was blocked. Rent yong salt iron, trace the Han River up. [5]
In this way, coupled with natural disasters such as water and drought pests, the supply of goods is even more scarce, so that prices will increase at an accelerated rate. The Old Book of Tang says:
When (the third year of the Qianyuan Dynasty) was foggy, from april rain to the end of the leap month, the price of rice was expensive, people couldnibalized, and the starving dead were entrusted to the road. (Vol. 10", "Suzong Ji")
In Guangde, even the age is not young, and the price of the valley is expensive. (Vol. 125 "Xiao Fu Biography")
In the autumn of the first year of the Xingyuan Dynasty, Guan Fu was a locust, and the fields were exhausted. ...... Next summer, locusts will be even worse. From the East China Sea, the west reaches the river, the group flies to the sky, and the days are endless. Where they pass, there are widows and widows of grass, trees, cattle and livestock. Guan Fu has been east, Gu Dagui, hungry pillow road. (Vol. 37, "Five Elements")
It was the year (the first year of zhenyuan) that there was a locust drought in the world, prices were soaring, and the army was short of food. (Volume 134 "The Biography of Ma Fu", "New Book of Tang" vol. 155 "Biography of Ma Fu" is slightly the same)
Locusts came from the sea and flew into the sky. Each time, there is no remaining vegetation and animal hair. The price of the valley is booming. (Vol. 12 The Chronicle of Emperor Dezong)
(July) Jia Zi, edict: "If the lady is lost below, the sky is deformed above." There must be a reason for the work of blame. Since the beginning of the year, the plague has still gathered. The rain does not fall, and it lasts for three hours. The locusts continue to flourish and go thousands of miles. The millet is precious, and the crops are withered. Steaming people, gathering weeping fields. It hurts a lot to say about this. ..."(ibid.)
(November) Ding Ugly, Zhao Wenwu Constant Counselor gave a total of seven million yuan, with the age of fierce valley expensive, clothing embarrassment and lack of clothing. (Ibid.)
And the Tang HuiJiao, vol. 44, the first year of the Zhen Dynasty:
In August, there was a great drought, the east of the guanfu, the valley was expensive, and the pillow road was starved; the wells were waterless.
Also the Lu Xuan Gong Han Yuan Collection, Volume II, "The Amnesty System of the Winter Solstice Ceremony" (November of the first year of the Zhen Dynasty), says:
Within Guan Qi, years of prosperity. It is a natural disaster, and the crops are not poor. Gu Xianggui, Jie Li is poor.
Natural disasters are brewing, deeply beware, hesitate to be ashamed, and ignorant of what is at stake. The price of this valley is soaring, people are shocked, the countryside is not living, the flesh and bones are abandoned, and they are displaced and killed, and they cannot bear to hear it.
It is also said in book V, "After the Pinghuai Western Feast rewards the generals of the armies and the generals released to this Dao":
The traitor (Li) Xi Lie, who stole Huaiyi[6]. ...... Drought locusts multiply, and the valley is precious. Soldiers died, ten rooms and nine empty.
The shortage of goods after the above-mentioned Anshi chaos is enough to promote the rise in prices. Repeatedly, the government's policy of currency depreciation and inflation at that time was also closely related to the rise in prices. On that day, the war was frequent, the military expenditure was very large, and the government's annual regular income was really insufficient. In order to alleviate this fiscal poverty, the government abused its monetary power and pursued a policy of currency depreciation and inflation. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 48, Chronicles of Food and Goods, says:
In July of the first year of the Qianyuan Dynasty, the edict said: "... But the gango did not stop, and the treasure was still empty. Bu Style dedicates the sincerity of the army, promotes the calculation of the sheep and prospers the country, quietly speaks of legislation, and forgives the people in convenience. In the imperial history, the fifth Qi Song please change the money, to one for ten, do not be new minted, do not waste the old money, and the capital of the three officials of Ji Shi is used to collect ten times the profit. The so-called non-disturbance of people, from ancient times there are scriptures. It is advisable to listen to the prisons and not to mint one when ten dollars, and wen yue Qianyuan is a heavy treasure. Its Kaiyuan Tongbao is still useful. Please pick and cast to catch and dispose of, that is, still smell. "In March of the second year, Qi entered the phase, and asked him to cast more heavy wheels of dry yuan, one when he was fifty, twenty pounds into a continuous. Edict can be done. (Book V of the Book of The Yuangui.) I. And "Tang HuiJiao" Volume 89 (Roughly the same)
In the first year of Emperor Suzong's Qianyuan Dynasty, the funds were not given, and the minting of money made the Fifth Qi cast Qianyuan heavy treasure money. One inch in diameter, each reel weighs ten pounds. With the Kaiyuan Tongbao ginseng, to one when ten, also known as Qianyuan ten when money. ...... The fifth Qi is the phase, and the furnaces of the Prefecture of Fuxing are cast to the heavy wheel qianyuan money. One inch and two minutes in diameter. Its text is also known as Qianyuan Heavy Treasure, and Guo outside the back is a heavy wheel. Each reel weighs twenty catties (quoted above as "thirty catties" in the Old Book of Tang, to be examined). Parallel with The New Century Tongbao Money, to one when fifty. (Tongzhi, vol. 62)
