晚清区域货币市场发展研究——以营口“过炉银”为中心

A Study of the Development of Regional Currency Markets in Late Qing China:The Case of Guolu Yinin Yingkou

"过炉银"是晚清时期营口地区一项极具特色的区域货币体系,它是中国从秤量银两币制向记账、信用币制转化的主要形式之一。这一制度大约产生于19世纪六七十年代,从19世纪80年代到1900年间保持了稳定运行,之后则在外来冲击、官方干预之下不断遭受危机和制度调整。"过炉银"由营口商人组织——公议会创设和管理,并在山西票号提供的汇兑机制基础上臻于完善。通过发挥货币市场中的各项职能,诸如大额贸易支付、提供短期借贷、买卖汇票、化解交易风险等,为营口贸易及其市场覆盖区域提供了交易媒介和信用工具。"过炉银"的运转机制也反映了晚清货币市场的主要内容和基本特点。

Guolu yin or furnace silver(过炉银)was a distinctive regional currency that developed in the Yingkou area in the late Qing period.It was one of the main forms through which China's monetary system was transformed from a silver weight-based currency to one based on accounting and credit.The system emerged around the 1860s-1870 s,and remained in regular use as a stable currency from the 1880 sto the 1900 s.Thereafter,under the impact of foreign incursions and governmental interventions,it suffered repeated crises and institutional adjustments.The guolu yin was established and managed by the Gongyihui(公议会 Council),a local merchant organization in Yingkou.It improved on the exchange mechanism model supplied by the Shanxi piaohao(票号 draft bank).Operating in the currency market by providing large trade payments plus short-term loans and bank drafts and cushioning transaction risks,the guolu yin served as a medium of exchange and a credit instrument for trade in Yingkou and the area covered by its market.The operating mechanism of the guolu yin reflects the main elements and the basic characteristics of the late Qing currency market.