1993 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

A STUDY OF EXCAVATED COPPER CURRENCIES IN MEDIEVAL JAPAN

Research Project

Project/Area Number	04630045
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Economic history
Research Institution	KEIO UNIVERSITY
Principal Investigator	SUZUKI Kimio KEIO GIJUKU UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF LETTERS, PROFESSOR, 文学部, 教授 (80051499)
Project Period (FY)	1992 – 1993
Keywords	ROKUDOSEN / BICHIKUSEN / NUMESMATICS / NENNBUTU-SEN / BURIAL COINS / TORAISEN / HOARD / DAIMOKUSEN / KANEITUUHOU / EIRAKUSEN
Research Abstract	The initial purpose of the project was to collect the enough archaeological data on hoard copper coins(Bichikusen ) deposited in the medieval Japan and also on buried copper coins(Rokudosen ) used sa a grave goods during the medieval to the Edo period. These data were then analyzed in terms of reconstructing the circulation of money from the later half of the medieval to early half of the Edo period. The result shows that the Eiraku-tuuhou(), a Ming dynasty copper coin, playd an important role in the circulation during the later half of 16th century. And Kokanei-tuuhou(), the first Tokugawa's official copper coin casted in the middle of the 17th century, became promptly popular in the circulation replacing old medieval copper coins which were imported from Chinese dynasties.