According to the third section of this article, the "New Book of Tang Dynasty and Food Goods" was quoted, saying that Kaiyuan Tongbao "weighed two baht and four ginseng, and accumulated ten dollars and weighed one or two", that is, one thousand dollars weighed six pounds and four two. Nowadays, the Qianyuan Tongbao coin weighs ten pounds in a thousand squares, which is not much heavier than the Kaiyuan Tongbao, but the decree stipulates that one of the former should be used when the latter has ten. Compared with the Kaiyuan Tongbao, one thousand pieces weigh twenty catties (if it is contained in the New Book of Tang Dynasty, it weighs only twelve catties) and the Kaiyuan Tongbao, but the decree stipulates that the former should be used when the latter is fifty. In this way, as a result of the simultaneous use of evil coins (Qianyuan Heavy Treasure and Heavy Wheel Qianyuan Coins) and Liang Coins (Kaiyuan Tongbao), the Gresham (slaw) law of evil coins driving good coins will be realized. Because the copper of fifty Kaiyuan Tongbao is far more expensive than the copper of a heavy wheel Qianyuan coin, and the legal price is exactly the same, ordinary people naturally want to collect the Kaiyuan Tongbao, or pretend to privately mint the heavy wheel Qianyuan money to earn huge profits. As a result, good money disappeared, bad money flooded the market, and prices expressed as low-value bad money rose unprecedentedly. Book IX of the General Code says:
In the first year of the Qianyuan Dynasty, there were divisions with armored soldiers who did not stop, gave the use of Judas, played the Qianyuan heavy treasure money, every ten pounds, one article should be the Kaiyuan Tongbao money of ten texts. And minted heavy money, each one weighs twenty pounds, and one article should open fifty texts. All minted money to make the fifth Qi play also. Treacherous people use broken money to privately mint new money. Although he received deep profits, he was also severely punished.
In June of the first year of the first century, the edict said: "Because of the establishment of the system of time, new money is discussed, and it is subordinate to power, and it is not long-lasting." Outside of the official furnace, there are many private castings. Annexing small amounts of money is a disadvantage. Although there are many people who atone for their sins, the prohibition of adultery has not been abolished. In the case of rising prices, people's hearts are uneasy. ..."(Book V of the Book of The Yuangui.) Together)
And the "General Commentary" 221 Qianyuan 2nd Year November Geng noon article said:
The fifth Qi is Qianyuan Qian, heavy round money, and Kaiyuan Qian Sanpin in parallel. The people are fighting for theft, the goods are light and heavy, the grain prices are soaring, and the hungry are looking at each other.
This is about currency depreciation. Repeatedly, the government's minting of Qianyuan heavy treasures and heavy wheels of Qianyuan coins on that day can be called monetary inflation in terms of greatly increasing the circulation of money. Originally, whether it was a currency depreciation or a currency inflation, one of them was enough to cause prices to rise. At this time, there are both, and the rise in prices is more profitable, which is a matter of course. Book 89 of the Tang Hui Wants says:
In July of the first year of the Qianyuan Dynasty, the fifth Qi of the Hubu Shilang was not enough for national use, and the money was heavy and the goods were light, so he first minted the Qianyuan heavy treasure money and used it for ten purposes. And as a face, please cast more heavy wheel Qianyuan money, to one when fifty, parallel to Qianyuan Kaiyuan treasure money three products. Even if the price is high, the hunger is forced to die, and the road is pillowed. (The Old Book of Tang, vol. 123, and the New Book of Tang, vol. 149, The Fifth Qi Biography, are roughly the same)
And "Book of the YuanGui" volume V. One says:
In February of the third year of qianyuan, the edict said: "The establishment of the Quanfu is still here." Or when it is changed, the system has a weight. In the past, the Golden Revolution was Yin, the state reserve was slightly que, the subordinate ministers were in charge, and the law was not good, so that the goods were along, and the valley was full of enthusiasm. Seek public praise, the disadvantage is really by the si. ...","Tang Huijiao" vol. 89
The above is about the seat of the central government and its vicinity. Repeatedly, in Hebei under Shi Siming's rule, and in Jianghuai, which is far from the central government, the currency also expanded and depreciated. As a result of the low value of the currency, prices also accelerate. The Article of June of the First Year of the General Commentary says:
It was shi Siming who also cast a dollar for Shuntian, and a hundred yuan for a hundred dollars. The price is particularly expensive among thieves.
