The use of money in China could be traced back to at least four
thousand years ago. China was also the first country to use paper
money, or credit currency in the world. Ancient paper money can
only be described in general terms for lack of material objects.
About the Pai-Lu P'i-pi  (white deer-skin
money) of Han Dynasty and the Fei-Chien  (flying
money) of Tang Dynasty, I personally have never seen the actual
objects. However, the official issuing of paper money in Sung
Dynasty is famous in the field of numismatic. [Chiao-Tzu
 (1008AD) and Chien-Yin  (1105AD)
of Northern Sung and Hui-Tzu  (1160AD) and Kuan-Tzu
 (1131AD) of Southern Sung]. The use
of paper moneys went on through the Yuan and Ming as well as
the end of the Qing Dynasty. In 1897, China's first bank, the
Commercial Bank of China was established by Sheng Hsuen Huai
 with the approval of the emperor, and beginning
of issuing modern banknotes in China. Paper notes played their
important roles in different stages of the money history of China. |
Note issued by Tibetan Regional Government
50 Tam
:
1987 p.17, 51, 55, 60. (The History of Tibetan
Money).
