1
TUNG SHING
Dealer in
JADE STONES, JEWELLERY, SILK SHAWLS & IVORY WARE
also
GOLD & SILVER SMITH, WHOLESALE & RETAIL. QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL (next door to Queen's Treatre.)
HONG KONG
IN AND AROUND HONG KONG
THE CHINA MAIL SPECIAL
TOURISTS' SUPPLEMENT.
ANCIENT CHINESE CURRENCY
Demand Drafts Nearly 2,000 Years Ago!
}
"FLYING. MONEY" OF TANG DYNASTY
note started from "Fei Chuan," or "flying money" of the Tang Dynasty and "chlaotze" of the Sung Dynasty, no sample of which can, however, at present he found. During the Sung Dynasty notes were extensively printed with no adequate reserve for the issuance. every- Paper notes were found where, for buying daily necessities, paying taxes, and defraying public expenses, in fact, for all sorts of Lecturing at the Rotary Club at rency known, the coin being in the purposes until the value of notes the Astor House Hotel recently, shape of a shovel. This was fol-dropped to about one per cent. Rotarian Mr. K. P. Hu of the Pe-lowed by "Dau Pi," or knife cur-The ill effect of the notes, however, king-Mukden Railway gave a most rency, the coin being in the shape did, not become serious as the de- limited to the interesting address on Chinese of a knife, another of the most nomination was Coins and Currency.
"Kwan" or one thousand cash only. He supple-commonly used implements for
During the Chin Dynasty, about! mented his remarks with several harvesting grain and for general valuable specimens of ancient coins, use. One end of the coin was a the beginning of the thirteenth con- and photographic remnants of old round ended handle with a hole intury notes with danominations such as one hundred, four hundred, one currency notes. Among the latter the centre to facilitate tying to- was an imprint of an old draft, gether and the other end a knife thousand "Kwan," or one million (bearing a chop signifying that it blade. This explains why the cash, were issued. Ten years later was payable on demand at Chengtu, Chinese character "L" standing the value of the notes dropped to Nanking, and one other city, and for profit is composed of two char-such an extent that notes with ag- is much to entertain, amuse and the variety of outdoor sport to be carrying a warning that fraudulent acters knife and a grain, and also gregated face value of 120 million instruct without resort to vehicles. Indulged in or watched, the prin- imitation of these drafts rendered has, the meaning of sharpness. As "Kwan," or 120 billion cash, were the coin took the worth only one tal of sycee! The there- The Chinese curlo shops and Indian cipal ground being at Happy the guilty party liable to capital time went on
This
fore, had nothing on China!! stores cannot well be passed over Valley, which can be reached in a punishment and offering a reward form of the round end with the modern mark and rouble,
Ming Dynasty by those in search of novelty or for very short time by tramcar, tax-of 300 "Kwan" to those giving in-handle omitting the blade. a souvenir of their visit to this en- cab, or motor car, not to mention formation of such forgery. Mr. evolved into the round coin with
Hu also exhibited form of cursquare hole, which form has been During the Yuan Dynasty, about There is "China the slower jinrikisha if time is no Town," tooming with thousands of object. There is a fine Racecourse, reney made of metal of the size in use to the present day. This and shape of an old-fashioned key, has been called "Chuan Pi." or are held at various but minus teeth. races
This, he said,spring currency, signifying the re- Chinese living in narrow streets where where one can almost stretch hands periods from the middle of Feb was used as a draft as early assemblance between the currency This imple and the spring water which is sup acreas the
and ruury to the beginning of Decem- the days of Christ. **thoroughfare,"
ment was engraved with a number posed to flow continuously without where glimpses may be had of ber.
Of other sports to be had at of characters, some of them in interruption. typical Chinese life in all its varied
Happy Valley, there are football gold, in order to prevent imitation. As business grew and travelling phases.
("soccer" and Rugby
codes). The draft was bought in one city became more frequent the demand cricket, baseball, and tennis. The and payment was returned on pre- for the medium of exchange in- creased. Carrying of coins became "home" of local cricket is the Hong sentation in another city. Kong Cricket Club opposite Murray manufacture of this currency was clumsy and inconvenient, and some
It favery complicated and ordinary per- substitute had to be sought. Barracks in Queen's Road.
