Da Quan Wu Bai—“Big Coin 500 (cash)” c. AD 236–? First cast by Emperor Da, Sun Quan, temple name Wu Taizu (ruled AD 200–252 The Wu territory had existed, though not officially as an independant state, under the control of the Sun family since the mid 190s when Sun Ce, Quan’s brother, consolidated his father Sun Jian’s former forces and allies from when Jian had been a general first under Han and then in service of Yuan Shu. Ce turned against Yuan Shu and began forging his own sphere of influence. Ce died in AD 200 and Quan took power, at one point acceding to Cao Pi’s requests for acknowledgement of legitimacy and being bestowed the title King of Wu before turning against Pi and establishing his own rival claim to the empire and took the title of Emperor Da of Wu in AD 222). Some historical records report that these coins continued to be used by the Jin dynasty that reunited China in AD 280 after Shu-Han had fallen to Wei, and Wei and Wu had fallen to Jin. As such I will list also the other Emperors of the Wu dynasty: Sun Liang, the Prince of Guiji, known posthumously as both Feidi and Youdi (AD 252–257); Emperor Jing, Sun Xiu (AD 258–263); and Emperor Mo, Sun Hao, temple name Guiminghou (AD 264–280)
This particular specimen demonstrates a well-known trait of many Wu dynasty coins, namely that most were cast from near-pure copper and copper corrodes very easily. There were apparently two mints in operation, one in Hubei and the other in Nanking, the ones at Hubei being of poorer quality with weaker characters. This specimen would seem to be from this mint.
Da Quan Dang Qian—“Big Coin 1000 (cash)” c. AD 238–? Issued two years after the Da Quan Wu Bai this coin is encountered in a couple of different sizes. This is the smaller and more common size, although none of the sizes come close to justifying the ostensible value of 1000 cash. Sun Quan apparently discouraged counterfeiting, however, by commanding the populace to turn in all their copper goods in exchange for the new currency. Still, as with Shu-Han, sooner or later the fiduciary nature of the coinage would have caught up with the markets. This specimen is well cast and unlike the Wu Bai above, it shows little to no signs of corrosion. Some of the Wu coins were cast from a brass alloy that does not corrode the way pure copper does, and this would seem to be the composition of this coin. There are also 2 other Wu coins—Er Qian (2000) and Wu Qian (5000) but are obscenely rare. Note that this coin reads clockwise instead of T-B-R-L.
| Northern dynasties | Southern dynasties | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Wei 386–535 | Liu Song 420–479 | ||
| Southern Qi 479–502 | |||
| Liang 502–557 | |||
| Western Wei 535–557 | Eastern Wei 534–550 | ||
| Northern Zhou 557–581 | Northern Qi 550–577 | Chen 557–589 | Western Liang 555–587 |
The Southern and Northern Dynasties period in Chinese history spanned from 386 to 589 CE. It was characterized by the division of China into two main regions, with competing dynasties in the north and south. The Northern Dynasties included the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, and Northern Zhou. The Southern Dynasties comprised the Liu Song, Southern Qi, Liang, and Chen dynasties. This era ended with the Sui dynasty's unification of China.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Northern Dynasties (386-581):
Northern Wei (386-534):
Established by the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei people, it unified much of the north and implemented significant reforms, including the Sinicization of the Xianbei.
Eastern Wei (534-550) and Western Wei (535-556):
Following internal strife, the Northern Wei split into two, with the Eastern Wei ruling the eastern part and the Western Wei the western part.
Northern Qi (550-577):
Replaced the Eastern Wei, continuing the legacy of the Northern Wei in the eastern regions.
Northern Zhou (557-581):
Replaced the Western Wei and eventually conquered the Northern Qi, paving the way for unification.
Southern Dynasties (420-589):
Liu Song (420-479): Founded by Liu Yu, who usurped the Jin throne, marking the beginning of the Southern Dynasties.
Southern Qi (479-502): Succeeded the Liu Song, continuing the pattern of short-lived Southern dynasties.
Liang (502-557): Known for its patronage of Buddhism and cultural achievements.
Chen (557-589): The last of the Southern Dynasties, ultimately conquered by the Sui.
Key Characteristics of the Period:
Division and Conflict:
The period was defined by constant warfare and political instability between the Northern and Southern dynasties.
Cultural Exchange and Transformation:
Despite the division, there was significant cultural exchange between the north and south, as well as with Central Asia and other regions.
Buddhism's Flourishing:
Buddhism became a major force in both the north and south, influencing art, architecture, and philosophy.
Technological Advancements:
The period saw advancements in various fields, including pottery, metallurgy, and agricultural techniques.
Unification:
The Sui dynasty's eventual reunification of China brought an end to the long period of division.
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