Difference between revisions of "Currency"
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Silver and copper also existed in the form of coins. However, these were generally counted not by number of coins, but rather by weight, in ''momme''. One hundred ''momme'' were worth roughly one ''momme'' of silver, and one thousand ''momme'' was called one ''kanme''. | Silver and copper also existed in the form of coins. However, these were generally counted not by number of coins, but rather by weight, in ''momme''. One hundred ''momme'' were worth roughly one ''momme'' of silver, and one thousand ''momme'' was called one ''kanme''. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Prices=== | ||
| + | Though prices varied widely, of course, over time, from place to place, and depending on the quality of the goods or other factors, the following figures might provide a rough idea of prices (i.e. the value of the ''ryô'') in the "high" Edo period (18th to early 19th centuries). | ||
| + | |||
| + | *2 or 3 ''momme'' - a cheap ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' print<ref name=screech>Screech, Timon. "Owning Edo-Period Paintings." in Lillehoj, Elizabeth (ed.) ''Acquisition: Art and Ownership in Edo-Period Japan''. Floating World Editions, 2007. p26.</ref> | ||
| + | *20 ''momme'' - an ''ukiyo-e'' print of good quality.<ref name=screech/> | ||
| + | *32 ''momme'' - the cost of seeing a play at [[Ryogoku|Ryôgoku]] in 1820. | ||
| + | *75 ''momme'' - the cost of the journey from Osaka to Nagasaki by boat (roughly 14-20 days).<ref name=screech/> | ||
| + | *90 ''momme'' - the cost of a multi-volume illustrated book, such as ''[[Soga Monogatari]]''.<ref name=screech/> | ||
| + | *1000 ''momme'' or 1/4 ''ryô'' - the cost of sending a child to ''[[terakoya]]'' (temple school) for a year | ||
| + | *1 ''ryô'' - the cost for a man's formal ''kamishimo'' outfit, including ''[[hakama]]'', ''[[haori]]'', and ''[[kosode]]''. | ||
| + | *2-3 ''ryô'' - the cost of hiring a maid for a year (i.e. the income made by a maid in a year) | ||
| + | *6 ''ryô'' - a typical annual wage for a laborer<ref name=screech/> | ||
| + | *6 ''ryô'' - the fee to commission a major artist for a single set of lavish ''byôbu'' (folding screen) paintings<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> | ||
| + | *200 ''ryô'' - A month in the Yoshiwara could cost as much as this.<ref name=screech/> | ||
| + | *360 ''ryô'' - the cost of buying a small room (80 sq yards) in Edo. | ||
| + | *483 ''ryô'' - The annual salary of a typical ''[[hatamoto]]'' in [[1711]].<ref name=leiter>Leiter, Samuel. “Edo Kabuki: The Actor’s World.” ''Impressions'' 31 (2010). pp114-131.</ref> | ||
| + | *500 ''ryô'' - The cap on [[kabuki]] actors' salaries, imposed by the [[Kansei Reforms]] in [[1794]].<ref name=leiter/> | ||
| + | *800 ''ryô'' The salary of kabuki actor [[Ichikawa Danjuro I|Ichikawa Danjūrō I]] ([[1660]]-[[1704]]) peaked at this amount.<ref name=leiter/> | ||
| + | *1000 ''ryô'' - [[Yoshizawa Ayame I]] ([[1663]]-[[1729]]) was the first kabuki actor to attain an annual salary of this much.<ref name=leiter/> | ||
| + | |||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | *[http://homepage3.nifty.com/~sirakawa/Coin/J029.htm 一文と一両の価値] (The Value of a ''Mon'' and a ''Ryô''). Lists and charts of incomes and typical costs for goods and services in the Edo period. (In Japanese) | ||
| + | *[http://freett.com/sukechika/ishin/keizai/ishin06-3.html 装備品] (Equipment). Costs for typical goods in the Edo period. (In Japanese) | ||
[[Category:Economics]] | [[Category:Economics]] | ||
[[Category:Resource Articles]] | [[Category:Resource Articles]] | ||
Revision as of 02:35, 12 December 2011
A number of different modes of currency were used throughout Japanese history, including, in the pre-modern period, the heavy use of Chinese coins. By the Edo period, a relatively standardized system of gold and silver coinage was in place, though it experienced dramatic inflation and devaluation, among other financial crises, at times. Systems which served as precursors for a "modern" system of banks and paper currency, along with futures markets and other such economic/financial developments, emerged in the 18th-19th centuries, and beginning in the Meiji period, "modern" systems based on the Western model were established.
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 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 shogunate, including the ôban and the koban, worth different denominations of ryô. 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, and the exact amount of rice that comprised a koku is a subject of debate.
Silver and copper also existed in the form of coins. However, these were generally counted not by number of coins, but rather by weight, in momme. One hundred momme were worth roughly one momme of silver, and one thousand momme was called one kanme.
Prices
Though prices varied widely, of course, over time, from place to place, and depending on the quality of the goods or other factors, the following figures might provide a rough idea of prices (i.e. the value of the ryô) in the "high" Edo period (18th to early 19th centuries).
- 2 or 3 momme - a cheap ukiyo-e print[1]
- 20 momme - an ukiyo-e print of good quality.[1]
- 32 momme - the cost of seeing a play at Ryôgoku in 1820.
- 75 momme - the cost of the journey from Osaka to Nagasaki by boat (roughly 14-20 days).[1]
- 90 momme - the cost of a multi-volume illustrated book, such as Soga Monogatari.[1]
- 1000 momme or 1/4 ryô - the cost of sending a child to terakoya (temple school) for a year
- 1 ryô - the cost for a man's formal kamishimo outfit, including hakama, haori, and kosode.
- 2-3 ryô - the cost of hiring a maid for a year (i.e. the income made by a maid in a year)
- 6 ryô - a typical annual wage for a laborer[1]
- 6 ryô - the fee to commission a major artist for a single set of lavish byôbu (folding screen) paintings[1]
- 10 ryô - the cost of a first visit to a Yoshiwara establishment, including tips for the nakai and taikomochi.[2]
- 200 ryô - A month in the Yoshiwara could cost as much as this.[1]
- 360 ryô - the cost of buying a small room (80 sq yards) in Edo.
- 483 ryô - The annual salary of a typical hatamoto in 1711.[3]
- 500 ryô - The cap on kabuki actors' salaries, imposed by the Kansei Reforms in 1794.[3]
- 800 ryô The salary of kabuki actor Ichikawa Danjūrō I (1660-1704) peaked at this amount.[3]
- 1000 ryô - Yoshizawa Ayame I (1663-1729) was the first kabuki actor to attain an annual salary of this much.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Screech, Timon. "Owning Edo-Period Paintings." in Lillehoj, Elizabeth (ed.) Acquisition: Art and Ownership in Edo-Period Japan. Floating World Editions, 2007. p26.
- ↑ Segawa Seigle, Cecelia. Yoshiwara. University of Hawaii Press, 1993.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Leiter, Samuel. “Edo Kabuki: The Actor’s World.” Impressions 31 (2010). pp114-131.