Paper Notes ground that interport sons could not do it. on this
Sign For Profit matches are played, teams coming once in two years from Shanghai and less frequently from Malaya,
chanted Isic.
motor Car
(Continued from Page 1)
A good combination is a bus or drive do Aberdeen (already referred to) and a tour through the Chinese fishing village. If time permits there is also a quaint Htte hamlot, Appllchau, which can be reached in a few minutes by sampan. The return journey from Aberdeen can be made by launch, in which case the scenery fringing the harbour approaches will be found very refreshing after for days on end there the spell through the Chinese quar-facilitica ters of Aberdeen and Applichau.
and
Where to Dine or Stay For the tourist cooped up at sea are many tima) for lunch (or
the dinner, including
Hotel in Pedder For the individual who cares not. Hong Kong
Crawford's Re- Land for the joys of motoring a casual Street;
in Des Voeux Road walk through the heart of the city staurant, will reveal much of interest in the (along which the tramcars run); way of public buildings and statues, the King Edward Hotel, the Savoy including-although some way out -the University of Hong Kong.
There are taxicabs and jinrikishas,
not to mention sedan chairs, but in the case of the two latter the legal fare should always be ascertained beforehand
otherwise "stranger within the gates" may
49
the
The
It was said in one of the Con- Mr. Hu said that in the ancient fucian Classics that as early as the days China was essentially an agri- first part of the Chow Dynasty, cultural country, consequently the about 1,000 B.C., a kind of currency principal assets of the people were note consisting of a piece of cloth farming implements. In the pro-two inches wide by iwo feet long. cess of bartering, implements such chopped with a Government Seal, as shovels, spades, ec., formed the was used. Probably this was the principal medium of exchange. earliest form of currency note ever
Tsan P," or shovel currency, was used in China.
But the actual use of the paper therefore the earliest type of čur-
1280, a certain amount of reserve
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1929.
KWONG SANG
ART & CURIO EXPERT,
JADE JEWELLERY, CHINESE ANTIQUES, EMBROIDERY,
ART BLACKWOOD
FURNITURE.
St. George Building,"
Ice House Street, Opposite Star Ferry..
Imperial Turquoise blue enamel, vase with red dragon. KEEN LUNG period 1736.
“FIVE DRAGON TEMPLE”
Giant Brass Image
A KOWLOON CITY PLACE OF WORSHIP
was provided for the issue of notes. Consequently the currency system was greatly improved. Toward the end of the Dynasty, however, owing to extensive military operations, so many notes were issued that notes
"Five Dragon Temple" at Kow- fed great divine prodigy on differ with the face value of 50 taels
loon City is well worth the trouble ent occasions, and much more in would net buy ten iba. ef rice.
the Yuen and Ming Dynasties. Very few notes were issued dur- of visiting as it contains many ing the Ming Dynasty and the only objects of interest to the Euro- When the Emperor Shal Teo of the Yuan Dynasty first establish- samples left were printed during pean, Hanging on the wall is n
ed his capital at Peking, he ro scroll in English which gives the the Hung Wu period.
of his There were no notes issued dur-history of the giant "Chan Mo" vealed the appearance
Divine Tortoise and Snake on the ing the first part of the Manchu or "Pak Tal" as it is known in Dynasty. The military operation the vernacular, an Image over 500 Ko Leung river In the 12th moon of the year, prophesying the against the Tai Ping Rebellion dur-years old reposing on the altar of
foundation of the Sung Dynasty. ing 1860 necessitated the printing honour.
Mr. Tsang Foo, the local coal- A temple was therefore bullt for of notes both in tael and in cash, The relative values of the notes merchant is mainly responsible his worship. Seventy-four years were so fixed that 200 cash would for the temple's erection, having later, on a "Tin Shau" festival in be equivalent to one taal in notes. purchased the brass idol from the Yan Chung Dynasty he again The Government banks at Amoy, Canton and supervised the build- showed his appearance in Mo Foochow, and Tientsin were first to ing outside his villa and school. Tung Hill. circulate these notes. Although A typical example of foreign la- the notes were supposed to be legal fluence in Chinese life is notice- tender, even the Government taxable in Mr. Tsang's house which bureaux were unwilling to accept adjoins the temple. The grounds Hotel, and the Alexandra Restaur- Ancestral Temples, Temples of the Canton River, with the ruins of them. Then the Government had contain buildings of strictly Chin- ant in Ice House Street (directly the 500 Genil, City of the Dead. the San Paulo, Camoes' Gardens to fix a percentage at which the
A Chinese pond has opposite the Star Ferry wharf), Kingfisher's feather, Work-Jade, and Grotto, and Fan-tan Gambling taxed amount could be paid in ese type and the semi-European also the Kowloon Hotel and the Ricepaper 'picture Painters,
notes. Even for this the public did type while Hotel in Kowloon Flowery Pagoda, Jade Stone
Steamers leave Hong Kong on not want to accept notes. Officials two foreign-style rowing boats in
it and the garden has
a wind- Peninsula
the Street, Old Embroidery Shops and week days at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. tried to doctor the issue and mer-driven water condenser made in
Sai Hing Street, etc.