At the beginning of the construction... Jianghuai more lead tin money, to copper swing outside, not two pounds. The price is high.
And the Tang Hui Wants, vol. 89, says:
In August of the second year of Jianzhong, the salt and iron envoys of zhudao made Bao estimate: "The people of Jianghuai, recently the market has been trading money wantonly, and Wen Yi is rude. Those who choose to accept officials have two points in three points, and the surplus and lead, tin and copper are not enough to cover two pounds, resulting in the price of silk being expensive and the evil money gradually increasing. ......”
Due to the shortage of the supply of the above-mentioned goods, as well as the depreciation and expansion of the currency, the high price of goods after the Anshi Chaos was very profitable. Regarding the situation of the price of goods on that day, in addition to the various records quoted above, the Old Book of Tang, vol. 126, "The Biography of Chen Shaoyou", says:
In his year (the second year of Yongtai), in addition to the Guilin Thorn History, Guiguan Observed envoys. Less travel to the mountains and far away, want to regulate the near county. At that time, the official Dong Xiu was in charge of the Privy Council, and the less travel was in the middle of the house, waiting for him to go straight down, and to curse him at night. Rong Rong: "What are the number of people in Qilang's family?" How much does it cost each month? Xiu Yue: "Long time recent post, the family is very tired, but also the time and things are expensive, more than a thousand in January." ”...... (Taiping Guangji, vol. 239, "Chen Shaoyou", quotes "Tan Binlu")
Volume VII of the Yuan Ci Shan Anthology (Yongtai 2nd Year Daozhou Question) says:
In previous years, it was estimated that the money was four hundred, which was still expensive. In recent years, Su Yihu has been estimated to have five hundred dollars, and he is still cheap. In previous years, it was estimated that there was one horse, and it was estimated that it was five hundred, which was still expensive. In recent years, there has been one horse, estimated at two thousand, and it is still cheap. ...... Yu Drama! Millet is the most expensive, and food and clothing are easy; today millet is most expensive, and clothing and food are difficult.
This is what was said during the reign of Emperor Yongtai. Until the early years of Emperor Dezong's reign, prices were still very expensive. Volume VII of Wang Dingbao's Tang Dynasty says:
Bai Lotte was first raised, and his name was not vibrant, and he took care of the situation with the words "works" in Zhang Gu's "Idle And Advocating"). The situation is said: "Chang'an is expensive, and it is not easy to live in a big place." (Taiping Guangji, vol. 170, "Gu Guan", quotes "Idle Preaching" and vol. 250 "Gu Guan" is slightly the same)
According to the Old Book of Tang, vol. 13. The Biography of Li Bi is accompanied by the Biography of Gu Quan, which says:
Gu Guan, a native of Suzhou. ...... Liu Hun assisted the government, and was recruited by the school secretary Lang Zheng. After encountering Li Biji, he claimed that he knew that he wanted to be a high-ranking official. For a long time, Fang Qian wrote Lang. Unhappy, I asked Wu to return to wu. ...... and the pawn, who does not cry but laughs. Impeached by the Constitutional Division, he belittled the State Division.
According to Li Bi's appearance in June of the third year of Zhenyuan and died in March of the fifth year of Zhenyuan, see New Book of Tang, vol. 62, "Table of Prime Ministers". It can be inferred from this that gu guanren was written by Lang from the third year of Zhenyuan to about March of the fifth year. Bai Juyi went to Gu Guan, and Gu Guan said that Chang'an was full of things and was expensive, and it was also during this time. Therefore, after the Anshi Chaos, prices were expensive for a long time, until the early years of the Zhenyuan Dynasty, a total of about thirty years.
