关于宋代伪造纸币的问题

Paper Money Forgery in the Song Dynasty

纸币在宋代的出现是中国经济史上的大事，但从它一出现，社会上便有了伪造纸币的现象。而有关这方面的研究却尚付阙如。宋代纸币的作伪手段已相当丰富，一宗案例涉及伪造的人员往往少至二三人，多至几十人。为对付日益猖獗的伪造活动，宋政府除采用严刑苛律外，还不断地改善纸币的工艺质量，加强纸币制作部门的管理，强化伪币的鉴定工作，并采取了增加工匠的工资、防止纸币的制作方法散布民间等措施。即便如此，有宋一代，纸币的伪造仍屡禁不止，其原因是多方面的。从历史上看，假造货币、非法获利的问题并非宋代纸币所独有的现象，中国历代铸币强调“重如其文”，一旦币材值低于币面值，民间私铸即大肆兴起。除此之外，政府所立钞法的不合理，某些官员的徇私枉法、玩忽职守以及纸币本身的可伪性，也给伪造者提供了机会。

Forgery started at the same time when paper money came into existence in the Song Dynasty. Some cases of forgery at that time were sophisticated, involving a few dozens of forgers. There were strong technical demands on the part of the government for improved printing, paper|making, circulation controls as well as severe penalties against forgeries. Despite these efforts, forgeries were wild throughout the Song Dynasty, and in fact the entire Chinese history, especially when the forging costs are lower than the face value of the notes. Legislature problems and corruption of the officials also helped encourage the forgeries.