and Macao at 8 am, and 2 p.m. chants manipulated the exchange of For the guidance of those whose Passage 4 hours. Single journey notes to get profit. The value of Illinois, U.S.A.
images worked in notes dropped. Foreign.merchants time is limited, the following $4 and return $7.
There is also a special excursion on the other hand bought the notes brass of a tortoise and a snake itinerary is given.
Macao every Sunday leaving at a great discount to pay the per- which represent the delties who Leave Hong Kong... 10 p.m... Hong Kong at 9 am., returning at centage of import taxes allowed carry out God's benevolent orders. The Government That the natives of Kowloon at The Radio Telegraph Office Arrive Canton ...
the 7 to 8 a.m.3.30 p.m., return fare $5; week-end by regulation.
bureaux had to accept. It was sald tach much importance to (above the Post Office in Podder Leave Canton
4.30 p.m. excursion, return fare $6.00.
that, principally through these temple is evident from the large Street) is open. day and night for Arrive Hong Kong (about) ·
manipulations, one clerk In the incense containers bestowed HONG KONG HEIGHTS the transmission and reception of
Ministry of Finance, while having the place of worship. an official salary of 80 or 40 taels, owned property worth 50 to 60 millions!
Squeeze Stopped
(a few minutes' drive from Ferry in a jinrikisha).
In Des Voeux Road and other
find himself the victim of profiteer-streets there are many Chinese
ing.
Chair and Jinrikisha Fares For chairs the tariff Is-two bearers-15 cents for the first ten minutes; 20 cents for a quarter of an hour; 30 cents for half an hour; and 25 cents for every subsequent hour. For four bearers the fares are exactly double, with the excep- tion that every subsequent hour after the first is charged 40 cents.
Jinrikisha charges are: 10 cents for 10 minutes; ZD cent for a quarter of an hour, 30 cents for half an hour; and 40 cents for an hour.
Kowloon and New Territories
restaurants for those who like to sample Chinese dishes.
Miscellaneous Information
One Whole Day In Canton
11 to 12 p.m.
Saloons.
to
radio messages and for reporting The fare provides fast class vessels entering the harbour. The travel tickets, breakfast, lunch and For the information, of visitors charge to most vessels is 30 cents dinner, service of competent pri- the following list of some, of the on the Island and per. word with a minimum charge vate Guide for sightseeing by highest points of $3.
sedan chair to City of the Dead,Mainland is published:-
Teland. There are branches of the East- Flowery Pagoda, Ancestral Temple, ern Extension, Telegraph Com-etc.
Tours of longer duration pany and the Northern Telegraph Company in Connaught Road including passage by 8 am, steamer (facing the water front and just may be arranged.
Hong Kong Club). plication. These are open day and night for the transmission of cablegrams to any part of the world.
A reférence to Kowloon has beyond the already been made in the third of the suggested tours-namely, to Castle Peak, Fanling, Taipo and
Shatin.
MACAO
F.
Victoria Peak
Fett. 1823
and
Signal Station
1774.
Mt. Parker
1734
Fares on ap-
Mountain Lodge
1725
The Eyrie
1725
Peak Hotel
1805
Taikoo Sanatorium
1000.
Mt. Davis
877
Bowen Road (filterbeds)
297
Mainland
Feet.
Taimoshan
3124 1971
A Portuguese Colony and the Cable rates are: To Europe vin Suez, $1.65 per word; to America, pioneer settlement of the Far East, $1.76 to $2.30; to Canada, $1.90 to being founded in 1557. It is a $2.30; and to Australia, $1.35. picturesque spot at the mouth of
The postage rates are:
Four
A good afternoon's outing can be spent at Kowloon City, omnibuses to which run from the Star Ferry at Kowloon Point (10 cents fare from Hong Kong to Kowloon). Eu cents per ounce to British terri- route a glimpse is afforded of the tories and China; 10 cents per whole of the Kowloon Bay, with ounce to America and other for Lyeemoon Pass in the distance. eign countries.
