湖南商周时期原始货币小议

Primitive Currency of Hunan during the Shang and Zhou Period

从目前所发掘的考古资料和相应的历史文献记载来看,湖南商周时期原始货币或是斧币和珠玉上币等,极具地方特色。湖南位于长江中游地区,古代属于'南蛮'边鄙之地,是古越人云苗民族聚居的地方,远离政治中心。在晚商时期,湖南创造了高度发达的青铜文化,出土青铜器之美,工艺之精,令世人赞叹不已。这一时期,中原地区出现了贝币。可是湖南地区此时的原始货币又是什么样子呢?究竟哪些商品首先取得货币形态,在不同的地区和不同的情况下所产生的情况是不一样的,笔者根据有关的考古资料和相应的历史文献记载认为,晚商时期湖南最早的货币当为斧币和玉币。

Both archaeological findings and related historical documents show that the primitive currency in circulation in Hunan during the Shang and Zhou period are likely the axe-shape coin and such top-class currencies as pearl and jade with strong local characteristics.Located in the middle reach of the Yangtze River,Hunan belonged to the remote border region of the'southern barbarians'far away from the political center in ancient times,inhabited by the ancient Yue people and minority ethnic groups.During the late Shang dynasty,people in Hunan developed a highly-advanced bronze culture and modern people are astounded by the beauty and outstanding craftsmanship of unearthed bronzes.This period saw the appearance of cowrie on the Central Plains.So,what did the primitive currency in Hunan look like?What commodities first acquired the property of currency?The situation differed greatly in different regions.The author of this paper,based on related archaeological materials and relevant historical documents,believes that the most popular currency in Hunan in the late Shang period should be the axe-shape coin and the jade coin.