"Wen Yin" (Sycee Silver) Used in Land Transactions
of Ming Dynasty

Stephen Tai
Feb.02, 1998

The shown document is a contract made in the 11th day of May, the 13th year of Wang Li period (1585, 1573-1620 A.D.) of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), regarding a transaction of land in the neighborhood of Huei-Juo Prefecture of An-huei Province. The buyer had paid for the lands as contracted, 4 tales of Wen Yin ('Sycee Silver').
Introduction:
A Legendary Currency in Late Ching Dynasty - A Study on Yunnan Pai-Fang-Ding