In the aftermath of the Anshi chaos, among the general price increases, especially the high price of grain, the problem was the most serious. There are those who are unable to provide for themselves because of this. For example, the Collected Works of Yuan Cishan, vol. 10, "Ju Lü's Writings" (Baoying YuanNian Song) says:
Nowadays, the valley is full of nobles, the roads are often dreaded, and there is no way to provide for themselves.
Also the Lu Xuan Gong Han Yuan Collection, Volume IV, "The Edict of The People of the Ordinary People for Relief and Compassion" says:
The price of the valley is expensive, how can you self-fund?
There are those who starve to death because of this. On this point, in addition to the various records quoted above, the Old Book of Tang, vol. 19. The following "Biography of Du Fu" says:
When (during the reign of Emperor Suzong), Guan Fu was chaotic, and the grain was expensive. Fu Yu lived in Tonggu County, Chengzhou, with a self-paid salary, and several people were starved and killed by their children.
There are those who have migrated as a result. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 111, The Biography of Gao Shi says:
Since Emperor Xuanzong returned to Beijing, Yumian and Yi'er Prefectures each set up a festival, and the people worked hard. Suitable for the three cities of the Western Mountains, the discussion is known: "... Rice is more expensive than Riguan, and the clothed shishu is quite out of the city. Shannan Jiannan, the road faces each other. The village is a city, mixed with the Shu people. Its shenghe < bean bucket > reserves, all of which are sought by the Shu people. ......”
Regarding the high price of rice after the Anshi chaos, a lot has been said above. But how expensive is the price of rice on that day? This point tends to vary from time to time and place. The sequence of time is described below.
When An Lushan attacked Chang'an and Emperor Xuanzong rushed to Shu, Emperor Suzong was located in Lingwu. In the second year of Emperor Suzong's reign, that is, in the second year of Zhide, Nanyang was besieged, the source of grain was cut off, and the rice bucket was sold for 40,000 or 50,000 yuan. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 114, The Biography of Lu Ling says:
Linghe Remnant, Baonanyang Commandery [7]. Surrounded by thieves. ...... The pseudo-general (wu) ordered an equal attack, and could not be conquered for many months. ...... In the spirit city, it is eaten, boiled cowhide tendons and horns and eaten. Rice is poured to 400 or 50 thousand, and there is no rice. (New Book of Tang, vol. 147, "The Biography of Lu Ling")
Another year, in the second year of qianyuan, due to the depreciation and expansion of the currency, rice was sold to 7,000 yuan. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 48, Chronicles of Food and Goods, says:
(Qianyuan) in March of the second year, (fifth) Qi into the phase, and please more heavy wheel Qianyuan money, one when fifty, twenty pounds into the continuous. Edict can be done. So the new money and Qianyuan Kaiyuan Tongbao Sanpin parallel. The price of the valley is high, the rice bucket reaches seven thousand, and the hungry people sleep in the Road. (Volume 501 of the Book of The Yuangui and Volume 62 of the Tongzhi are roughly the same)
The New Book of Tang dynasty and the Chronicle of Food and Goods says:
Emperor Suzong ascended the throne... and two Kyohei... And the people were brutally killed by soldiers and thieves, and the rice bucket reached seven thousand. (Vol. 51)
It is time for the folk line to three dollars. ...... The law is easy, the price of goods is soaring, the rice bucket money is up to seven thousand, and the starving dead are full of people. (Vol. 54)
That's not expensive. At the same time, Yecheng was cut off from food sources, and rice was sold for more than 70,000 yuan. The Old Book of Tang, volume 200, "Biography of An Lushan" with "An Qingxu Biography" says:
Qingxu was besieged from October (the first year of the Qianyuan Dynasty) to February (second year), when the people in the city (Yi) ate each other, with more than 70,000 rice buckets and thousands of rats. (The New Book of Tang, vol. 225, "Biography of An Lushan" with "Biography of An Qingxu" is slightly the same)
And in the third year of the Qianyuan Dynasty (that is, the first year of the first century), the price of rice gradually declined, and the price per bucket was different from thousands of yuan, fifteen hundred yuan, and eight hundred yuan. The Old Book of Tang says:
At the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, the Beijing division was dry, and the rice was straight for thousands. There are many dead. (Vol. 131 "Biography of Li Gao")
It was the age (three years of QianYuan) starvation, and the rice bucket was up to fifteen hundred yuan. (Vol. 10", "Suzong Ji")
It was the month (Qianyuan third year leap April) Shi Siming fell again to the eastern capital, and the jingshi midou eight hundred texts. Cannibalism, the wreckage. (Vol. 37, "Five Elements")
And the New Book of Tang, vol. 35, "Five Elements" says:
Qianyuan was hungry in the spring of the third year, and the rice bucket money was 1500.