Eventually the granite wall of the old city of Kowloon will be reached, containing the old-time residence of the official representa- tive of the Emperor of China.
There is also a School for 'the Blind, where dainty articles may be purchased.
Travellers' cheques can be cash-
ed and payments made on letter of credit issued by other bankers, by Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son, the CP.R., and the American Ex- press Co.
The principal exchange banks ara: The Hong Kong and Shang-
Returning by a bus marked haj Banking Corporation, Charter-
"Yaumat" the tourist can alight ad Bank of India, Austraila, and
China, the Mercantile Bank of
In Jordan-road and spend an enjoy nblo time in King's Park, where are India, the Banque de l'Indo-Chine, laid out football, tennis, and bowls and the City National Bank of New grounds. for various Cluba and York (International Banking institutions.
Corporation)-all situated in
As an alternative a vialt may be Queen's Road Central. commended to Kowloon Tong. For other useful information which lies off the main bus and concerning Hong Kong the tourist motor road in Kowicon, namely, may be recommended to purchase Nathan Road. This is destined to a copy of the "Dollar Directory" be a model settioment and garden published at 3A, Wyndham Street. city combined, and the self-
contained houses, each with a strip
of garden, are a distinct change
from the row upon row of flata
CANTON
The commercial Capital
and
which tho vehicles pass in most interesting City of South Nathan and other roads in Kow-China, La in direct com- joon.
munication with Hong Kong.
railway. There Lovers of lawn bowls are well by steamer catered for. Besides the rinks of are daily services of steamers the Club de Recreio at King's Park both directions." The journey la there are bowling greens at the about 6% to 8 hours by steamer, 'Kowloon Bowling Green Club, in according to steamer and tide, and
Austin Road (off Nathan Road), 44 hours by train.
the Kowloon Cricket Club; and the On arrival in Cantoa vialtors are Kowloon Dock Tennis can be had met by an experienced, and compet- at many Club courts at King'sent guide who has conducted the Fark, at the United Services Club principal visitors through this fas- (opposite King's Park,) the Kow-cinating City for many years. loon Cricket Club, and the Kowtour usually embraces Chun-ka-chi loon Bowling Green Club. Football
is played at King's Park and on the ground of the Kowloon Football. Club facing the harbour In Chatham Road. Cricket is provid- ed at King's Park and at the Kow- loon Cricket Club,
E
Sport in Hong Kong On the Jaland there is no end to
The
SWATOW DRAWN WORK CO.
́14, Fedder Street, Hong Kong, (ned in the Dollar Steamship Co.) The oldest store for Swalow
Drawn Work in Hong Kong
Kowloon Peak
WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF CHINESE LACQUER WORK.
CH
There are
Kam Luk Temple Therefore, the Kam Lak Temple was built. and the Five Dragon Monastery was renovated to make offerings to him every year. In
Lok of the Ming Dynasty, grest the years of the Emperor Wing development was again made to In this Temple and Monastery. the record of the Mo Tung Hill by Wong To-kwan, will be found the following quotations:-"Power- ful is Emperor Shing Tso. He is great, divine and awe-inspiring. Under him peace prevailed at All this waS home and abroad. owing to the help of Chan Mo, who came down to guide the 6 Armies of the Emperor. Το award his services, great repairs were made to his Temples. Then prosperity reigned throughout the Empire, and the power of the Em- peror was extended to the farthest Indeed the different country temples built in honour of Chan Mo were as numerous as stars in This shows that the "Mr. Tsang Shlu-wing alias the sky."
was more
in
"Chan Mo" Below 'we give an interesting
translation:→→→
History of the brass image of the god "Chan Mo" in the Five Dragon Monastery.
are
It was not until the Government had bought back the notes at a fx- ed price that this system of aquesze from these manipulations stopped, Since the Introduction of modern Taang Foo bought the image at worship of this god banking, more emphasis was laid Canton for a sum of $1,200. It zealous in the Sung Dynasty than on the reserve, the printing, and measures 8 feet high, and weighs in the reign of Yuen, and there- 'issuance, With the exception of over 1,000, cattles. At the left of fore his temples could be found the panic of 1918 the large Govern-its robe inscribed the 13 everywhere in the Empire.
