"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 11^th day of May, the 13^th 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:

The Wen Yin shown on the document, was also a kind of sycee in certain purity standard, other than Bai Yin ('White Silver'). Such two kinds of silver were both popular in civil society during Ming dynasty, their popularity even had never declined until 1933 when silver was forced to withdraw from currency market by the government. In Ming dynasty, Wen Yin, in most cases, stood for the finest silver, namely, in purity of 100% (then standard), it may be regarded as same with Hua Yin ('Flowery Silver').
However, the above definition of Wen Yin, in term of its purity, had been challenged more frequently by the practices of civilians since late Ming dynasty, who possessed different interpretations, silver in less purity began to be capped as Wen Yin and used in trades. The term of Wen Yin hence became infinitive and uncertain, such movements even affected the general thoughts from the average merchants latter in Ching dynasty, silvers in purity no less than 93% were accepted as Wen Yin. With a view to eliminate any possible departure or confusion occurred in terminology, people in late Ming dynasty had learnt to add on certain comprehensive definitions, while using Wen Yin they meant to be, such as Ju Wen Yin or Ju Wen ('Pure Wen Yin') for pure silver, in some occasions, the concerning parties would, on a case by case basis, negotiate in the first place, the purity in certain degree for their contracted Wen Yin.
Wen Yin may be translated into 'Sycee', a word also representing generically the entire Chinese silver ingots, however, sycee also bearing a meaning for 'tiny wrinkles', which ancient Chinese considered only fine silver is able to have such signs, the latter one, ought to be the reason why so translated.
In the case of the shown document, 4 tales of Wen Yin was the payment for the land , no other description on the purity of such Wen Yin had been further provided. If there was no otherwise settlement by and between the parties, Wen Yin hereof, may be in purity of 100%.

A Legendary Currency in Late Ching Dynasty - A Study on Yunnan Pai-Fang-Ding

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

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