Xu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Metal (jīn) Qian Kangxi Stroke Count: 16 Page 1311, Entry 13 Pronounced qian. Yu pian: Wealth. Ji yun: Circulating currency. That which is stored is called quan; that which is used in circulation is called bu. It is so named because its circulation reaches everywhere without exception. Zheng zitong: Smelting copper to make coins for the exchange of goods. In ancient times, markets were established to exchange what one had for what one lacked. When the methods of using cloth, currency, gold, knives, tortoises, and shells were exhausted, coins first began to circulate. According to the Zhou dynasty system, commerce was used to facilitate the exchange of goods. Taigong Wang established the circular coin system of the nine treasuries; the coin was circular on the outside with a square hole in the center, and its weight was measured in zhu. The circular shape represented equal circulation. The nine treasuries were the officials in charge of wealth and silk. Successive dynasties found this convenient. King Jing of Zhou cast large coins called treasure goods, which had a rim and a surrounding edge, intended to encourage agriculture and provide for the destitute, so that the common people would benefit. Because the shape of the coin resembled a jade disc, it was also called rouhao. Some say the rou is the edge, but they do not realize that the edge of a coin is called the guo, and the rou is located within the edge. Since the Han dynasty, sizes and weights have varied, and the names have been different. Whenever a state changed its reign title, it would change its coinage, using the reign title as the inscription, though the rim and edge remained the same. Those who recorded the system of coinage include Zhang Tai and Feng Yan of the Tang dynasty with their Book of Coinage (Quanpu), Tao Yue with his Record of Circulating Currency (Huoquan lu), Hong Zun of the Song dynasty with his Treatise on Coinage (Quanzhi), and Ma Duanlin with his Examination of Money and Currency (Qianbi kao); the similarities and differences between these works are not fully recorded in this note. Also synonymous with quan. Shiji, Book of Celestial Offices (Tianguanshu): Below there is accumulated wealth; above gold and treasures there is always an aura, which must be observed. Note: In ancient times, qian was written as the character quan. Also, in the Record of Government Affairs (Chaoye qianzai), Zhang Zhuo was nicknamed the Green Coin Scholar, meaning that out of ten thousand selections, he was accurate ten thousand times. Also a county name. Book of Han, Treatise on Geography (Dili zhi): Qiantang County in Kuaiji Commandery. Note: The source of Wulin Mountain and Wulin River. Also, in the Biography of Liang Ji in the Book of the Later Han (Hou Hanshu): The game of guessing coins (yiqian). He Chengtian, Compendium of Texts (Zuanwen): One name is gui yi, another is she yi, another is she shu, and another is chi yan, which is today's game of tossing coins. Qianfu lun: Some make their living through gambling and tossing coins. Note: Bo refers to the six-board game, and yan refers to the game of guessing coins. Ouyang Xiu, Poetry: Tossing coins in the hall and running below the hall. Also, horse ornaments. Ancient Music Bureau (Gulefu): Iron and gold face with green linked-coin patterns. Yu Xin, Willow Song (Yangliu ge): Linked-coin patterned horse cloth crossing the water. Book of Jin, Biography of Wang Ji (Wangji zhuan): Written as lianqian. Also, green coins, another name for moss. Shen Yue, Poetry: Green coins fill the guest steps, purple moss grows in the guest quarters. Also, Cen Shen, Poetry: Elm seeds smaller than coins. Zhang Ji, Poetry: Lotus leaves emerging from the water as large as coins. Also, lianqian, another name for the wagtail bird. Guang yun: The neck has coin-like patterns. Also called coin mother. Also a surname. In the Jin dynasty, there was Qian Feng, the Governor of Liyang. Pronounced jian. Shuowen: A small plow or hoe. An ancient agricultural tool. Book of Songs (Shijing), Odes of Zhou (Zhousong): Prepare your plows and hoes. Commentary: Qian is a hoe. Also pronounced jian. The meaning is the same. Also, Zihui bu: In ancient times, it was interchangeable with the character for a small cup (zhan). A wine vessel. Supplementary Bronze and Tripod Inscriptions: Contains the sparrow coin.