Rent Silver

Stephen Tai
May, 01, 1998

Deed of Lease
Cover: Wooden carving and Color printing.

Contents:

The tenant Hu Lu Soon hereby rents from the landlord Mr.Yeh, three floored houses located in No. Ti, Hsia Yen Town, their doors, windows and walls are all well equipped. The houses are rented by tenant for his own business. The three parties (tenant, landlord, and witness) agree that the annual rent will be paid on a quarterly basis, in Round Sycee Silver of seven taels and two maces, in the ninety-five scale, and ninety-seven percent of purity. Should the tenant fail in paying the rent accordingly, the landlord may lease the houses to somebody else, the tenant will have no objection. Hereto set forth such deed as proof.

Amendment: There are two rooms on the upstairs and three rooms downstairs.

The 12^th month, 24^th year of Tao Kuang (1844, 1821-1850) Signed by: the tenant Hu Lu Soon

Brokers: Wang Yeh Shiu
Li Bu Yun
Recorded by: Fang Chin Chuan

Round Sycee (Dish Silver)
Diameter: 35mm
Weight: 44 g

The shown paper was a deed of lease issued by a tenant to a landlord, when their leasing took place.
As a matter of fact, in this case, the blank form of the paper which was delicate printed, was provided by the landlord to the tenant, also showing that the landlord was rich in real estates. The landlord would have to deal with many other tenants, therefore, such print printed form was required for his leasing affairs, and demonstrating his elegance.
The rent silver was specified in detail: Round Sycee Silver of seven taels and two maces, in the ninety-five scale, and ninety-seven percent of purity. The value of a silver ingot would be assured only by measuring its weight and purity, then, to such a silver ingot, the standards of weight and purity, are as important as facial denomination to a modern coin. It was quite normal for the parties to be serious on such issue.
The Round Sycee Silver mentioned in the deed, could be kind of silver in oval or round shape with many coaxial round waves on face, as the one shown above.

Chinese Coinage Web Site