Drum Sycee of Yunnan

Stephen Tai
Feb.20, 1998

Yunnan Drum Sycee
Inscriptions: The 23^rd year of the Tao Kuang Reign (1843, 1821-1850), Silversmith Gin Yao
Dimension: 51(L) x 56(W) x 33(H)mm
Weight: 355g (10 taels)
Yunnan Drum Sycee
Inscriptions: Bao Hsiang Salt Well District
Dimension: 54(L) x 56(W) x 28(H)mm
Weight: 332g (9 taels)
Yunnan Drum Sycee
Inscriptions: Yuong Bei Fortress
Dimension: 39(L) x 44(W) x 18(H)mm
Weight: 178g (5 taels)
Szechuan Drum Sycee
Inscriptions: Hsin Jin County, the 33^rd year of Kuang Hsu (1907, 1975-1908), Silversmith Chang Hen Yi
Dimension: 54(L) x 61(W) x 24(H)mm
Weight: 352g (10 taels)

10-tael drum sycee was a regional standard silver currency in Szechuan during Ching Dynasty, which still may be found many in today. However, such sycee was not only privileged to Szechuan only, but also adopted by its neighboring areas, such as Yunnan, Kueichow, Tibet and some other provinces, such as Hobei, Hubei, Fongtien, Kiangsi, as their optional silver currency.
Because of the geographical linkage, the interactions between peoples of Szechuan and Yunnan have been very active for centuries. Szechuan’s currency, including drum sycee, were quite often acted as payment for trades, and brought to Yunnan.
The purity of Szechuan drum sycee on the average are slightly higher than those of Yunnan local groovy silver ingots, therefore, a standard Szechuan drum sycee in Yunnan. Its value would be appreciated by merchants for the better purity.
Certain areas of Yunnan, such as Jao Tong and other places adjoined or close to Szechuan, their sycee system were deeply influenced by Szechuan. They adopted not only the drum shape, but also Szechuan’s purity standard for making sycee. Those drum sycee made in Yunnan, were also kind of metaphors alluding that the sycee were complying with the same purity standard as Szechuan did.