Western Xia

Tiansheng Yuanbao

(Iron Version)

西夏

天盛元寶

(鐵版)

Item number: A1580

Year: AD 1149-1169

Material: Iron

Size: 23.1 x 23.1 x 1.3 mm

Weight: 3.2 g

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2016

This is an iron coin cast during the reign of the fifth emperor of the Western Xia, Emperor Renzong, under his third era name, “Tiansheng” (天盛), which was in use from AD 1149 to AD 1169.

The coin is a typical square-holed cash coin, with its surface covered by a layer of red patina. On the obverse side, the four Chinese characters “Tiansheng Yuanbao” (天盛元寶) are arranged in a clockwise sequence.

The Western Xia Dynasty (AD 1038–1227) was established by the Tangut people, with its power base in the Hexi Corridor. The coinage issued by the dynasty featured Chinese inscriptions, as well as inscriptions in Tangut script, which was a writing system independently developed by the Tanguts. The most used materials for these coins were bronze and iron.

Emperor Renzong of Western Xia was the fifth ruler of the dynasty and reigned for 54 years, making him the longest-reigning emperor in Chinese history before the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. His mother was of Han Chinese origin. During his reign, he maintained peaceful relations with both the Jin Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty, avoiding military conflicts. Domestically, he actively patronised Confucianism and Buddhism, fostering cultural and educational development. However, his policy of prioritising civil governance over military strength ultimately contributed to the Western Xia’s vulnerability, paving the way for its eventual conquest by the Mongols.

物件編號: A1580

年代: 公元 1149-1169 年

材質:

尺寸: 23.1 x 23.1 x 1.3 mm

重量: 3.2 g

來源: 福君錢幣 2016

這是一枚西夏第五位皇帝夏仁宗,以其公元1149至1169年間使用的第三個年號鑄造的「天盛元寶」,材質為鐵。

錢幣為典型的方孔錢,表面包覆著一層紅色包漿。錢幣正面按照順時針順序,依序打印「天盛元寶」四個漢字。

西夏是黨項人在公元1038至1227年間,以河西走廊為根據地建立的王朝,其發行的錢幣以漢字標示外,亦有使用其自行發明的西夏文,常見的材質分為青銅和鐵兩種。

夏仁宗為西夏第五位統治者,其生母為漢人,統治長達54年,為清朝康熙皇帝以前中國歷史上在位最久的皇帝。夏仁宗在位期間,和鄰國金朝和南宋相互交好沒有戰事,並且在國內大舉贊助儒學和佛教等文教的發展。然而夏仁宗重文輕武的國策,也替未來西夏亡於蒙古的侵略埋下伏筆。

類似/相同物件 請看:

臺灣 國立歷史博物館 National Museum of History

https://collections.culture.tw/nmh_collectionsweb/collection.aspx?GID=MZMKMSMRM7M2

中國 國家博物館 National Museum of China

https://www.chnmuseum.cn/zp/zpml/201812/t20181218_23567.shtml

更多相關訊息請參考:

蔡養吾,《中國古錢講話附古錢餘話》(台北市:淑馨出版社,1999)

高英民,《中國古代錢幣》(北京市:學苑出版社,2007)

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