Momme (unit)

Momme (匁) is both a Japanese unit of mass and former unit of currency. As a measurement, Momme is part of a table of Japanese units where during the Edo period it was equal to 1⁄10 ryō (aka Tael). Since the Meiji era 1 momme has been reformed to equal exactly 3.75 grams.[2] The latter term for Momme refers to when it was used as a unit of currency during the Edo period in the form of silver coins.[2][3] As a term, the word "Momme" and its symbol "匁" are unique to Japan.[2][4] The Chinese equivalent to Momme is qián (Chinese: 錢), which is also a generic word for "money".[2][5] While the term Momme is no longer used for currency, it survives as a standard unit of measure used by pearl dealers to communicate with pearl producers and wholesalers.[6]

This article is about a Japanese unit of weight and former currency. For other uses, see Momme.
Momme
匁
Unit
Symbol匁‎ (Momme)
Denominations
Subunit
 1⁄10000Fun (分)
Banknotes1匁
Coins4.6匁,[lower-alpha 1] 5匁, 8匁, 9.2匁 10匁
Demographics
User(s)Japan
Issuance
Central bankGinza
This infobox shows the latest status before this currency was rendered obsolete.

Origin
See also: Mace (unit)

The Japanese word Momme first appeared in a family book by the Ōuchi clan during the Bunmei era in 1484.[7][8] In the English language the word first appears in the early 1700s per the Oxford English Dictionary, which first traces its usage to Johann Jakob Scheuchzer in 1727.[9]

See also

Notes
  1. Some of these coins were also valued in units of Fun (分) example: "4 Momme 6 Fun".[1]

References
  1. "Japan AKITA 4 Momme 6 Fun KM# 10 -1863". Numismatic Guaranty Company. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  2. Editorial Committee of the Dictionary of Japanese History (1992). The Great Dictionary of Japanese History. Vol. 13. Yoshikawa Kobunkan. p. 920.
  3. Editorial Committee of the Dictionary of National History (1984). he Great Dictionary of National History. Yoshikawa Kobunkan. p. 697.
  4. Morohashi Rōji, Kamada Tadashi, Yoneyama Torataro (1984). Hirokan-wa Dictionary First Volume. Taishukan Shoten. p. 416.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Koizumi Hajikatsu (1974). Units in History. Sogaku Shuppan. pp. 220–222, 345.
  6. "Cabinet Order No. 357 Unit of Measure Ordinance". Government of Japan. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  7. Hanano Shao. "貨幣から見た匁の変遷". BIGLOBE. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  8. "Ōuchi clan family book 13/32 frames". National Institute of Japanese Literature. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  9. "Momme". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.