Changes

==Early Coinage==

==Early Coinage==

It is widely believed that the first currency to be produced in Japan was minted in the Wadô era (708-715), an era named after the discovery of copper in [[Musashi province]] (Wadô 和銅 literally means "Japanese copper"). These coins, with a face value of one ''mon'', were based on the ''kai yuan tong bao'' (開元通宝) coinage then circulating in [[Tang Dynasty]] China. These small round coins with square holes in the middle would serve as the standard model for the shape or form of coins in both China and Japan for many centuries. Recent discoveries since the 1990s, however, have unearthed earlier, unlabeled (''mumon'' 無文) silver coins, as well as coins known as ''fuhonsen'' 富本銭. The latter seem to have emerged in the 680s, during the period of [[Fujiwara-kyo|Fujiwara-kyô]]; in contrast to the ''mumon ginsen'' which were valued by their actual weight in silver, and which [[Emperor Temmu]] outlawed in [[683]], the ''fuhonsen'' were fiat money (face value).

It was long believed that the first currency to be produced in Japan was minted in the Wadô era (708-715), an era named after the discovery of copper in [[Musashi province]] (Wadô 和銅 literally means "Japanese copper"). These coins, with a face value of one ''mon'', were based on the ''kai yuan tong bao'' (開元通宝) coinage then circulating in [[Tang Dynasty]] China, and were minted in order to pay laborers for their work in building the new capital of [[Heijo-kyo|Heijô-kyô]].<ref name=britishmuseum>Gallery labels, British Museum.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/47588044022/sizes/k/]</ref> These small round coins with square holes in the middle would serve as the standard model for the shape or form of coins in both China and Japan for many centuries. Recent discoveries since the 1990s, however, have unearthed earlier, unlabeled (''mumon'' 無文) silver coins, as well as coins known as ''fuhonsen'' 富本銭. The latter seem to have emerged in the 680s, during the period of [[Fujiwara-kyo|Fujiwara-kyô]]; in contrast to the ''mumon ginsen'' which were valued by their actual weight in silver, and which [[Emperor Temmu]] outlawed in [[683]], the ''fuhonsen'' were fiat money (face value).

After the so-called Wadô kaihô ("Wadô coins"), other currencies continued to be produced until the mid-10th century, each named after the [[Imperial reign era]] in which they were produced. These included the Mannen tsûhô, Jinkô kaihô, Ryûhei eihô, Fûju shinpô, Shôwa shôhô, Chônen taihô, Jôeki shinpô, Jôgan eihô, Kanpyô taihô, and Engi tsûhô.<ref>Kobata. p98n1.</ref>  

After the so-called Wadô kaihô ("Wadô coins"), other currencies continued to be produced until [[958]]. Known as the "Twelve Imperial Coinages" (皇朝十二銭, ''kôchô jûnisen''), each was named after the [[Japanese Eras|Imperial reign era]] in which they were produced.<ref>Richard von Glahn, "The Ningbo-Hakata Merchant Network and the Reorientation of East Asian Maritime Trade, 1150-1350," ''Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies'' 74:2 (2014), 256.</ref> These included the Mannen tsûhô, Jinkô kaihô, Ryûhei eihô, Fûju shinpô, Shôwa shôhô, Chônen taihô, Jôeki shinpô, Jôgan eihô, Kanpyô taihô, and Engi tsûhô.<ref>Kobata. p98n1.</ref>  

