Item number: A2105

Year: AD 574

Material: Bronze

Size: 26.3 x 27.6 x 1.7 mm

Weight: 4.05 g

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2015

This is a “Wu Xing Da Bu” (五行大布) coin, issued in the 3rd year of Jiande (AD 574) by Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

The Wu Xing Da Bu coin exists in two variations, differing in size. The name incorporates the Yin-Yang and Five Elements (Wu Xing) theory—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—and conveys the emperor’s aspiration for the coin to achieve wide circulation.

The coin follows the typical square-holed cash coin design and is made of bronze. It is finely crafted, displaying a high level of workmanship. On the obverse, the inscription “五行大布” (Wu Xing Da Bu) is engraved in Yuzhu Seal Script (玉箸篆), arranged in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse side is plain, without any inscriptions or decorative elements.

Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou (Yuwen Yong), the second ruler of the Northern Zhou dynasty, implemented significant policies that shaped the region. While Buddhism in North China suffered severe suppression during his reign, his governance largely refrained from disrupting the livelihoods of the common people.

On the foreign front, he successfully defeated the Northern Qi, achieving the unification of northern China. However, within his own family, he placed extremely high expectations on his crown prince, Yuwen Yun. He frequently resorted to corporal punishment and threats of stripping Yuwen Yun of his title, creating a tense relationship.

After Emperor Wu’s passing, Yuwen Yun ascended the throne as Emperor Xuan, but his reign was marked by debauchery and misrule. This instability allowed his father-in-law, Yang Jian, to gradually consolidate power, ultimately leading to the usurpation of the throne and the establishment of the Sui Dynasty.

物件編號: A2105

年代: 公元 574 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 26.3 x 27.6 x 1.7 mm

重量: 4.05 g

來源: 大城郵幣社 2015

這是五代十國之際，北周武帝宇文邕在建德3年(公元574年) 發行的「五行大布」。五行大布按照尺寸差異，有兩種版本。錢幣名稱包含陰陽五行學說的「金木水火土」理論外，還有期許能廣為流通的含意。

錢幣形制為典型的方孔錢，材質為青銅。錢幣十分精美，正面按照上、下、右、左的順序，以玉箸篆書法字體鐫刻「五行大布」四字。錢幣背面為光背，沒有任何文字或圖案。

宇文邕為北周第二任皇帝，華北的佛教雖然在其統治時間遭受嚴重的打擊，民生上卻盡量不打擾生息，並且在對外關係上成功消滅北齊，達到中國北方的統一。然而在家庭內部，由於武帝對於太子宇文贇有很高的期望，因此多次以體罰和威脅剝奪太子頭銜相逼。因此武帝駕崩之後，登基為宣帝的宇文贇反而荒淫無度，使得外戚楊堅逐漸掌握政權，最終楊堅篡位建立隋朝。