Qing Dynasty

Shunzhi Tongbao Type 2

(Rightward Tong)

順治通寶二式

(背右同)

Item number: A2761

Year: AD 1644-1648

Material: Brass

Size: 25.0 x 25.1 x 0.9 mm

Weight: 3.05 g

Manufactured by: Shanxi Province Datong Mint Bureau

Provenance: Da Chen Stamps and Coins Collection 2019

This coin, known as “Shunzhi Tongbao,” was cast under the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor between the first and fifth years of the Shunzhi reign (AD 1644–1648) by the Datong Mint in Shanxi Province.

The coin follows the traditional form of the Han cultural sphere—round with a square hole—and is made of brass. The obverse bears the Chinese inscription “Shunzhi Tongbao” in regular script, read top to bottom, right to left. The “Tong” character in “Tongbao” often features the single-dot variant of the radical “辶”, known as “single-dot tong”, while the “Bao” character uses the variant with the “尔” component rather than the modern “缶” form, commonly referred to as “Er Bao”. The calligraphy on this coin is smaller than that of earlier issues, indicating a more refined minting process, and is classified as “standard script”. On the reverse, the character “Tong” (同), denoting the mint, is engraved to the right of the square hole. The character is notably smaller, hence referred to as “small tong”.

To guard against Mongol incursions, the Ming dynasty had established nine border military garrisons in the north, among which Datong was of particular strategic importance due to its role in the defence of the capital. Jiang Xuang, a native of Yulin in Shaanxi and a hereditary border officer, successively held the positions of vice general and general, formally assuming command of the Datong garrison in AD 1642 (Chongzhen 15). In AD 1644 (Chongzhen 17), when Li Zicheng’s forces invaded Shanxi, Jiang initially pledged with the regional governor Wei Jingyuan to defend Datong to the death but ultimately surrendered—possibly due to lack of military provisions—resulting in Wei’s death. In March, Li Zicheng took Beijing, prompting Emperor Chongzhen’s suicide and the fall of the Ming dynasty. In April, Wu Sangui, commander at Shanhai Pass, in response to personal grievances and opposition to Li Zicheng, led Qing forces through the pass, enabling the Qing to swiftly seize control of the Central Plain. By May, as Li Zicheng withdrew from Datong, Jiang Xuang declared allegiance to the Qing under the pretext of suppressing rebel forces, and was granted the titles of Datong General and Front General for the Western Campaign (to attack Li Zicheng).

Although Jiang professed loyalty to the Qing, his wide-ranging influence among former Ming border troops and Mongol forces raised suspicions at court. Amid structural reforms and ethnic tensions, central authorities increasingly monitored him. Meanwhile, his resentment deepened due to insufficient military stipends, harsh living conditions among the troops, and unfulfilled political expectations.

In early AD 1648 (Shunzhi 5), Muslim generals Mi Layin and Ding Guodong from Ganzhou (present-day Gansu) rebelled against the Qing. Later that year, the Qing dispatched Prince Ying, Ajige, to station troops in Datong and requisition grain supplies, reportedly committing abuses and threatening mass executions. These actions fuelled unrest among local troops and civilians and intensified Jiang’s fears for his safety. Taking advantage of the absence of regional officials such as Governor Geng Tun, who were away inspecting grain supplies, Jiang launched a rebellion, declared allegiance to the Southern Ming, adopted the Yongli reign title, and rapidly seized eleven cities across northern Shanxi. His uprising received swift support from regions including Pianguan, Lu’an, and Zezhou, where soldiers and local gentry joined in revolt. Despite previously sending his son to the Qing court as a hostage, the rebellion caught the Qing unprepared, provoking the wrath of the court. Regent Dorgon led a campaign against Datong in person.

In July AD 1649 (Shunzhi 6), after prolonged siege and famine, Datong fell. Jiang Xuang was betrayed and executed by his subordinate, and Qing troops entered the city, carrying out a massacre. The anti-Qing resistance in Shanxi collapsed. Subsequently, the Qing authorities launched a comprehensive purge of Southern Ming affiliates, implicating numerous individuals over the course of a decade, thereby dismantling the remaining Ming military institutions and social networks. This campaign marked the beginning of Qing consolidation and the reconstruction of social order in Shanxi.