Coinage at this time was used only by the aristocracy or religious elites, while the rest of the population functioned on a barter system in which value or buying power tended to be expressed in terms of silk, cloth, or rice.<ref>When a good was used as payment, its value was often counted in terms of ''jun-kinu''　準絹, ''jun-nuno'' 準布, or ''jun-kome'' 準米, that is, in terms of how much silk, cloth, or rice it would have been worth.</ref> One ''hiki'' 疋 of silk was generally valued as equal to one ''[[koku]]'' of rice (1 ''koku'' = 10 ''[[Japanese Measurements|to]]'' 斗 = 100 ''[[Japanese Measurements|shô]]'' 升), though this varied. Still, on average, from the [[Heian period]] through the [[Sengoku period]], one ''koku'' of rice was considered equivalent to one ''kanmon'', or 1000 ''mon'' in coins; one ''hiki'' remained steadily equivalent to ten ''mon'' of coins through the Edo period.<ref>Kobata. pp98-99.</ref> The direct association of goods, especially rice, with value, would continue through the mid-19th century; in the Edo period (1600-1868), lands would be valued in terms of their agricultural production, taxes would be paid in rice (or equivalents), and samurai would be paid their stipends in rice.

Coinage at this time was used only by the aristocracy or religious elites, and chiefly only for official court expenditures, while the rest of the population functioned on a barter system in which value or buying power tended to be expressed in terms of silk, cloth, or rice.<ref>When a good was used as payment, its value was often counted in terms of ''jun-kinu''　準絹, ''jun-nuno'' 準布, or ''jun-kome'' 準米, that is, in terms of how much silk, cloth, or rice it would have been worth.</ref> One ''hiki'' 疋 of silk was generally valued as equal to one ''[[koku]]'' of rice (1 ''koku'' = 10 ''[[Japanese Measurements|to]]'' 斗 = 100 ''[[Japanese Measurements|shô]]'' 升), though this varied. Still, on average, from the [[Heian period]] through the [[Sengoku period]], one ''koku'' of rice was considered equivalent to one ''kanmon'', or 1000 ''mon'' in coins; one ''hiki'' remained steadily equivalent to ten ''mon'' of coins through the Edo period.<ref>Kobata. pp98-99.</ref> The direct association of goods, especially rice, with value, would continue through the mid-19th century; in the Edo period (1600-1868), lands would be valued in terms of their agricultural production, taxes would be paid in rice (or equivalents), and samurai would be paid their stipends in rice.

These early currencies fell out of usage, however, in the tenth century. By the time of the issuing of the Engi taihô (901-923), the currency had become debased, meaning that a given coin, despite officially having a certain denomination, actually contained less precious metal than its nominal value. In other words, there was severe inflation, as a given amount of currency no longer had the value (or buying power) it once did. And so, people lost confidence in the currency, and it fell out of circulation.

The court stopped producing new coin in 958. By the time of the issuing of the ''Engi taihô'' ("Great Laws of Engi," c. [[901]]-[[923]]), the currency had become debased, meaning that a given coin, despite officially having a certain denomination, actually contained less precious metal than its nominal value. In other words, there was severe inflation, as a given amount of currency no longer had the value (or buying power) it once did. And so, people lost confidence in the currency, and the government stopped minting coins for a time. With silk, rice, and other commodities as far more widely standard, widely used, modes of exchange or measures of value, the court realized there simply was not a need - or an advantage - in making the effort and expenditures to produce hard currency. Around [[1068]]-[[1074]], the court then instituted official exchange values (''kokahô'', 沽価法) for silk, gold, rice, and certain other commodities, in order to standardize the amounts paid to the court in [[tribute]] by [[kuge|court nobles]] and others.<ref>Von Glahn, 256-257.</ref>

Several centuries later, beginning in the 12th century, [[Song dynasty]] Chinese coins began to be imported in considerable volumes, as a natural result of increased trade with China. The Northern Song, in fact, minted more copper coins than any other Chinese dynasty, and though the export of coinage from China was banned, Chinese coins nevertheless flowed throughout the East Asia region.<ref>Kobata. p98.</ref>

