Song Yuan coins

Japanese: 宋元銭 - そうげんせん

Copper coins minted in the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1260-1368) dynasties of China. Song coins in particular were the main type of coin circulating in Japan during the Middle Ages. In the mid-10th century, minting of the twelve imperial coins was discontinued, and quasi-cloth, quasi-silk, and quasi-rice coins were used as currency. However, from the mid-12th century, the import of Chinese coins, primarily Song coins, began, and their importation increased significantly in the 13th century. The Imperial Court banned the use of Chinese coins for a time, but economic development promoted the circulation of coins. In other words, in the era of samurai government, markets were established and developed in various regions, and transactions using coins became active. Coins were also widely used for paying taxes and buying and selling real estate such as fields, and their circulation expanded and spread.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国の宋(960‐1279)，元(1260‐1368)の両朝で鋳造された銅銭。とくに宋銭は日本で中世に流通した銭貨の主体であった。　10世紀中期で皇朝十二銭の鋳造が中止され准布，准絹，准米が通貨の用をなしたが，12世紀中期から宋銭を主とする中国銭の輸入がはじまり，13世紀には著増した。朝廷では一時は中国銭の通用を禁止したが，経済の発達は銭貨流通を促進することとなった。すなわち武家政治の時代となって，各地に市場が成立発達して銭貨による取引が盛んとなり，税の代銭納や田畑など不動産の売買にも銭貨使用が多くなり，その流通が拡大普及してきた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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