To cover military expenditures on the North China front, the Qing established the Datong Mint in October AD 1644 (Shunzhi 1), producing “Shunzhi Tongbao” coins with the mint mark “Tong” on the reverse. The early issues were often made by reworking existing “Chongzhen Tongbao” moulds from the Ming, resulting in disproportionate and oversized characters in the new design, which were later refined. During Jiang Xuang’s rebellion, the mint switched to casting “Daming Tongbao” coins as a declaration of resistance to Qing rule. The original Shunzhi coin moulds were destroyed by fire. After the city fell to Qing forces and was nearly razed, the mint ceased operation. It was subsequently relocated to Yanghe, where coins bearing the “Yang” character were produced. In recent years, numerous uncirculated or lightly circulated “Shunzhi Tongbao” coins with the “Tong” reverse mark have been excavated in Datong, suggesting that residents had buried currency in an attempt to preserve it amid the uprising, only for it to remain hidden following the Qing massacre.

The Shunzhi Emperor, born Aisin Gioro Fulin, was the first emperor of the Qing dynasty to rule over China proper, reigning from AD 1644 to 1661. During his minority, Prince Regent Dorgon governed on his behalf, leading the Qing army into the Central Plain, establishing the capital in Beijing, and completing the regime’s transition from the northeast to all of China. After Dorgon’s death, Shunzhi assumed direct rule, promoted policies of Sinicisation, appointed Han officials, and reinstated the imperial examination system to stabilise society and consolidate Qing rule. He also enforced the policy of shaving the forehead and adopting Manchu dress, which provoked resistance among the Han population, but was ultimately imposed by force. Throughout his reign, the Shunzhi Emperor focused on quelling remaining Southern Ming loyalists and local separatist forces. Despite continuous warfare, he gradually realised effective centralised rule across the empire. Culturally, he promoted Confucian learning, revered Buddhism—particularly Chan (Zen)—and was rumoured in later years to have intended to become a monk. He died young at the age of 22 and was succeeded by his son, Xuanye, who became the Kangxi Emperor.

物件編號: A2761

年代: 公元 1644-1648 年

材質: 黃銅

尺寸: 25.0 x 25.1 x 0.9 mm

重量: 3.05 g

製造地: 山西大同錢局

來源: 大城郵幣社 2019

此錢為順治帝所鑄之「順治通寶」,於順治元年至順治五年(公元1644-1648年),由山西省大同錢局所鑄造。

此錢形制為漢文化圈傳統的方孔圓錢,材質為黃銅,錢面錢文為漢文「順治通寶」楷書,由上而下,由右而左對讀。「順治通寶」之「通」字「辵」旁常寫為單點「辶」,稱「單點通」;「寶」字今寫為「缶」旁的部件,於錢文中寫常寫為「尔」旁,稱「尔寶」。此錢錢文字體較早期小,為工藝成熟之表徵,稱「正字」。

錢背錢文為漢文「同」,鐫於方穿之右,標示錢局。「同」字較小,稱「小同」。

明代為防北方蒙古勢力,在北方設立九邊軍鎮,其中大同鎮地位尤為重要,直接關係京師安危。姜瓖為陝西榆林人,出身邊將世家,歷任副總兵與總兵,於崇禎十五年(公元1642年)正式掌大同鎮兵權。崇禎十七年(公元1644年),李自成軍攻入山西,姜瓖本與巡撫衛景瑗誓言死守大同,最終或因請餉不得而開城投降,致衛景瑗被殺。三月,李自成攻陷北京,崇禎帝自縊,明亡。四月,山海關總兵吳三桂為報私仇與抗拒李自成,引清軍入關,導致清軍迅速入主中原。五月,李自成軍撤離大同,姜瓖遂以討伐闖將之名歸順清廷,獲授大同總兵、征西前將軍等職。姜瓖歸順清廷後,表面效忠,但因其影響力橫跨明舊邊軍與蒙古各部,引起朝中疑忌。尤其在清廷制度調整與民族差異的背景下,中央對其監控日益嚴密,其本人亦在缺乏軍餉、官兵生活困苦、朝命未酬的多重壓力下積怨已久。