Several centuries later, beginning in the 12th century, [[Song dynasty]] Chinese coins began to be imported in considerable volumes, as a natural result of increased trade with China, and increased market desire for a convenient currency. The Northern Song, in fact, minted more copper coins than any other Chinese dynasty, and though the export of coinage from China was banned, Chinese coins nevertheless flowed throughout the East Asia region.<ref>Kobata. p98.</ref> The court noble [[Saionji Kintsune]] alone is known to have imported as much as 100,000 ''kan'' of Song coins, enough to fund the construction of a dozen or more buildings. However, this great influx of Chinese coins caused the prices (or values) of rice, silk, and certain other commodities to drop, disrupting the ''kokahô'' system and having a significant and negative impact on court revenues and landholding aristocrats' wealth.<ref>von Glahn, 258.</ref> The court banned the use of coin in [[1193]], but once the end of the [[Genpei War]] brought peace and greater inter-regional economic integration (thus diminishing troublesome regional disparities in exchange values), the [[Kamakura shogunate]] reversed these bans in [[1226]].<ref>von Glahn, 259.</ref>

==Muromachi Period and Ming Trade==

==Muromachi Period and Ming Trade==

==Edo Period==

==Edo Period==

Samurai stipends in the Edo period were paid out in ''koku'', i.e. in rice. However, gold and silver coinage was used in everyday exchanges (especially among ''[[chonin|chônin]]''/commoners - peasants, merchants, artisans, etc.). In Edo, gold was more widely circulated, while in [[Kamigata]] (the Kyoto-Osaka area), silver was more commonly the mode of exchange. Gold was exchanged in relatively standardized coins issued by the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]], known as ''koban'', and worth one ''ryô'' apiece.

Samurai stipends in the Edo period were paid out in ''koku'', i.e. in rice. However, gold and silver coinage was used in everyday exchanges (especially among ''[[chonin|chônin]]''/commoners - peasants, merchants, artisans, etc.). In Edo, gold was more widely circulated, while in [[Kamigata]] (the Kyoto-Osaka area), silver was more commonly the mode of exchange. Gold was exchanged in relatively standardized coins issued by the [[Tokugawa shogunate|shogunate]], known as ''koban'', and worth one ''ryô'' apiece.

   

   

A ''ryô'' was considered to be roughly equal to one ''koku'', which in turn is said to have been roughly the amount of rice needed to feed a man for a year. However, rice and gold prices fluctuated dramatically over the course of the period, with 19 separate incidents of currency devaluation between [[1819]] and [[1837]] alone,<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 153.</ref> and the exact amount of rice that comprised a ''koku'' is, in any case, a subject of debate. Over the course of the Edo period, the cost of rice dropped dramatically relative to the value of gold, making samurai (who relied on stipends paid in ''koku'') less and less wealthy than members of the [[chonin|merchant class]] who earned their incomes in gold and silver.<ref>Screech, Timon. "Owning Edo-Period Paintings." in Lillehoj, Elizabeth (ed.) ''Acquisition: Art and Ownership in Edo-Period Japan''. Floating World Editions, 2007. p34.</ref>

A ''ryô'' was considered to be roughly equal to one ''koku'', which in turn is said to have been roughly the amount of rice needed to feed a man for a year. However, rice and gold prices fluctuated dramatically over the course of the period, with 19 separate incidents of currency devaluation between [[1819]] and [[1837]] alone,<ref>Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, and Suzanne Gay, ''A Brief History of Japanese Civilization'', Wadsworth Cengage (2013), 153.</ref> and the exact amount of rice that comprised a ''koku'' is, in any case, a subject of debate. Over the course of the Edo period, the cost of rice dropped dramatically relative to the value of gold, making samurai (who relied on stipends paid in ''koku'') less and less wealthy than members of the merchant class who earned their incomes in gold and silver.<ref>Screech, Timon. "Owning Edo-Period Paintings." in Lillehoj, Elizabeth (ed.) ''Acquisition: Art and Ownership in Edo-Period Japan''. Floating World Editions, 2007. p34.</ref>

