546 DAVIS. 



Notes of Kao-tsung (1127-1162 A.D.) of the Southern Sung 



Dynasty. 



The five varieties of notes which were emitted during the Chien-yen 

 Era have already been printed. As has been said, in 1131 A.D. the 

 name of the reign was changed to Shao-hsing, during which period 

 three varieties * of notes were issued. The form of these notes differs 

 little from those of the preceding era. On the one kwan note appears 

 a pictorial representation of one cash, and on the 5 kwan note, 5 cash, 

 and on the 10 kwan note, 10 cash, all decorated with figured borders. 

 On either side of the pictorial representation on each note are the 

 inscriptions, in the seal style of writing, "To circulate under the 

 heavens" (at the right) and "To be current and to be used" (at the 

 left). Below is the inscription: "The Board of Revenue, having peti- 

 tioned", etc., ending with "Shao-hsing,. . . .year,. . . .month,. . . .day". 

 Two square seals appear on the notes. The upper reads: "Seal of 

 the Shao-hsing Era", and the lower, "Printed Treasure-Note of the 

 Great Sung Dynasty". On the back of these notes no figure or seal 

 appears. 



Plate 68. Shao-hsing (1131-1162 A.D.) Note. 

 Translation of the inscriptions. 



First line: "Great Sung Current Use Treasure-Note." 



Second line: " Tico Kican." 



Illustration: (Pictorial representation of two cash). 



At the right of the picture in the seal style: 



" To circulate under the heavens." 



At the left of the picture in the seal style : 



" To he current and to he used." 



In the lower panel: " The Board of Revenue, having pctilionrd the Im- 

 perial Sanction, prints for the general public use the Great Sung Treasure- 

 Note, to be used side by side with cash. (He tvho) counterfeits shall be 

 decapitated suinmarily; {he who) first informs shall be rewarded with 300 



* After referring thus to the three varieties, the text mentions a little later, 

 as will be noted, the three notes, namely, the one, five and ten kwan notes. 

 Nevertheless, the illustrations that follow the text are two, five and eight 

 kwan notes. K. T. 