At this time, the price of rice fell more and more backwards, that is, at the beginning, rice sold for thousands of yuan, in the spring it sold for 1,500 yuan, and in the summer it only sold for 800 yuan.
Emperor Suzong died, and Emperor Daizong took the throne. During the reign of Emperor Daizong Guangde, the price of rice rose from before, selling more than a thousand yuan per bucket, and there were more than this number. The Old Book of Tang says:
In the autumn of the first year of Guangde, it is good to hinder the consumption of seedlings, especially in Kansai, and the rice bucket is thousands of dollars. (Vol. 37, "Five Elements")
Since the soldiers have come, the fierce wilderness belongs to each other, and the Beijing division has ten thousand dollars. (Vol. 49, Chronicles of Food)
After the new Chengbing Ge (in the early years of Emperor Daizong), it was difficult for Chinese and foreign food, and the price of rice in the Beijing Division reached 1,000. (Volume 123 "Biography of Liu Yan", "New Book of Tang" volume 149 "Biography of Liu Yan" and "Book of Yuangui" volume 498 are roughly the same)
Since the heavy rains in July (the second year of Guangde) have not stopped, the rice bucket in the capital is worth 1,000 yuan. (Vol. 11 Chronicles of the Patriarchs)
It was the autumn of the second year of Guangde, the locusts ate the fields exhausted, especially Guan Fu, and the rice bucket was thousands of dollars. (Ibid.)
The New Book of Tang and the Five Elements Chronicle says:
In the autumn of the first year of Guangde, it is good to hinder insects and harm crops, especially in Guanzhong, and rice buckets are thousands of dollars. (Volume 35)
In the autumn of the second year of Guangde, Guan Fu was hungry and had a thousand dollars in rice. (Ibid.)
In the autumn of the second year of Guangde, Locust, Guan Fu is particularly special, and Mi Dou Qian qian (vol. 36)
And the General Commentary, vol. 223, says:
After the fire of the time, it was difficult for Chinese and foreign countries to eat, and the rice in Guanzhong was fighting for thousands of dollars. (Guangde 2nd year in March has been unitary)
Guanzhong insects and locusts rain, rice bucket more than a thousand dollars. (Guangde 2nd year of September has not been article)
At the same time, because of the famine in Wenzhou, a bucket of rice even sold for 10,000 yuan. The Taiping Guangji volume 337 Xue Wanshi quotes the Guangyi Ji as saying:
Xue Wanshi, a native of Hedong. At the beginning of Guangde, Zhejiang Eastern observed Xue Jianxun using Wanshi as Yongjia Ling. For several months, he said to his wife: "... The rice valley is barren, why bother? ”...... Shi YongJia is expensive, fighting to ten thousand dollars.
And in the first year of Yongtai, Mi Yidou still sold for a thousand yuan, or more than a thousand yuan. The Old Book of Tang, volume 11 of the Daizong Ji, Yongtai YuanNian Article says:
Years are hungry, rice buckets are thousands of dollars, and all the valleys are expensive.
It is a spring drought, the beijing division rice is expensive, and the hu is ten thousand dollars.
When (July) was in a long drought, the Kyoshi rice bucket was 1,400, and the grain food was called yes.
Yongtai was hungry in the first year, and Kyoshi Midou had a thousand dollars.
And the Tongjian Volume 223 Yongtai YuanNian Article says:
It is spring without rain, rice bucket thousands of dollars.
In the fourth year of the Gregorian calendar, the price of rice fell slightly, selling only 800 yuan per bucket, but then rose to 1,000 yuan. Book 44 of the Tang Hui Wants says:
In the fourth year of the Gregorian calendar, the Capital Division rained heavily, and the rice bucket was straight eight hundred, and the other thing was called yes.
And the Old Book of Tang, vol. 37, "Five Elements", says:
Autumn in the fourth year of the Gregorian calendar, heavy rain. It is from April to September, and the Kyoshi Midou is 800 texts.
And the same book, 11, the Chronicle of the Patriarchs, says:
Since the summer of the fourth year of the (fourth year of the Gregorian calendar) in the summer and April to this month, the capital city has eight hundred rice buckets.
It is the month (July of the fifth year of the Gregorian calendar) in the capital city of Midou Qianwen.