The use of the gold ''koban'', however, was most common in and around [[Edo]], and the farther one traveled from Edo, the less standard it became. At the beginning of the Edo period, there were over one hundred types of gold coins in circulation,<ref>Crawcour and Yamamura. p490.</ref> and so in many parts of the country, particularly the active commercial centers of [[Kyoto]] and [[Osaka]], and other areas at a considerable distance from Edo, currency continued to be valued by weight, and not by face value. While gold coins were particularly standard in Edo, in the rest of the country, silver and copper coins remained quite common, and were valued by their weight, in ''momme''. One ''momme'' of silver was a little less than 4 grams. The most common denomination of silver was a 43 ''momme'' nugget called a ''chôgin''.<ref name=obtaining>Timon Screech, ''Obtaining Images'', University of Hawaii Press (2012), 79.</ref> One hundred ''momme'' of copper coins were worth roughly one ''momme'' of silver, and one thousand ''momme'' was called one ''kanme''. Weights, previously not fully standardized, were in the Edo period restricted to those produced by the [[Goto school|Gotô school]], whose weights were to be used in all transactions for weighing out, for example, gold or silver. (Rice was measured by volume, not by weight.) [[Goto Tokujo|Gotô Tokujô]], who produced weights and coins for [[Oda Nobunaga]], and gold engraver [[Goto Yujo|Gotô Yûjô]] (1440-1512) were members/ancestors of this family.

The use of the gold ''koban'', however, was most common in and around [[Edo]], and the farther one traveled from Edo, the less standard it became. At the beginning of the Edo period, there were over one hundred types of gold coins in circulation,<ref>Crawcour and Yamamura. p490.</ref> and so in many parts of the country, particularly the active commercial centers of [[Kyoto]] and [[Osaka]], and other areas at a considerable distance from Edo, currency continued to be valued by weight, and not by face value. While gold coins were particularly standard in Edo, in the rest of the country, silver and copper coins remained quite common, and were valued by their weight, in ''momme''. One ''momme'' of silver was a little less than 4 grams. The most common denomination of silver was a 43 ''momme'' nugget called a ''chôgin''.<ref name=obtaining>Timon Screech, ''Obtaining Images'', University of Hawaii Press (2012), 79.</ref> One hundred ''momme'' of copper coins were worth roughly one ''momme'' of silver, and one thousand ''momme'' was called one ''kanme''. Weights, previously not fully standardized, were in the Edo period restricted to those produced by the [[Goto school|Gotô school]], whose weights were to be used in all transactions for weighing out, for example, gold or silver. (Rice was measured by volume, not by weight.) [[Goto Tokujo|Gotô Tokujô]], who produced weights and coins for [[Oda Nobunaga]], and gold engraver [[Goto Yujo|Gotô Yûjô]] (1440-1512) were members/ancestors of this family.

The Edo period monetary system, or at least its foundations, was established quite early in the period. In [[1601]] (Keichô 6), the Tokugawa oversaw the minting of a series of coins, in fairly large quantities, explicitly for circulation. The largest was the ''Keichô ôban'', worth 10 ''ryô''; the ''Keichô koban'' and ''ichibuban'', gold coins worth 1 ''ryô'' and 1 ''bu'' respectively, were "face value" coins, with the value of one ''bu'' dependent not directly on the weight of the gold coin, but rather tied to the rising or falling value of the ''koban''. Silver ''chôgin'' and ''mameita-gin'' coins continued to be valued by weight, and circulated in paper wrappings.<ref>Kobata. p106.</ref>

The Edo period monetary system, or at least its foundations, was established quite early in the period. In [[1601]] (Keichô 6), the Tokugawa oversaw the minting of a series of coins, in fairly large quantities, explicitly for circulation. The largest was the ''Keichô ôban'', worth 10 ''ryô''; the ''Keichô koban'' and ''ichibuban'', gold coins worth 1 ''ryô'' and 1 ''bu'' respectively, were "face value" coins, with the value of one ''bu'' dependent not directly on the weight of the gold coin, but rather tied to the rising or falling value of the ''koban''. Silver ''chôgin'' and ''mameita-gin'' coins continued to be valued by weight, and circulated in paper wrappings.<ref>Kobata. p106.</ref>

