Kidney Sycee of Shansi and Honan Provinces

Stephen Tai
Feb.26, 1998

Honan Kidney Sycee
Inscriptions: [Silversmith] Ma Jseng Duo
Diameter: 30(L) x 47(W) x 23(H)mm
Weight: 188g (5 taels)
Honan Kidney Sycee
Inscriptions: [Silversmith] Hsiang Yu
Diameter: 30(L) x 44(W) x 24(H)mm
Weight: 180g (5 taels)
Shansi Kidney Sycee
Inscriptions: Jin Tai Bank (Mao Jsong)
Diameter: 30(L) x 48(W) x 21(H)mm
Weight: 190g (5 taels)

The shown sycee were kind of typical silver currency, casted and circulated around Honan and Shansi two neighboring provinces during late Ching Dynasty and early Min Kuo period.
The shape of the sycee is similar to a kidney, therefore, Chinese people used to called such sycee as Yaoding, which means 'Waisted Sycee' or 'Kidney Sycee'.
Kidney sycee carrying certain features of traditional sycee of Song Dynasty, and Shoe sycee of Ming and Ching Dynasty, could be a combination or transformation of the two kinds consequent to a long term development.