It is the spring drought of the year (the sixth year of the Gregorian calendar), and the rice is up to ten thousand dollars.
And the General Commentary, vol. 224, says:
In the autumn and July of the fifth year of the Gregorian calendar, Gyeonggi was hungry and rice buckets were thousands of dollars.
(March of the sixth year of the Gregorian calendar) Hebei drought, rice bucket thousands of dollars.
After Emperor Daizong, it was Dezong. In the first year of Emperor Dezong's construction, the price of rice was much cheaper than before, and each bucket could not sell for two hundred yuan. Li Ao's Li Wen Gongji, Volume IX, "Reforming the Tax Law", says:
The subject thought that since the beginning of the first year of the founding of the middle school, two taxes have been set, and it has been forty years. then...... Rice a bucket for money two hundred... (Quan Tang Wen, vol. 634)
In the first year of Xingyuan, the price of rice rose again, selling five hundred yuan per bucket. Volume 231 of the General Commentary says:
When (May of the first year of the Xingyuan Dynasty) Guanzhong was deserted, the rice bucket was straight to five hundred.
In a few months, in the winter of this year, the price of rice will rise to a thousand pennies. In November of the first year of the Xingyuan Dynasty, volume 231 of the Tongjian, Li Bi:
Today, there will be a drought locust, and the rice bucket in Guanzhong will be a thousand dollars." ......”
In the early years of zhenyuan, the price of rice was as old as ever, and it was still a thousand words and a bucket. The Old Book of Tang, volume 12, The Chronicle of Emperor Dezong says:
(February of the first year of the Zhenyuan Dynasty) Henan Hebei hunger, rice < beans bucket > thousand dollars.
(2nd year) May Prophecy, since the decanter heavy rain, as for the day. The hungry people will be on the way to the summer wheat, and this will be the shore, and the people's hearts will be terrified, and the rice bucket will be thousands of dollars.
And the New Book of Tang says:
In the spring of the first year of Zhenyuan, there was a great famine, and the rice buckets in Dongdu, Henan, and Hebei were thousands of dollars, and the dead slept with each other. In May of the second year, Mai will ascend to the rain and rice bucket thousands of dollars. (Vol. 35, Five Elements Chronicle)
Zhen Yuanchu, Guan Fu Su Bing, Mi Dou Qian. (Vol. 53, "Chronicles of Food Goods")
And the Tongjian volume 247 Huichang 4th year of July Xin Jiao said:
(Li) Deyu said: "Xi Li Huaiguang Weiping [8], The Beijing Division Locust Drought, Rice Bucket Thousand Dollars." ......”
However, at this time, the price of rice is not exactly a thousand words, there are also higher than this price, or lower than this price. The Old Book of Tang, vol. 141, "The Biography of Zhang Xiaozhong" says:
In the second year of Zhenyuan, there was a drought of locusts in Hebei, and the rice < bean bucket > fifteen hundred yuan.
Volume 231 of the Tongjian contains the month of June of the first year of the Zhen Dynasty:
Li Sheng said: "... In the middle of the river today, there are five hundred rice buckets, and the slaughter is exhausted, and between the walls, there are many hungry people. (New Book of Tang, vol. 154, "Biography of Li Sheng")
Until the third year of zhenyuan, due to the bumper harvest of agricultural products, the price of rice began to drop sharply, and each bucket sold for one hundred and fifty yuan. The Article of December of the Third Year of the Third Year of the Tongjian of the Tongjian says:
Since the Xingyuan Dynasty, it is the most abundant in age, with rice buckets and 150 yuan and 80 millets.
The above is the situation in which the price of rice is high after the Anshi chaos. In addition, the price of other dietary products has also risen. The following is a description of what can be seen in the literature at the moment:
(1) In the early years of Emperor Daizong, the price of millet sold for five hundred yuan, which was still cheap. Volume VII of the Cishan Anthology, "Asking Jinshi" (Yongtai 2nd Year Daozhou Question) says:
In previous years, it was estimated that the money was four hundred, which was still expensive. In recent years, it has been estimated that the money is five hundred, and it is still cheap.