Regional currencies continued to be used for a time, along with ''hankin'' and ''gokuin-gin'' certified bullion. [[Kaga han]] ([[Ishikawa prefecture]]), which is still known today for its precious metals, was one of a number of places which had its own systems of certified bullion (mainly in silver), including what was called ''shuhô-gin'' - certified silver in a vermillion wrapper. Bullion sent to Edo or other parts of the country from these mining areas was often stamped or otherwise designated by marking for that region. To take just one example, bars from [[Niigata prefecture|Niigata]] were stamped with the character ''ei''/''sakae'' (栄, prosperity). [[Akita han]] was also a major mining and minting area, producing gold and silver ''sen'' (coins in the same form as copper coins traditionally), along with ''koban'', crude silver ore (''jô-gin''), and certified silver (''gokuin-gin''). Akita employed its own producers of weights and scales.<ref>Kobata. p107.</ref>

Regional currencies continued to be used for a time, along with ''hankin'' and ''gokuin-gin'' certified bullion. Merchants in the [[Ise province|Ise-Yamada]] area began producing paper money as early as 1600. Many domains produced their own paper notes; the oldest known today in its original form was a variety produced in [[Fukui han]] in [[1661]].<ref name=currencymuseum>Pamphlet, Currency Museum.</ref> [[Kaga han]] ([[Ishikawa prefecture]]), which is still known today for its precious metals, was one of a number of places which had its own systems of certified bullion (mainly in silver), including what was called ''shuhô-gin'' - certified silver in a vermillion wrapper. Bullion sent to Edo or other parts of the country from these mining areas was often stamped or otherwise designated by marking for that region. To take just one example, bars from [[Niigata prefecture|Niigata]] were stamped with the character ''ei''/''sakae'' (栄, prosperity). [[Akita han]] was also a major mining and minting area, producing gold and silver ''sen'' (coins in the same form as copper coins traditionally), along with ''koban'', crude silver ore (''jô-gin''), and certified silver (''gokuin-gin''). Akita employed its own producers of weights and scales.<ref>Kobata. p107.</ref>

By the end of the 17th century, the shogunate took control of the silver mines and the minting of currency, established shogunate-controlled ''ginza'', ''kinza'', and copper mints in [[Osaka]] and Edo, and standardized the system, eliminating regional variant currencies, at least in theory. Though this might seem on the surface like it might stifle economic development, in fact, the opposite occurred, as regional differences in currency systems, and protective policies put in place by the various [[han|domains]], were eliminated, allowing freer circulation of money and goods throughout the country, especially in and out of the major economic centers of Edo and Osaka.<ref>Kobata. p108.</ref> Despite the shogunal ban, many domains continued to produce their own fiat money, at least at times. Akita han issued its own fiat money in [[1755]], in an effort to monopsonize rice; the project was short-lived, however, being shut down a mere two years later after [[tea]] merchants from [[Mino province]] complained to the shogunate about the non-convertible currency. In another example, [[Tokushima han]] issued paper money beginning in the 1680s in an effort to make up for an insufficient supply of silver. Most domainal efforts to print their own money resulted in unintended inflation.<ref>[[Mark Ravina]], ''Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan'', Stanford University Press (1999), 59-60.</ref>

