Qin Shihuang was called "an emperor through the ages" by later generations, and he was a great statesman with foresight. In order to unify the country, he finally unified the national currency in the thirty-seventh year of the first emperor (2 10 BC).
Qin Shihuang ordered the abolition of the old coins of the original countries and the implementation of a new monetary system based on Qin coins. Sima Qian in Historical Records? 6? 1 leveling book records: "When it comes to Qin, a country's currency is divided into three classes. In the name of Yi, gold is the currency; Copper coin is known as half a tael, as heavy as its text, and it is the next coin; Pearl jade, tortoise shell, silver and tin belong to ornaments, not coins. " Among them, half of the money shaped like a jade wheel, with a round square hole, has gradually become the mode of making money stipulated by China.
Qin Shihuang not only had clear regulations on the quality, quantity, shape and use of money, but also concentrated the right to coin money and prohibited private casting of money. In fact, Qin Banliang did not surpass the copper coins of pre-Qin countries in casting technology, and his circulation reputation was maintained by national laws. The Golden Cloth Law of Yunmeng Bamboo Slips records: "The person who closes the book will receive a thousand dollars for printing with sincerity, but the money is mixed. ..... The people's market is beautiful and evil with money, and dare not be different. "
As early as the second year of Qin Huiwen's reign, the right to coin casting and distribution was in the hands of the royal family when the currency was first used. Qin money does not cast place names, which is the embodiment of the concentration of coin distribution rights. Qin Shihuang reformed the monetary system. On the one hand, he abolished the old coins of the governors, on the other hand, he prohibited private coinage, and consolidated and strengthened the state's right to coin and issue coins. This is also the most important measure for Qin Shihuang to unify the currency.
Scholar Ding once wrote a poem about Qin Banliang: "There is only the Great Wall in the future, and Qin Shihuang is not there. The sharpening area is only half a square. I have seen Liu Xiang enter Xianyang. "
Both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu led troops into Xianyang and Qin Dou. Xiang Yu also burned down the palace of the Qin Dynasty. After four years of Chu-Han War, he was defeated by Liu Bang. These two men also used Qin Banliang during this period.
Qin Banliang's square hole coins were unified after Qin Shihuang leveled the warring states governors in order to adapt to the development of commodity economy and end the chaotic monetary system. This kind of money in the outer circle is very convenient to use, which has laid the basic form of China copper coins. This half-tael of money weighed twelve baht in ancient times. In ancient times, ten millet was cut, ten baht was cut, and twenty-four baht was one or two. In fact, its weight is not so accurate. Although money is specially minted by the royal family, it often changes at any time and its weight is impermanent. If strictly required, a lot of money is not up to standard. It can be seen that the weights and measures promulgated by Qin Shihuang are difficult to be uniformly implemented. According to historical records, Xiang Liang, the leader of the peasant uprising army in the late Qin Dynasty, once made a lot of money for himself. Qin Shihuang is 2.5-2.8 cm in diameter and weighs 3-6 grams. However, the diameter of the handed down objects is also greater than 4 cm, and the largest is 6.8 cm. Some people think the latter is fake money, while others think it is fake money.
From the late Warring States to the Qin Dynasty, the price was very low. The normal price of millet is only tens of yuan a stone, and a bucket of rice is only three Qin and a half Liang. It can be seen that the price was very cheap and the price of money was very expensive. It is recorded that Su Qin, a military strategist, went to Yan State with only one hundred dollars. It is also recorded that Xiao He gave Liu Bang two pieces of Qin Banliang, and Liu Bang was very grateful, and later gave Xiao He a fief.
When Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang was a civilian, Xiao He, an official of the Qin Dynasty, sheltered Liu Bang in his hometown of Pei County (now Pei County, Jiangsu Province) several times. When Liu Bang was a curator, Xiao He often helped him. During the Chen Sheng Uprising, local governments responded in succession. Liu Bang gathered dozens of people and killed the county magistrate of Pei County in Qin Dynasty. At this time, Xiao He and Cao Can assisted Liu Bang in the uprising and pushed Liu Chai? Tanning (1) What do you want? What's a hat? What about the sea? What does this river mean? Hey? What about you? A, please? What's the matter with you?
