Fact check: What were used as currency in medieval Japan?

1. Summary of the results

Medieval Japan used a diverse and evolving system of currency. Initially, commodity-based money was prevalent, including:

• Rice, silk, and hemp clothes as primary forms of exchange ^{[1] [1]}
• Arrowheads and gold powder were also used as currency ^[1]

The first official Japanese coins, Wadōkaichin, were minted in 708 CE ^{[1] [1]}. However, after suspending coin minting in the mid-10th century, Japan returned to commodity money ^[2]. From the 12th century onwards, Chinese copper coins became the dominant currency ^{[3] [4]}, with Japan importing and sometimes imitating these coins locally.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements were missing from the original question:

• Japan went through a 650-year period without minting its own coins, relying entirely on Chinese currency ^[4]
• The "mon" currency system was used from 1336 to 1870, featuring copper and iron coins with established exchange rates ^[5]
• There was initial resistance to Chinese coins from the imperial court and Kamakura warrior government before their eventual acceptance ^[6]
• The development of a commodity economy was significantly influenced by the ability to pay taxes with coins ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question oversimplifies what was actually a complex and dynamic monetary system. It's important to note that:

• Currency systems weren't static but evolved over time, often reverting back to commodity money when coin production declined ^[2]
• Japanese currency wasn't isolated - it was part of a regional monetary system where Japanese cash coins circulated in other countries as well ^[3]
• By the 16th century, a mixed system emerged using rice, gold, and silver simultaneously ^[2]
• Private minting (shichusen) played a role in the currency system ^[2], showing that currency wasn't always state-controlled

This complexity and evolution of Japanese currency systems demonstrates that medieval Japan had a sophisticated understanding of monetary policy and international trade, rather than a simple, single-currency system.