By the end of the 17th century, the shogunate took control of the silver mines and the minting of currency, and established shogunate-controlled ''ginza'', ''kinza'', and copper mints in [[Osaka]] and Edo. The ''Kan'ei tsûhô'' was first minted in [[1670]], and the system was standardized, eliminating regional variant currencies, at least in theory.<ref name=currencymuseum/> Though this might seem on the surface like it might stifle economic development, in fact, the opposite occurred, as regional differences in currency systems, and protective policies put in place by the various [[han|domains]], were eliminated, allowing freer circulation of money and goods throughout the country, especially in and out of the major economic centers of Edo and Osaka.<ref>Kobata. p108.</ref> Despite the shogunal ban, many domains continued to produce their own fiat money, at least at times. Akita han issued its own fiat money in [[1755]], in an effort to monopsonize rice; the project was short-lived, however, being shut down a mere two years later after [[tea]] merchants from [[Mino province]] complained to the shogunate about the non-convertible currency. In another example, [[Tokushima han]] issued paper money beginning in the 1680s in an effort to make up for an insufficient supply of silver. Most domainal efforts to print their own money resulted in unintended inflation.<ref>[[Mark Ravina]], ''Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan'', Stanford University Press (1999), 59-60.</ref>

Meanwhile, precious metals, especially silver, flowed out of the country in great volume, especially through [[Nagasaki]]. In the 16th century Japanese silver mines had become much more productive just as Chinese ones began to wane, spurring this considerable outflow. Copper mines similarly saw a considerable increase in their output in the 17th century, but by the end of that century, Japan's silver mines were already beginning to run dry. This led to dramatic devaluations in the coinage, and rampant inflation, at various times over the course of the Edo period, as the shogunate attempted to implement financial/monetary policies to address the declining supply of precious metal. The Keichô ''koban'' weighed four ''momme'', eight ''fun'', and was 862 parts gold to 132 parts silver. After [[1695]], it was debased to 564 parts gold to 432 parts silver, with the total weight of the coin remaining the same.<ref>Arai Hakuseki, Joyce Ackroyd (trans.), ''Told Round a Brushwood Fire'', University of Tokyo Press (1979), 296n239.</ref> One of the most significant instances of this came in [[1718]], when the value of the gold ''ryô'' dropped by about 20 percent. One gold ''ryô'' had been equal to roughly 60 ''momme'' of silver, and was now worth roughly 50 ''momme'';<ref name=obtaining/> one ''chôgin'' (43 ''momme''), therefore, had been equivalent to roughly 71% of a gold ''ryô'', but was now worth closer to 83% of a ''ryô''.<ref>Timon Screech (''Obtaining Images'', p79) cites the figures as 65% and 95%; however, calculating directly, using the figures 43, 50, and 60, results in the percentages 71 and 83.</ref> Meanwhile, the ''[[Genroku]]-gin'' pieces of silver (issued 1695-1706), made of 646 parts silver to 352.6 parts copper and 1.4 parts gold, were replaced by the ''Hôeigin'' in 1706-1710, made up of 507 parts silver 490.6 parts copper and 1.2 parts gold.<ref>Hakuseki, 296n240.</ref>

Meanwhile, precious metals, especially silver, flowed out of the country in great volume, especially through [[Nagasaki]]. In the 16th century Japanese silver mines had become much more productive just as Chinese ones began to wane, spurring this considerable outflow. Copper mines similarly saw a considerable increase in their output in the 17th century, but by the end of that century, Japan's silver mines were already beginning to run dry. This led to dramatic devaluations in the coinage, and rampant inflation, at various times over the course of the Edo period, as the shogunate attempted to implement financial/monetary policies to address the declining supply of precious metal. The Keichô ''koban'' weighed four ''momme'', eight ''fun'', and was 862 parts gold to 132 parts silver. After [[1695]], it was debased to 564 parts gold to 432 parts silver, with the total weight of the coin remaining the same.<ref>Arai Hakuseki, Joyce Ackroyd (trans.), ''Told Round a Brushwood Fire'', University of Tokyo Press (1979), 296n239.</ref> One of the most significant instances of this came in [[1718]], when the value of the gold ''ryô'' dropped by about 20 percent. One gold ''ryô'' had been equal to roughly 60 ''momme'' of silver, and was now worth roughly 50 ''momme'';<ref name=obtaining/> one ''chôgin'' (43 ''momme''), therefore, had been equivalent to roughly 71% of a gold ''ryô'', but was now worth closer to 83% of a ''ryô''.<ref>Timon Screech (''Obtaining Images'', p79) cites the figures as 65% and 95%; however, calculating directly, using the figures 43, 50, and 60, results in the percentages 71 and 83.</ref> Meanwhile, the ''[[Genroku]]-gin'' pieces of silver (issued 1695-1706), made of 646 parts silver to 352.6 parts copper and 1.4 parts gold, were replaced by the ''Hôeigin'' in 1706-1710, made up of 507 parts silver 490.6 parts copper and 1.2 parts gold.<ref>Hakuseki, 296n240.</ref>