In the first year of Emperor Dezong's construction, when the two taxes were initially set, the price of millet was much lower than before, and each bucket only sold for one hundred yuan. The first passage of the third volume of the Li Wen Gong Ji (李文公集) "Jin Shi Ce Qing" says:
When the two taxes were initially set, the money was straight and low, and the millet was expensive. Millet a bucket of money is worth a hundred... (Quan Tang Wen, vol. 634)
In the first year of the Xingyuan Dynasty, because the locusts infested the crops, the price of millet rose again, and each bucket sold for three hundred yuan. The Poems of the Locust Catcher, Volume III of the Bai's Changqing Collection, says:
Who's in charge of locust hunting? The days are hot and hungry. Xingyuan Bing injured Yin and Yang for a long time, and the Qi Worm turned into locusts. Starting from the two rivers and three auxiliaries, the food is like a silkworm flying like rain. The rain flew away at thousands of miles, and there was no green shoots empty red soil. The governor of Henan worried about the peasants, and the classmen hunted locusts day and night. It is time for millet to fight for three hundred dollars, and the price of locusts is the same as that of millet. ......
Subsequently, in July of the third year of Zhenyuan, because of insufficient supply, Su Yidou still sold for one hundred and fifty yuan. Volume 232 of the Tongjian contains the month of July of the third year of the reign of Zhen Yuan:
Shangfu asked (Li) to restore the strategy of the soldiers. "At this age, 170,000 people who conquered the Kwantung Dynasty and died in the western part of the capital were counted as 240,000 yuan of corn." Now Su Dou has a straight money of 150 yuan, and three hundred and sixty thousand taels of money. The country suffered more than famine and was underfunded. Let there be money, and no corn to be gained. There is no time to discuss the restoration of the soldiers also. ”
However, at the end of the year, because of the abundant harvest, the price of millet fell sharply, and each bucket only sold for eighty yuan. Regarding this point, it has been mentioned in the Article of December of the third year of the third year of the Tongjian in the General Commentary, and is hereby omitted.
(2) Since the price of rice on that day is very expensive, the price of wine made from rice grain naturally increases with the price. Book V of the Book of The Yuangui. Four says:
In March of the first year of emperor Suzong's reign, he said: "... As you know about the capital, the price of wine is particularly expensive. ......”
In the first year of the Qianyuan Dynasty, the beijing division was expensive.
How expensive is the price of the wine on the day? Du Fu's "Forcing sideways to give Bi Siyao" [9] says:
Street liquor prices are often bitter and expensive, and outside drinkers are drunk. Quickly drink a bucket, exactly three hundred bronze coins.
It is said here that the wine that Du Fu bought on the street was probably not the best wine, so it only sold for three hundred dollars and one bucket. Li Bai and Du Huhe, who were at the same time as Du Fu, said in their poems that good wine should be sold for 10,000 yuan per bucket, or more than 10,000 yuan. The Li Taibai Collection, Volume III, "Difficulty in Walking", says:
Ten thousand golden bottles of wine, jade plate zhen shame straight ten thousand dollars.
Also Du Fox and the "Biling Collection" Volume 1 "Dongping Penglai Yi Night Banquet Ping Lu Yang Judge Farewell Yao Taishou Left Wine and Feast After Getting Drunk" said:
Night sake is as strong as jade, a bucket of how to be straight ten thousand?
(3) Salt prices with the general price of the day rose, salt prices also became expensive. Volume 225 of the Tongjian contains the month of December of the tenth year of the Daizong calendar:
Yuan Zai Wang Jin: "WeiZhou Yangui..."
During the first year of Emperor Dezong's reign, the salt monopoly of the government was a consistent price increase. Volume 227 of the General Commentary:
May Cyn, Edict ... Salt adds 100 dollars per bucket price.
It has been thirty years since it was difficult to recommend the revival.[10] The military expenditure of the nearby is increasing day by day, and the price is getting heavier and heavier. To a bucket of grain, easy to salt a liter.
(4) Rat price rats on weekdays, no one wants, there is no price to speak of. However, when wars were frequent and food sources were cut off, most people were hungry with rat meat, and the price of rats became expensive due to oversupply. For example, in the second year of Suzong to De, the rats in Nanyang were sold to 400 Wen. The General Book, vol. 219 to the second year of De, May:
Shannan's Eastern Province Jiedu made Lu Ling guard Nanyang, and the thieves attacked Wu Ling's martyr Tian Chengsi one after another. The city ran out of food, a rat went straight to the hundreds, and the starving dead slept with each other.
And the Old Book of Tang, vol. 114, "The Biography of Lu Ling" says:
Linghe Remnant, Baonanyang County. ...... In the spirit city, it is eaten, boiled cowhide tendons and horns and eaten. ...... One rat head to four hundred words. (New Book of Tang, vol. 147, "The Biography of Lu Ling")
In the second year of the Qianyuan Dynasty, the rats in Yecheng were more expensive, selling for 4,000 yuan per head. Volume 221 of the General Commentary contains the following:
Guo Ziyi and the other nine knots made the siege of YeCheng... City...... Eat up, a rat straight money four thousand.
