Momme (unit)
| 匁 | |
|---|---|
| Unit | |
| Symbol | 匁 (Momme) |
| Denominations | |
| Subunit | |
| 1⁄10000 | Fun (分) |
| Banknotes | 1匁 |
| Coins | 4.6匁,[a] 5匁, 8匁, 9.2匁 10匁 |
| Demographics | |
| User(s) | Japan |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Ginza |
| This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete. | |
Momme (匁, monme) is both a Japanese unit of mass and former unit of currency. As a measurement, Momme is part of a table of Japanese units where during the Edo period it was equal to 1⁄10 ryō (aka Tael). Since the Meiji era 1 momme has been reformed to equal exactly 3.75 grams in SI units.[2] The latter term for Momme refers to when it was used as a unit of currency during the Edo period in the form of silver coins.[2][3] As a term, the word "Momme" and its symbol "匁" are unique to Japan.[2][4] The Chinese equivalent to Momme is qián (Chinese: 錢), which is also a generic word for "money".[2][5] While the term Momme is no longer used for currency, it survives as a standard unit of measure used by pearl dealers to communicate with pearl producers and wholesalers.[6]
Origin
The Japanese word Momme first appeared in a family book by the Ōuchi clan during the Bunmei era in 1484.[7][8] In the English language the word first appears in the early 1700s per the Oxford English Dictionary, which first traces its usage to Johann Jakob Scheuchzer in 1727.[9]
Historical Use
Momme was originally introduced as a unit of weight for measuring precious metals, especially during the Edo period, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was primarily used in the context of trade involving gold, silver, and other metals, with its role in the silver market being particularly significant. The ryō, the main unit of currency during the Edo period, was subdivided into 10 momme. This system helped regulate both currency and precious metal trade in a highly controlled economic environment.[10]
The reform of Momme during the Meiji era aligned the unit with the international metric system, standardizing it to 3.75 grams. This reform was part of broader efforts to modernize Japan and integrate it more closely into global trade networks.[11]
Currency
See also
Notes
References
- ^ "Japan AKITA 4 Momme 6 Fun KM# 10 -1863". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Editorial Committee of the Dictionary of Japanese History (1992). The Great Dictionary of Japanese History. Vol. 13. Yoshikawa Kobunkan. p. 920.
- ^ Editorial Committee of the Dictionary of National History (1984). he Great Dictionary of National History. Yoshikawa Kobunkan. p. 697.
- ^ Morohashi Rōji, Kamada Tadashi, Yoneyama Torataro (1984). Hirokan-wa Dictionary First Volume. Taishukan Shoten. p. 416.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Koizumi Hajikatsu (1974). Units in History. Sogaku Shuppan. pp. 220–222, 345.
- ^ "Cabinet Order No. 357 Unit of Measure Ordinance". Government of Japan. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Hanano Shao. "貨幣から見た匁の変遷". BIGLOBE. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Ōuchi clan family book 13/32 frames". National Institute of Japanese Literature. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ "Momme". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Kobayashi, Keiko (2016). "The Meiji Era and the Standardization of Japanese Units". Meiji Studies Quarterly. 8: 150–165.
- ^ Kobayashi, Keiko (2016). "The Meiji Era and the Standardization of Japanese Units". Meiji Studies Quarterly. 8: 150–165.