Made At Peking ment Bank notes were reldom quot- characters, "Yam Chai Tuk Li ed at a discount.
This brass image was manufac- Kwong Tung Chu Chỉ Shi Pok Rotarian Young thanked Mr. Hu Kim Kun Im" (Imperial Inspector-tared under the supervision of a In behalf of the Club for his ad- General of Canton Shipping and native of Tai Hing of Shun Tin. dress.
Salt Commissioner), but the part From this we can tell that it was beneath this has been torn away. mado at Peking and during the At the right corner are found the Dynasty of Wing Lok. The date 17.characters, "Tai Ming Man Lik Kwal Mau of the Emperor Mau Sam Shap Yat Nin Shuf Chi Kwai Lik inscribed thereon is the date Mau Kwai Chau Kat Yat Kia"
of the erection of the Temple and (manufactured on a lucky day in not the date of the manufacture- the 9th moon of the Kwai Mau of the image. The Imperial In- year, Le., the Thirty-First year of spector-General of Canton Ship- Man Lik of the Great Ming ping and Salt Commissioner en- Dynasty). On the back of the graved on the image, was the image there are 21 characters in builder of the Temple, but unfor- has been torn 8 rows, which read thus: "Pak tunately his name King Shun Tin Fu Tai Hing Yuen off. However, during the Dynasty Cheung Chiu Wong Tao Kun Tso of Shan Chung many servants of Chu Chi To Shi Tong To Chan" the Imperial Household were sent (manufactured under the super- out to make heavy levies on the vision of Cheung Chin and Wong income of merchants, and "from Tao of the Tai Hing District of this we can deduce that the image the Shun Tin Prefecture, Peking was brought to Kwong Tung from and Tong To Chan, the Priest in Peking. by one of such servants, Charge). The image was the pro-and was enshrined in a temple at the name of the perty of the. Sze Taz Shim Lain Canton after Monastery, and that it fell into manufacturer and the date of the hands of some ordinary in- manufacture had been engraved dividuals after the political change on it.
"HINESE lacquer ware was first invented by the Shen Shao Lang Kee family, of Focchow, in the Ch'leng Lung Dynasty. Models are first made of clay and sub- sequently covered with a layer of fire silk and lacquer. Each layer takes from three weeks to two months to dry, and as many as thirty layers are frequently, employed on each piece. The above screen took nearly five years to complete, and is and to be the finest example of the work ever made. Descendants of the original family made the ne this series which KAPP Komor and Komor's Salonct
in the San Hol year. On refer- Alna! over 500 years have elups- ence to some. Taoist Authorities, ed since the Wing Lok Dynasty. It has been found that "Chan Mo" The image was removed from was born in the 3rd moon of the Peking to Canton, and again from 3rd year of the Emperor Hoi of a Tacist Temple into a Buddhist the Tsui Dynasty. He was born Monastery and just some time age a divine aage. He took oath to it had a narrow escape from be remove all evil spirits, and to pro- ing destroyed. Can it be the case tect the people. He gave up his that even a lifeless object has a secular life, and took up the study time of prosperity and misfortune?
The Temple- of Taoism. After pursuing his studyin Mo Tung Hill for 43 Now Mr. Tsang having obtain. years, he succeeded in becoming ed the image, has erected a an immortal. He took the North temple for it at Kowloon under under his protection. He showed the name of the Five Dragon his appearance on the solicitation Temple the very original name of of any man, and suppressed any the Monastary from which it. évil spirit when asked to. He cama. This history is written for, came down among the people the advice of those who may wor every Kang San or Kap Taz day ship the god and pray him to re-. and every 3rd or 7th day, to remove any cause of misfortune. move all causes of misfortune. Written by the True Retired, It is stated in, the Annals of the Scholar of Kowloon on thô, 15th Mo Tung Hill that the place of the 12th moon of the Yam Shut where Chan Mo resided in retire year (811.28)
ment, was the Five Dragon Chop of Chan Pak-to, Monastery During the Dynasties Chop of the True Retired of the Emperors Tong Tai Chung Scholar of Kowloon (nom de plume and Sun Ghi Chung là hoa of than Pak to).