The debasement of coinage in the Genroku period, down to coins of only 57% gold and ingots of only 64% silver may have created as much as five million ''ryô'' in savings (or profits) for the shogunate, providing a much-needed boost to the shogunate's finances.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 59.</ref>

The debasement of coinage in the Genroku period was the first major debasement in the period;<ref name=currencymuseum/> the change to minting coins of only 57% gold and ingots of only 64% silver may have created as much as five million ''ryô'' in savings (or profits) for the shogunate, providing a much-needed boost to the shogunate's finances.<ref>Robert Hellyer, ''Defining Engagement'', Harvard University Press (2009), 59.</ref>

===Prices===

===Prices===

*2-3 ''ryô'' - the cost of hiring a maid for a year (i.e. the income made by a maid in a year)

*2-3 ''ryô'' - the cost of hiring a maid for a year (i.e. the income made by a maid in a year)

*4 ''ryô'' - the cost of a print imported from Europe<ref>Timon Screech, ''Obtaining Images'', 325.</ref>

*4 ''ryô'' - the cost of a print imported from Europe<ref>Timon Screech, ''Obtaining Images'', 325.</ref>

*6 ''ryô'' - a typical annual wage for a laborer<ref name=screech/><ref name=obtaining/>

*6 ''ryô'' - a typical annual wage for a laborer.<ref name=screech/><ref name=obtaining/> There does not seem to have been a large disparity in wages between male and female workers.<ref>Rebecca Corbett, ''Cultivating Femininity: Women and Tea Culture in Edo and Meiji Japan'', University of Hawaii Press (2018), 121.</ref>

*6 to 10 ''ryô'' - the fee to commission a major artist for a single set of lavish ''byôbu'' (folding screen) paintings; could be as much as even 40 ''ryô'' depending.<ref name=screech/>

*6 to 10 ''ryô'' - the fee to commission a major artist for a single set of lavish ''byôbu'' (folding screen) paintings; could be as much as even 40 ''ryô'' depending.<ref name=screech/>

*10 ''ryô'' - the cost of a first visit to a [[Yoshiwara]] establishment, including tips for the ''[[nakai]]'' and ''[[taikomochi]]''.<ref>Segawa Seigle, Cecelia. ''Yoshiwara''. University of Hawaii Press, 1993.</ref>

*10 ''ryô'' - the cost of a first visit to a [[Yoshiwara]] establishment, including tips for the ''[[nakai]]'' and ''[[taikomochi]]''.<ref>Segawa Seigle, Cecelia. ''Yoshiwara''. University of Hawaii Press, 1993.</ref>

*1000 ''ryô'' - [[Yoshizawa Ayame I]] ([[1663]]-[[1729]]) was the first kabuki actor to attain an annual salary of this amount.<ref name=leiter/>

*1000 ''ryô'' - [[Yoshizawa Ayame I]] ([[1663]]-[[1729]]) was the first kabuki actor to attain an annual salary of this amount.<ref name=leiter/>

==Denominations Chart==

===Denominations Chart===

{| border=1

{| border=1

|-

|-

| 1 ''koku'' of rice

| 1 ''koku'' of rice

|}

|}

==References==

==References==

==See Also==

==See Also==

*[[Chinese currency]]

*[[Chinese currency]]

*[[Ryukyuan currency]]

*[[Ryukyuan currency]]

==External Links==

==External Links==