Liu Bang led the crowd to Xianyang, and some officials gave three dollars each, while Xiao He gave five dollars. At this time, of course, the prevailing money is Qin Banliang, and 35 yuan refers to Qin Banliang. It can be seen that there was not much money at that time, and it was not impossible without money. Probably at that time, it was often a few dollars between taking and taking. Historical Records also records that in the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu (202 BC), Xiang Yu was killed, the world was stable, and then he was rewarded with meritorious service. The group will strive for merit, and it will not be decided for more than a year. Liu Bang thought that Xiao He had made the greatest contribution, and named him Yan Hou, with many food cities. Other military commanders are a little unconvinced. Why didn't Xiao rise without a fight? Liu bang said, do you know anything about hunting? Do you know hounds? Dogs hunt and chase wild animals, but people give instructions. Now you can get wild animals, but only "meritorious dogs". As for Xiao He, he gave instructions on "people who have made meritorious deeds". At this time, the military commanders also dare not fight any more. So Liu Bang named Xiao He and his son more than ten people, all of whom were food cities. The number of households in Xiaohe has increased by 2,000. This is also because he sent two more dollars.
After Qin Shihuang unified the monetary system, "half Liang" money became the unified legal tender in the whole country. "Half two" money is inside the outer ring, with no inner and outer contours and a flat back; The word "Banliang" in seal script is listed on both sides of the perforation, and Qian Wen is raised, which is said to have been created by Prime Minister Lisi. Strict layout, overlapping strokes, elegant and vigorous. The "half-two" money circle is square, with a circle outside, rigid and flexible, and dynamic and static combination, reaching the highest level of symmetry and balance.
The shape of "half Liang" money is very political, and it is a symbol of "destiny and imperial power" in Qin Dynasty. "Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals": "Heaven is round, authentic, and sacred, so the world stands. Why is it said that the sky is round, the essence is up and down, the circumference is complex, and there is nothing to miss, so it is called round; Why is the authentic side different? Everything has a different position and can't be the same. Therefore, the authentic side, the master holds the circle, and the minister is the master. Fiona Fang is not easy, the country is rich and the people are strong. " The rulers of the Qin dynasty believed that the outer circle symbolized destiny, and the inner side represented imperial power. Making money into the shape of the inner side of the outer circle symbolized that kings ruled the world and imperial power was supreme. Qin's "half beam" spread everywhere, and the power of imperial power spread like wildfire.
The figure on the half-taels of money reflects the thought of the theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements. "Half Liang" in Qin Dynasty weighed twelve baht (twenty-four baht was one liang in Qin Dynasty), its diameter was twelve cents (3.2 cm), and the side length of the perforation was six cents (1.2 cm) respectively. These numbers are all six or multiples of six. "Six" is the counting of water in the five elements of Yin and Yang. It is not accidental that so many sixes appear on coins, it is the embodiment of an ancient idea.
In addition, from the point of view of material utilization and manufacturing technology, the shape of "half-Liang" coin saves casting materials more than any other shape, which is an optimal choice, and the square hole in the middle is convenient for fixing and filing. It shows that people at that time had profound research and discussion on material utilization and working hours efficiency.
In a word, the measures taken by Qin Shihuang for the great cause of reunification are in line with the historical development trend and revolutionary and progressive. The unification of the monetary system has greatly facilitated the exchange of goods and economic exchanges between different parts of the country. It is not only beneficial to the tax collection of feudal countries, but also facilitates the development of commodity economy and promotes the formation of economic communities in a vast territory. Qin's half-taels of money not only embodies the imperial power thought and the theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, but also embodies the aesthetic consciousness and efficiency concept of the Chinese nation. It is practical, artistic and ideological, and it is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of working people in ancient China.