The Age of Silk — The Story of the 'Currency' Trusted by Heian Aristocrats

In the early Heian period, Japan's economy was undergoing a major turning point. In 794, Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Heiankyō, and Kyoto began to flourish as a new political center. However, the economy of the time was still developing, and the monetary system was immature. In this era, powerful figures in the provinces engaged in largely self-sufficient economic activity, sustaining their lives through the exchange of agricultural produce and handicrafts. Coins, as currency, were used mainly by merchants and in markets in urban areas, and their circulation in the provinces was limited. Silk and cloth, by contrast, were closely intertwined with daily life and were used as salaries (roku) for court officials and as annual tribute from shōen estates. One hiki of silk (approximately 20 meters) functioned as a standard unit of value, and its worth was stable. Heian aristocrats trusted silk even more than coins, and it is said that transactions involving silk were conducted routinely even within the imperial court. In the provinces in particular, silk and cloth were considered more valuable than coins, and they also served as an important life resource for farmers. The Heian economy was sustained precisely by this silk and cloth, exerting a tremendous influence on Japan's economy in later ages. Understanding this historical background reveals why silk was trusted more than coins. This article unravels the monetary affairs of an era also related to the General Overview and Appeal of Ancient Currency.

Silk cloth in the Heian period played a role as currency that went beyond mere textile. In the markets of Kyoto and Nara, silk cloth was used as a common means of transaction, and in the shōen estates and farming villages of the provinces in particular, silk cloth functioned as a de facto currency. Silk distributed as salaries (roku) to court officials was used directly in market transactions and for exchange with other goods. For example, because provincial farmers could submit silk in lieu of the crops they were obligated to pay as annual tribute, demand for silk was consistently high and its value remained stable. One hiki of silk (approximately 20 meters) was used in many situations as a standard unit and became a measure by which the value of goods was assessed. Quality control was also strictly enforced to maintain the value of silk; because deteriorated silk lost its market value, aristocrats competed vigorously to obtain high-quality silk. The production of silk cloth flourished particularly in parts of present-day Nara Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture, where skilled craftspeople wove high-quality silk. The silk thus supplied circulated throughout the country and became an important economic resource supporting the lives of ordinary people. The circulation of silk cloth became a pillar of the economy connecting the provinces and the cities, contributing greatly to economic development in the Heian period. It is against this backdrop that Heian-period silk cloth fulfilled its role not merely as a textile, but as an important "currency" supporting society and the economy.

In the Heian period, silk cloth was deeply embedded not only in the lives of aristocrats and court officials, but also in the lives of ordinary people. Because farmers could submit silk as annual tribute, they did not need to convert their harvested crops into cash, which contributed to stability in their lives. In provincial markets, silk cloth was traded as a matter of daily routine, with farmers bringing their own produced silk to exchange for necessary goods. In this way, silk cloth played an important role in supporting the foundation of the regional economy. Prices during the Heian period were often calculated using one hiki of silk as the standard, and it is said that one hiki of silk was required to obtain, for example, one koku of rice (approximately 150 kilograms). The value of silk was stable, and as a result prices were kept relatively constant. For ordinary people, silk was not merely a luxury textile but an important resource sustaining their lives, indispensable to daily existence. However, producing silk required advanced technique, and skilled craftspeople were essential for producing silk of particularly high quality. For this reason, silk production was concentrated in certain regions, and this scarcity was also a factor that elevated its value. The economic vitalization brought about by the circulation of silk influenced all of Heian society and was one factor that enriched the lives of the people. In this way, the lives of ordinary people in the Age of Silk enjoyed prosperity and stability through silk.

The Age of Silk in the Heian period gradually drew to a close from the late 12th century into the early 13th century. One of the factors was the revival of demand for coins brought about by the full-scale development of Sino-Japanese trade with Song China. As voices calling for imported goods from Song China grew louder, merchants increased their use of coins in transactions, and the role of silk and cloth gradually diminished. From this period until the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, Japan's monetary system underwent major change. Entering the Kamakura period, Song coins began to circulate in earnest, establishing a new position as currency in place of silk and cloth. This change represents the process by which the economic center shifted from the provinces to cities, and the process by which Japan's economic foundation tilted increasingly toward a monetary economy. Nevertheless, the provincial economic foundation nurtured during the Age of Silk and the trust that aristocrats had placed in silk continued to influence later ages. In particular, the fact that silk maintained its status as a luxury item exerted a major influence on Japanese culture and the arts as well, and silk textiles continue to this day to be highly regarded as traditional crafts. In this way, the Age of Silk is not merely a single period in the past but is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and the economy up to the present day. The role played by the Age of Silk was an important turning point in Japanese history, and its influence continues even now.