順治五年(公元1648年)年初,米喇印和丁國棟等甘州(今甘肅)回族將領起兵反清。該年末,清廷派英親王阿濟格駐兵大同,催辦糧草,「肆行凌虐…動輒欲行殺戮」,引發地方軍民與姜瓖對其地位與人身安全的強烈不安。他趁督撫耿焞等人外出勘糧之際,發動兵變,宣布歸附南明,改用永曆年號,並一度席捲晉北十一城。此次起事迅速激起山西各地響應,如偏關、潞安、澤州等地軍士與鄉紳均起兵響應。姜瓖本人亦曾將長子送往清廷為質,故清廷幾無準備,反叛之舉令清廷震怒,攝政王多爾袞於是親征大同。順治六年(公元1649年)七月,大同城在圍困與飢荒中潰敗,部將斬殺姜瓖投誠,清軍入城後實施屠城,山西反清勢力於焉瓦解。事後清廷徹查南明餘黨,株連有關者長達十年,徹底摧毀明代遺留的衛所組織與人際網絡,加強地方控制,重建山西社會秩序。

為應對華北平原前線之兵餉支出,清廷於順治元年(公元1644年)十月開設大同錢局,開始鑄造「順治通寶」背「同」銅錢。早期多沿用明代「崇禎通寶」舊模翻鑄,致「順治」與「通寶」字形比例失調,字體過大,後期逐漸改善。姜瓖起兵後,城中改鑄「大明通寶」,以示反清立場,原有順治錢卷遭焚毀。清軍陷城後,盡屠大同,城垣近毀,錢局亦無法復工,乃遷至陽和另設新局,鑄背「陽」字錢。近年多有未流通或少流通之「順治通寶」背「同」字錢,於大同出土,或因姜瓖起事,民間窖藏錢幣以圖苟全於戰亂,而事後清軍屠城,再無人開挖取錢所致。

順治帝,名愛新覺羅·福臨,是清朝入關後首位皇帝,公元1644年至1661年在位。順治帝即位初期,由攝政王多爾袞輔政,推動清軍入主中原,建都北京,完成政權從東北向漢地全境的轉移。多爾袞去世後,順治帝親政,積極推行漢化政策,任用漢人官員,並推動科舉制度恢復,以穩定民心與鞏固統治。他亦下令剃髮易服,引發部分漢族反抗,但最終為清廷所強行推行。順治帝在位期間致力平定南明遺臣勢力與地方割據,雖屢經戰亂,仍逐步實現清廷中央對全國的有效統治。在文化上,他提倡儒學,尊崇佛教,尤其篤信禪宗,並晚年傾向出家傳說廣為流傳。順治帝於22歲早逝,由其子玄燁繼位,即康熙帝。

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/Object.aspx?SYSUID=14&RNO=NzgtMDA2MjY=

臺灣 國立臺灣博物館 National Taiwan Museum

https://collections.culture.tw/ntm_collectionsweb/collection.aspx?GID=MXMSMAMXM2

更多相關訊息請參考:

佟昱编着,《新编顺治通宝钱谱》,北京:中华书局,2016。

秦慧穎,〈順治時期的制錢生產與流通〉,《中國錢幣》139(北京,2016),頁26-37。

中国国家博物馆编,《中国国家博物馆馆藏文物研究丛书·钱币卷(宋–清)》,上海:上海古籍出版社,2018。

張繼瑩,〈清初姜瓖之變與山西社會秩序的重建〉,《臺大歷史學報》62(臺北,2018),頁103-138。

上田信著;葉韋利譯,《海與帝國:明清時代》,新北:臺灣商務印書館,2017。

平野聰著;林琪禎譯,《大清帝國與中華的混迷:現代東亞如何處理內亞帝國的遺產》,臺北:八旗文化,2018。

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