A tael (simplified: 两, traditional: 兩, pinyin: liǎng, jyutping: loeng5) was a traditional Chinese unit of weight and currency used throughout the jianghu and imperial China. The tael served as both a measure of weight, particularly for precious metals, and as a unit of currency in the Chinese monetary system.
Overview
The tael was one of the primary units of currency in traditional China, used for transactions involving silver and other precious metals. In the jianghu, taels were commonly used for payments, rewards, and various financial transactions, reflecting the importance of silver as a medium of exchange.
The tael’s dual function as both a weight and currency unit made it central to economic activity in the jianghu, where transactions often involved silver and other precious metals.
Usage in the jianghu
Currency and payments
In the jianghu, taels were commonly used for various payments, including rewards for services, compensation for losses, and transactions between martial artists and organisations. The use of taels reflected the importance of silver as a medium of exchange in traditional Chinese society.
Rewards and compensation
Taels were often used as rewards for services rendered or compensation for losses suffered. Martial artists might receive taels for completing tasks, providing protection, or achieving various objectives in the jianghu.
Economic transactions
Various economic transactions in the jianghu involved taels, from purchasing goods and services to paying for accommodations and transportation. The tael’s role as a currency unit made it essential for economic activity in the martial world.
Behind the scenes
The tael was a real unit of weight and currency used in traditional China. In wuxia fiction, the tael serves as a standard unit of currency, reflecting the historical importance of silver in Chinese economic systems.
The tael’s prominence in wuxia fiction helps establish the economic context of the jianghu world, showing how financial transactions were conducted in traditional Chinese society.
See also
- Mandarin Duck Blades concepts
- Twin Blades of the Storm Dragon concepts