Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Great Zhou,
Zhaowu Tongbao
大周 昭武通寶
Item number: A1020
Year: AD 1678
Material: Brass
Size: 23.1 x 23.3 x 1.1 mm
Weight: 3.45 g
Provenance:
1.Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This is the “Zhaowu Tongbao,” a coin issued by Wu Sangui, who played a significant role during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. In March of the 17th year of the Kangxi reign (AD 1678), after five years of rebellion against Emperor Kangxi, Wu Sangui declared himself emperor in Hengyang, Hunan, and established the state with the title “Great Zhou.” The “Zhaowu Tongbao” coins were minted and circulated according to the era name he adopted during his brief reign.
The “Zhaowu Tongbao” is a typical square-holed coin. On the obverse, the coin is inscribed with the four Chinese characters “昭武通寶” (Zhaowu Tongbao) in regular script , arranged in the order of top, bottom, right, and left. The reverse side of the coin is plain, with no additional markings. The “Zhaowu Tongbao” coins are known to exist in two main variants based on the script style: the more common regular script version and the rarer seal script version.
Wu Sangui was a former Ming general who surrendered to the Qing forces, assisting them in entering Shanhai Pass and pursuing the remnants of the Southern Ming until they were driven to Myanmar. He personally strangled the Southern Ming’s Yongli Emperor with a bowstring, earning significant favour from the Qing Dynasty. As a reward, Wu Sangui was granted the titles of “Prince Who Pacifies the West” (平西王) and given control over Yunnan and Guizhou, making him one of the most prominent Han officials in the early Qing period.
In AD 1673, shortly after Emperor Kangxi ascended the throne, the “Reduction of the Feudatories” policy was implemented, which aimed to diminish the power of regional princes. This policy angered Wu Sangui, prompting him to rebel. He formed an alliance with Geng Jingzhong, the “Prince Who Pacifies the South” (靖南王) in Fujian, and Shang Zhixin, the “Prince Who Pacifies the South” (平南王) in Guangdong, along with the Kingdom of Tungning in Taiwan, under the pretence of avenging the Ming Dynasty.
The rebellion, known as the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, lasted until AD 1681 when Qing forces successfully entered Kunming, Yunnan, compelling Wu Sangui’s grandson to commit suicide, thereby ending the uprising.
Starting in AD 1659, after Wu Sangui took control of Yunnan, the region’s remoteness made it difficult for Central Plains coins to circulate there. To address this, Wu Sangui took advantage of Yunnan’s abundant copper resources to mint his own coins, which were used in Yunnan and Guizhou and became widely circulated even in neighbouring Annam (modern-day Vietnam). After the Qing court successfully suppressed Wu Sangui’s forces in AD 1681, the government made two attempts to recall the coins minted by the Great Zhou regime. However, these efforts were largely ineffective, and the coins continued to circulate locally until the late Qing period.