Jaycee Woods

Setting one of my novels in feudal Japan has its challenges. While I have studied Japan’s political history, my cultural studies were focused on post-WW2 to contemporary.

Fortunately, Copilot can be my handy research assistant for my draft Kedakai story. It was useful in understanding Shinto beliefs, such as those about the kami.

Below is an example from when I had a random question about coins.

Question: Describe coins in feudal Japan. I am assuming that they were round or square with a hole in the center so that could be strung on to a necklace. However, my assumption may be describing a different time and culture.

Your assumption is quite accurate for certain periods in Japanese history! During feudal Japan, especially from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) to the Edo period (1603-1868), coins known as mon were commonly used. These coins were often round with a square hole in the center, allowing them to be strung together for convenience.

Here are some key points about these coins:

Materials: They were typically made of copper or iron, though there were also coins made of gold and silver.

Design: The most common design was round with a square hole, but there were also some variations, including coins with round holes.

Usage: These coins were used alongside other forms of currency, such as gold and silver ingots, which were denominated in units like ryō, bu, and shu.

Historical Context: Initially, Japan imported Chinese coins, but as internal trade grew, Japan began producing its own coins.