Regarding this matter, it is also recorded in the "Biography of An Lushan" and the "Biography of An Qingxu" in the Old Book of Tang, volume 200, and is hereby omitted.
The above-mentioned increase in the price of various items is biased towards dietary products. In addition, the price of cloth on the day can also be examined. Please start with the price of silk. Du Fu's "Poems of Remembrance of the Past"[11] recalls the expensive price of silk in the era of Emperor Suzong:
Don't you smell a silk straight to ten thousand dollars?
It can be seen from this that when the price of silk was the most expensive in the Suzong era, it was sold for 10,000 yuan a horse. Later, during the Daizong calendar, the price of silk was lower than before, but it still sold for 4,000 yuan a horse. Quan Deyu's Collected Works of Quan Zai, Vol. 47, On the Table of Drought, says:
In the Gregorian calendar, the price of silk is nearly 4,000. (Quan Tang Wen, vol. 488)
And Quan Deyu's "Quan Wen Gong Ji Addendum" Shangchen Que Fu says:
In the great calendar, a straight line of money is four thousand. (Quan Tang Wen, vol. 486)
In the first year of Emperor Dezong's construction, when the two taxes were first set, the price of silk was different in size as stated in the documents. There are still four thousand pennies a horse. Volume IX of the Li Wen Gongji, "Reforming the Tax Law", says:
The subject thought that since the beginning of the first year of the founding of the middle school, two taxes have been set, and it has been forty years. At that time, one horse of silk was four thousand dollars... The loss of ten thousand taxpayers is enough for two and a half horses of silk. (Quan Tang Wen, vol. 632)
There are only three thousand two hundred or three hundred for one horse. The "Lu Xuan Gong Han Yuan Collection" volume -- {Six Articles of Equal Saving Taxation and Compassion for the People" says:
When the two taxes were first set, the people paid one horse on silk and folded three thousand two or three hundred yuan. The large rate of ten thousand dollars is three horses of silk.
The former took a horse of silk and made three thousand two hundred yuan. (Quan Tang Wen, vol. 465)
And the New Book of Tang, vol. 52, "Chronicle of Food And Goods", says:
Since the beginning of the two taxes, the goods are heavy and the money is light, but the money is calculated and the silk is lost. ...... Silk for money three thousand two hundred.
There are only those that sell for 3,000 yuan a horse. Han Yu's Han Changli Collection, vol. 40, "On matters concerning the Law of Changing Salt", says:
When the two taxes were initially set, the silk horse was three thousand.
About this will vary depending on the location, so in the first year of jianzhong, the price of a silk horse is three kinds of three thousand, three thousand two hundred and four thousand. In addition to silk, the price of the day can also be known. In the early years of Emperor Daizong, a horse sold for two thousand yuan, even if it was very cheap. Volume VII of the Cishan Anthology, "Asking Jinshi" (Yongtai 2nd Year Daozhou Question) says:
In previous years, it was estimated that there was one horse, and it was estimated that it was five hundred, which was still expensive. In recent years, there has been one horse, estimated at two thousand, and it is still cheap.
In the first year of Emperor Dezong's construction, when the two taxes were initially set, one horse still sold for two thousand yuan. The first passage of the third volume of the Li Wen Gong Ji (李文公集) "Jin Shi Ce Qing" says:
When the second tax was initially set, the money was straight and low, and the millet was expensive. ...... The price of one horse is two thousand.
Summarizing the above, it can be seen that after the Anshi Chaos, due to the shortage of goods supply and the depreciation and expansion of the currency, prices rose very profitably. In terms of daily necessities such as food and clothing, rice buckets sell for tens of thousands of yuan, and silk horses sell for 10,000 yuan. Of course, this is a special situation, but in general, it is very common for a bucket of rice to sell a thousand or eight hundred texts, and a horse to sell four thousand or more than three thousand yuan for a horse. If we compare this kind of expensive price with the situation that during the Zhenguan period, rice sold for three or four yuan, Kaiyuan Tianbaojian rice sold for three or five or more yuan, and silk sold for two hundred yuan, we can know that the price increase on that day has reached an alarming level. No wonder that the sons and daughters of the great poet Du Fu on that day also turned into hungry ghosts because of the high price of goods!